What should you do if a patient’s chest does not rise with a rescue breath?

• A. Reopen the airway using proper head-tilt/chin-lift technique, reseal the mask or mouth, and attempt another breath.
• B. Stop CPR and wait for EMS.
• C. Increase the chest compression rate.
• D. Check pulse only.

Answer: (A)

When a rescue breath doesn’t make the chest rise, air isn’t getting into the lungs, so the immediate step is to fix the airway and improve the seal, then try again. Reopen the airway with a proper head-tilt-chin-lift (or jaw-thrust if you suspect trauma), reseal the mask or mouth, and deliver another breath while watching for chest rise. If there’s still no rise, recheck for obstruction and ensure you have a good seal—adjust position, clear the seal, and try again. If ventilation still can’t be achieved after repositioning and resealing, continue CPR with compressions and call for advanced help or an advanced airway when available.