What is the difference between rescue breathing and CPR?
You would give rescue breathing when the heart is beating but the person is not breathing (there is a pulse). You normally find this scenario with drowning victims. You would give CPR if the person was not breathing and their heart was not beating (no pulse). With rescue breathing, you give one breath every five seconds for an adult, and every three seconds for children for two minutes. Then, you recheck for signs of life. When the heart is no longer beating (no pulse), you perform CPR. If there is a pulse, however, you continue with rescue breathing. With CPR, you give 30 compressions, then two breaths and you repeat the cycle five times (about two minutes) before rechecking for signs of life. If there are no signs of life, you continue with 30 compressions and then two breaths, again repeating the cycle five times.
