How to determine whether the patient is breathing spontaneously during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

When performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, determining whether the patient is breathing spontaneously is a crucial step. Here are some suggested methods:

First, tap the patient's shoulders and ask loudly to determine their state of consciousness. If the patient is unresponsive, then the next step is to observe the chest for any rise and fall. The observation time should last 5 to 10 seconds, and at the same time recite the number, such as "1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005" for accurate timing. If the patient's chest is observed to rise and fall during this period, it means that the patient is breathing spontaneously.

In addition to observing the rise and fall of the chest, you can also place your ears against the patient's mouth and nose to try to feel whether there is airflow out. If there is air blowing in the ears, it also means that the patient is breathing spontaneously.

However, it should be noted that in some cases, such as a patient in a coma or loss of consciousness, even if there is weak spontaneous breathing, it may be difficult to judge by observation or feeling. Therefore, when judging spontaneous breathing, multiple methods should be considered comprehensively and the patient's overall condition should be closely observed.

If it is determined that the patient is not breathing spontaneously or is breathing weakly, cardiopulmonary resuscitation should be performed immediately. During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, it is very important to continuously monitor the patient's respiratory and circulatory conditions in order to adjust first aid measures in a timely manner.

In general, determining whether a patient is breathing spontaneously requires careful observation and comprehensive evaluation. In an emergency, stay calm and perform CPR as soon as possible to save the patient's life. At the same time, it is also recommended that non-professionals receive relevant training so that they can perform CPR correctly when necessary.