Certified Medical Assistant Practice Exam

According to basic cardiac life support procedures, what describes appropriate rescue breathing for an adult patient?

1. One breath every 10 seconds

2. One breath every 5 seconds

3. Two breaths every 5 seconds

4. No rescue breathing, only chest compressions

The correct answer is: One breath every 5 seconds

According to basic cardiac life support procedures, rescue breathing for an adult patient should be done at a rate of one breath every 5 seconds. This allows for adequate ventilation and oxygenation while still allowing for sufficient chest compressions to be performed. Option A of one breath every 10 seconds may not provide enough oxygen to the patient and may delay important chest compressions. Option C of two breaths every 5 seconds may be too frequent and impede proper chest compressions. Option D of no rescue breathing may be appropriate only in certain extreme cases where the rescuer is not trained in rescue breathing or in certain specific advanced cardiac life support procedures.