American Lifeguard Practice Exam

What commonly used rescue technique should be performed on an adult who is unresponsive and not breathing?

1. Compression-only CPR

2. Abdominal thrusts

3. Chest compressions followed by rescue breaths

4. Only rescue breaths

The correct answer is: Chest compressions followed by rescue breaths

In a situation where an adult is unresponsive and not breathing, initiating proper cardiac arrest management is crucial, and chest compressions followed by rescue breaths is the recommended procedure. This technique is designed to provide both oxygen and circulation to the body, which is essential for a person whose heart has stopped beating effectively. Chest compressions create artificial circulation by pushing blood through the heart and delivering it to vital organs. When combined with rescue breaths, this approach ensures that oxygen is being delivered directly to the lungs, allowing for gas exchange to occur. This is important because, during cardiac arrest, the body's cells will start to suffer from a lack of oxygen and nutrients without immediate intervention. While options such as compression-only CPR are appropriate in certain cases, especially for witnessed cardiac arrests where the rescuer is not trained or cannot perform rescue breaths, the scenario described indicates that the adult is unresponsive and not breathing. Therefore, combining compressions with breaths is crucial to maximize the chances of resuscitation. In contrast, abdominal thrusts are specifically used for choking situations and would not be applicable here, as there is no indication of an airway obstruction. Only performing rescue breaths neglects the importance of circulation, which is critical for someone who is not breathing.