How should you assess a victim's breathing?

Assessing a victim's breathing is crucial in emergency situations, and the correct method involves looking, listening, and feeling for breathing within a brief time frame. This approach is effective because it allows you to simultaneously observe the chest for movement, listen for breath sounds, and feel for the airflow at the mouth or nose.

Conducting this assessment for no more than 10 seconds is essential to avoid delaying necessary care, especially in a critical situation where immediate interventions may be required. This method helps to quickly determine if the victim is breathing adequately or if further steps, such as CPR or the use of an AED, are needed.

Counting breaths over one minute could lead to delays in response time, while listening for breaths from across the room may not provide a clear indication of whether the victim is breathing adequately. Checking for chest movement alone does not account for cases where breathing might be present but insufficient. Therefore, the chosen method of looking, listening, and feeling is comprehensive and time-efficient in assessing a victim's breathing accurately.