When giving breaths to an adult, use the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver to open the airway. This involves gently tilting the person's head backward by placing one hand on their forehead and lifting the chin forward with the other hand. This position moves the tongue away from the back of the throat to help keep the airway clear for effective rescue breaths.
Specifically, after opening the airway with the head-tilt, chin-lift, pinch the person's nostrils shut, cover their mouth with yours to make a seal, then give two rescue breaths. Each breath should be about one second long, watching for the chest to rise, which indicates air is entering the lungs. If the chest does not rise, reposition the head with the head-tilt, chin-lift and try again.
The head-tilt, chin-lift method is not recommended if a cervical spine injury is suspected; in such cases, the jaw-thrust maneuver is preferred to avoid neck movement.
