What is the recommended rescue breathing rate for an adult during CPR?

• A. 1 breath every 5-6 seconds for an adult
• B. 1 breath every 2 seconds
• C. 1 breath every 15 seconds
• D. 1 breath per minute

Answer: (A)

During adult CPR, the rescue breathing pace should be about one breath every 5–6 seconds, which is roughly 10 breaths per minute. This rate provides a steady supply of oxygen to the blood while chest compressions do the work of circulating it, without causing the chest to be overinflated.

Giving breaths more slowly (every 15 seconds or once per minute) would fail to oxygenate the bloodstream adequately, while breathing too quickly (every 2 seconds) can overinflate the lungs, increase intrathoracic pressure, and reduce venous return to the heart, decreasing overall effectiveness of CPR.

In practice, with an advanced airway you ventilate at this steady 5–6 second rhythm, and with a two-rescuer scenario you still aim for about 10 breaths per minute. If you’re following a 30 compressions / 2 breaths pattern without an advanced airway, you still approximate this rate overall, balancing breaths with compressions.