Lifeguarding Lesson 8

When caring for a person in respiratory distress:

• Ask the victim to stand and lean back to make breathing easier.

• Determine the exact cause of respiratory distress before providing initial care.

• Do not allow the victim to take their prescribed medication.

• Maintain an open airway and summon EMS personnel.

When checking to see if someone is breathing (check all that apply):

• Look to see if the victim’s chest clearly rises and falls.

• Check for breathing before checking for a pulse.

• Check for breathing and a pulse simultaneously.

• Look away from the victim’s chest.

• Listen and feel for air against the side of your face.

Fill in the blanks. The normal breathing rate for an adult is between ____ and ____ breaths per minute.

• 8 and 12

• 12 and 20

• 3 and 5

• 8 and 20