How to Check for Breathing in a First Aid Emergency
Short answer
To check for breathing in a first aid emergency, first ensure the scene is safe and the person is lying on their back. Then open the airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift method. Look for chest rise, listen for breath sounds, and feel for air on your cheek for 5 to 10 seconds. This process helps you decide if the person needs rescue breaths or CPR.
What do you need before checking for breathing?
Before you check for breathing, make sure the environment is safe for both you and the injured person. Look around for hazards like traffic, fire, broken glass, or electrical wires. If it’s unsafe, call for help but don’t approach until it is safe. If you have disposable gloves, put them on to protect yourself from bodily fluids. If you are trained and have a rescue mask or face shield, keep it ready to provide breaths safely. Have a phone nearby to call emergency services immediately if the person isn’t breathing. Staying calm and focused is important so you can perform the steps clearly and avoid mistakes. Take a deep breath yourself before starting, and remember the goal is to quickly determine if the person is breathing and needs urgent help.
How do you prepare the person for a breathing check?
Begin by gently shaking the person’s shoulder and saying loudly, “Are you okay?” This checks if the person is conscious and responsive. If there is no response, carefully position them on their back on a firm surface if possible. Avoid moving the head or neck too much if you suspect spinal injury, but still open the airway gently. To open the airway, place one hand on their forehead and gently tilt the head back. With your other hand, lift the chin forward using two fingers placed on the bony part of the lower jaw. This “head-tilt, chin-lift” helps lift the tongue away from the back of the throat, clearing the airway so you can check breathing more accurately. If you cannot open the airway this way, try the jaw-thrust maneuver by pushing the lower jaw forward without tilting the head, especially if spinal injury is suspected. Positioning the person properly prepares you to check breathing effectively.
What are the step-by-step instructions to check for breathing?
When you have the airway open, follow these steps:
- Look – Watch the chest carefully for any movement like rising and falling. This shows air entering and leaving the lungs.
- Listen – Place your ear close to their mouth and nose and listen for sounds of breathing such as air movement or quiet breaths.
- Feel – With your cheek or the back of your hand near their mouth and nose, feel for warm air moving out as the person exhales.
- Continue these steps for 5 to 10 seconds. Checking for a full 5 seconds is important because quick or shallow breaths may be missed if you look only briefly.
- If you see, hear, or feel normal breathing, the person is breathing. If you do not detect breath or only irregular gasps, treat this as no breathing.
Here’s an example of exact wording you can use while checking: “Sir/Ma’am, I’m going to check if you’re breathing now.” Then say out loud, “I’m looking for chest movement,” while watching carefully. Next, “I’m listening for breath sounds,” and place your ear near the mouth. Finally, “I’m feeling for breath on my cheek.” This methodical approach helps you stay organized and calm.
How do you know if the breathing check worked?
If the person is breathing normally, you will notice steady chest rises and falls every few seconds. You may hear soft breath sounds or feel warm air on your cheek. Breathing should be regular and not excessively slow or irregular. If the person is unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position—on their side with the head tilted to keep the airway open and prevent choking on fluids. Keep monitoring their breathing until emergency help arrives. If the person starts breathing after seeming unresponsive, this is a positive sign that your airway opening worked. However, if breathing is absent or only occasional gasps occur, do not wait. That means they need immediate CPR or rescue breathing to keep oxygen circulating. Quick recognition of breathing status can save a life.
What should you do if the person is not breathing?
If your check shows no breathing or only abnormal gasping breaths, call emergency services immediately or ask someone nearby to call. If you are trained in CPR, begin rescue breaths combined with chest compressions following the CPR steps. If you are not trained or unsure, hands-only CPR is still very effective: place the heel of your hand at the center of the chest and push hard and fast, about 2 inches deep and at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Continue until emergency responders arrive or the person starts breathing. If the person is choking and not breathing, follow choking first aid protocols instead—see our guide on how to tell if someone is choking and the choking first aid checklist. Every second counts, so act quickly.
How do you adapt the breathing check for different audiences?
Checking breathing varies slightly depending on the person’s age and condition. For infants, be very gentle when opening the airway—tilt the head only slightly because their necks are fragile. Look for smaller, faster chest movements that can be harder to see. Place your cheek near their mouth and nose to feel breath. For children, follow the same head-tilt, chin-lift method but be gentle and encourage calmness to avoid distress. Adults may have deeper breaths easier to spot. For elderly adults or people with disabilities, breathing might be shallow or irregular, so take extra time observing and listening carefully. When helping someone with a neck or spinal injury suspicion, avoid head tilt and use the jaw-thrust maneuver. In all cases, explain calmly what you’re doing to reduce fear and gain cooperation. Training tailored to these groups increases effectiveness and confidence.
What are common challenges and how do you handle them?
Sometimes you may find it difficult to see or feel breathing clearly. Poor lighting, cold weather, or noisy environments can make it tricky. Use a flashlight or move to a quieter spot if safe. Shallow or irregular breathing can be mistaken for no breathing; when in doubt, treat as no breathing and start CPR. If the person's chest is heavily clothed, try to observe the neck or upper chest areas where movement might be visible. Anxiety can cause hesitation—remember that starting CPR when unsure is safer than waiting. If the person vomits or has fluids in the mouth, turn their head to the side carefully to clear the airway before continuing. If you are alone, call emergency services and follow their instructions while performing first aid.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I check for breathing before starting CPR?
Check for at least 5 to 10 seconds by looking for chest movement, listening for breath sounds, and feeling for air on your cheek. If the person isn’t breathing normally by then, start CPR immediately.
What if the person is breathing but unconscious?
If unconscious but breathing, place the person in the recovery position on their side to keep the airway open and prevent choking on fluids. Monitor breathing and call emergency services.
Can I check for breathing if the person has a neck injury?
If a neck injury is suspected, avoid tilting the head. Use the jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway gently. Call emergency responders and continue careful monitoring.
What if I feel something but don’t see chest movement?
Breathing may be shallow or irregular. Use your cheek to feel for breath and listen carefully. If unsure, treat it as no breathing and start CPR to be safe.
How do I check breathing in an infant differently?
For infants, gently tilt the head slightly without overextending the neck. Watch for small, quick chest rises and feel for breath near the mouth and nose. Be gentle and calm.
What if I’m alone and find someone not breathing?
Call emergency services immediately. If trained, begin CPR right away. If not trained, perform hands-only CPR until help arrives or the person breathes.