What is the purpose of providing rescue breaths?

The main purpose of providing rescue breaths is to get oxygen into the victim's blood. When someone is unresponsive and not breathing effectively, they are not receiving adequate oxygen, which is vital for the survival of their organs and brain. By delivering rescue breaths, you are directly providing oxygen, which can help revive normal breathing or sustain life until further medical help arrives.

While it is also important to open the victim's airway and ensure that there is a clear passage for air to enter the lungs, the primary focus of rescue breaths is to increase the oxygen saturation in the bloodstream. Circulating the blood to vital organs is typically addressed through chest compressions rather than rescue breaths. Thus, the action of delivering oxygen can be seen as the core objective in this specific component of CPR.