Mouth-to-mouth breathing: how it is done and when it is indicated

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is performed to provide oxygen when a person suffers a cardiorespiratory arrest, becomes unconscious and is not breathing. After calling for help and calling 911, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be performed along with chest compressions as soon as possible to increase a victim’s chances of survival.

This type of breathing is not recommended in cases where someone with an unknown health history is being helped, as it is not possible to know if the person has a contagious disease, such as tuberculosis. In these situations, it is recommended to perform insufflations with a pocket mask, but if this is not available, only chest compressions should be performed, at 100 to 120 per minute.

However, in specific cases, in people whose health history is known or in very close family members, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation can be performed.

How to do mouth-to-mouth resuscitation

Mouth-to-mouth breathing must be performed according to the following steps:

1. Place the victim on their backas long as there is no suspicion of spinal injury;
2. Open the airwaytilting the head and lifting the person’s chin, with the help of two fingers;
3. Cover the victim’s nostrils with your fingers, to prevent the offered air from escaping through your nose;
4. Place your lips around the victim’s mouth and inhale air through the nose normally;
5. Blow air into the person’s mouthfor 1 second, making the chest rise;
6. Do mouth-to-mouth breathing twice every 30 cardiac massages;
7. Repeat this cycle until the person recovers or until the ambulance arrives.

If the victim starts breathing again, it is important to keep him under observation, leaving the airways clear at all times, as it may happen that the person stops breathing again, making the process necessary to start over again.

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation with mask

There are first aid kits that contain disposable masks, which can be used for mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. These devices adapt to the victim’s face and have a valve that prevents air from returning to the person performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

In these situations, where the pocket mask is available, the steps to perform breaths correctly are:

1. Position yourself next to the victim;
2. Place the victim on their backif there is no suspicion of spinal injury;
3. Fit the mask over the person’s nose and mouthkeeping the narrowest part of the mask on the nose and the widest part on the chin;
4. Open the airwayby extending the victim’s head and lifting the chin;
5. Firm the mask with both hands, so that no air escapes from the sides;
6. Gently blow through the mask nozzlefor about 1 second, observing the elevation of the victim’s chest;
7. Remove the mask mouth after 2 inflations, maintaining head extension;
8. Repeat 30 chest compressions, with a depth of approximately 5 cm.

First aid cycles must be carried out until the person recovers or when the ambulance arrives. Additionally, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation can be performed in cases of babies who are not breathing.

When is it indicated

Mouth-to-mouth breathing is recommended when the person is unconscious and not breathing, which can happen after accidents, due to cardiorespiratory arrest or drowning, for example. It is important that mouth-to-mouth breathing is done together with cardiac massage, as this can increase the chances of recovery. See how cardiac massage is done.