What are the signs of effective rescue breaths?

When assessing effective rescue breaths, visible chest rise and fall is a primary indicator that the breaths are reaching the lungs properly. This sign signifies that air is being adequately ventilated into the airway, causing the chest to expand outwardly with each breath.

The presence of chest rise indicates that the airway is open and the breath is being delivered effectively into the lungs. In contrast, loud coughing sounds or absence of breath sounds would not imply that ventilation is successful. Coughing may indicate a response from the airway due to a foreign body or irritant, whereas absence of breath sounds suggests inadequate airflow. Shortness of breath typically indicates a problem rather than effective ventilation, as it reflects that the individual is not receiving adequate oxygenation or ventilation. Therefore, the clear physical response of the chest rising and falling is the definitive sign of effective rescue breathing.