How can you tell if rescue breaths are effective?

Effective rescue breaths are indicated by the visible rise and fall of the victim's chest with each breath administered. This is a critical sign that air is being delivered into the lungs and that ventilation is occurring properly. When the chest rises, it indicates that the breaths are filling the lungs, allowing oxygen to enter the body and carbon dioxide to be expelled. This physical response correlates with proper airflow and is essential for restoring adequate oxygen levels in the blood.

While coughing can be a sign of recovery, it does not necessarily reflect the effectiveness of the rescue breaths at that moment. An increased heart rate can indicate a response to various factors, including stress or irritation, but it doesn't specifically confirm that the breaths were effective. Regaining consciousness is a positive sign of recovery, but it typically occurs after effective breathing has taken place over a period of time and does not directly measure the immediate effectiveness of the rescue breaths themselves. Thus, the chest's visible rise and fall is the most reliable indicator of effective rescue breaths.