Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

What is the purpose of rescue breaths during CPR?

1. To keep the lungs ventilated

2. To prevent the heart from stopping

3. To maintain blood pressure

4. To establish a normal breathing pattern

The correct answer is: To keep the lungs ventilated

Rescue breaths during CPR serve the important purpose of ensuring that the lungs are ventilated, which is crucial when a person is not breathing on their own. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, their body is unable to receive oxygen, which is vital for the functioning of all organs. By providing rescue breaths, you are introducing oxygen directly into their lungs, allowing it to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This helps maintain oxygen levels in the body and can prevent brain damage and other serious complications that arise from prolonged lack of oxygen. While maintaining adequate blood pressure and preventing the heart from stopping are important aspects of overall resuscitation efforts, the primary role of rescue breaths is specifically centered around providing oxygenation to the lungs. Additionally, establishing a normal breathing pattern is a long-term goal of CPR but is not the immediate purpose of delivering rescue breaths, especially when a victim is in a critical state and not breathing normally. Thus, ensuring the lungs are ventilated is the most accurate description of the purpose of rescue breaths during CPR.