What is one method to check whether a person is breathing?

What is one method to check whether a person is breathing?

• A. Pinch the nose and blow into the mouth to check breathing
• B. Turn your head sideways to listen for breathing and watch the chest rise
• C. Feel for a pulse at the neck
• D. Listen for a heartbeat with a stethoscope

Answer: (B)

Breathing status is determined by watching for chest movement and listening for breath sounds. Turning the head to the side to listen and watching the chest rise uses both visual and auditory cues to quickly confirm whether air is moving in and out. This combined check is the most direct way to assess breathing. The other options shift focus to delivering breaths or to feeling a pulse or heartbeat, which don’t tell you if the person is actually breathing.

Breathing status is determined by watching for chest movement and listening for breath sounds. Turning the head to the side to listen and watching the chest rise uses both visual and auditory cues to quickly confirm whether air is moving in and out. This combined check is the most direct way to assess breathing. The other options shift focus to delivering breaths or to feeling a pulse or heartbeat, which don’t tell you if the person is actually breathing.