Checking if someone is breathing is a crucial skill that can help you save a life in an emergency situation. There are several methods you can use to check for breathing, each with its advantages and disadvantages. The most common and reliable method is to look, listen, and feel for breathing.
Looking for breathing involves observing the person’s chest and abdomen for movement. If the person is breathing, you should see their chest and abdomen rise and fall with each breath. Listening for breathing involves placing your ear close to the person’s mouth and nose and listening for the sound of air moving in and out. Feeling for breathing involves placing your hand on the person’s chest or abdomen and feeling for the rise and fall of their breath.