When is mouth-to-mouth ventilation typically used?

Mouth-to-mouth ventilation is primarily indicated in scenarios where a person is not breathing but still has a pulse. This approach is crucial in maintaining oxygenation of the lungs and thereby supporting the vital organs, as the absence of breathing leads to a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood, even if the heart is still beating.

In cases where a person has a pulse but is not breathing, the use of mouth-to-mouth allows for artificial respiration to provide necessary oxygen until normal breathing resumes or until professional medical help can take over. It is important to note that this method is not typically recommended in situations where the person is unconscious and has no pulse, as more advanced life support techniques would be necessary in those cases, such as CPR. Additionally, mouth-to-mouth is not used in conscious choking situations, where different techniques such as back blows and abdominal thrusts are appropriate. Lastly, the use of an AED—the automated external defibrillator—would not negate the necessity for mouth-to-mouth; rather, it complements the overall response in a cardiac emergency. Thus, in the context of airway management and emergency response, mouth-to-mouth ventilation remains essential when there is a pulse but the individual is not breathing.