How often should rescue breaths be given during CPR for adults?

In adult CPR, the correct approach is to provide rescue breaths after every 30 chest compressions. This rhythm of providing compressions followed by breaths helps to ensure that the heart is being revived while also facilitating oxygen delivery to the lungs, crucial for effective resuscitation. The combination of 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths is the standard guideline, maximizing both oxygenation and circulation during the critical moments of cardiac arrest.

This cycle continues until emergency medical services arrive or the person shows signs of life. The other stated frequencies, whether every 5-6 seconds or every 10 seconds, are not aligned with the established CPR protocols for adults, where the priority remains on maintaining circulation through effective chest compressions. Furthermore, only providing rescues breaths if the victim requests them misinterprets the necessity of those breaths in life-threatening situations where the individual is unable to breathe independently.