Which statement describes the correct method to assess breathing in an unresponsive person?

• A. Look at the chest, listen and feel for air coming out of the mouth
• B. Listen for breath at the nose only
• C. Feel for breath by placing your hand on the abdomen
• D. Observe skin color changes only

Answer: (A)

Breathing assessment uses a quick Look–Listen–Feel check for up to about 10 seconds. You want to verify that air is moving in and out by watching for chest rise and fall, listening for breath sounds, and feeling for air on your cheek or at the mouth. This combination reduces the chance of missing breathing, since some breaths may be faint or primarily through the mouth. The described approach fits this method by having you look at chest movement, listen for breath, and feel for air from the mouth. Listening only at the nose can miss breaths taken through the mouth, so it’s incomplete. Feeling breath on the abdomen isn’t the most reliable cue for breathing in an unresponsive person, and skin color changes don’t tell you whether breathing is occurring right now.