When should rescue breaths be given during adult CPR?

Rescue breaths should be given after every 30 compressions during adult CPR when trained to perform them. This approach is part of the CPR protocol for adults, aiming to provide both blood circulation through chest compressions and oxygenation through rescue breaths. The emphasis is on maintaining a rhythm that maximizes effectiveness; therefore, the ratios of compressions to breaths are standardized.

The sequence of 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths ensures that there is a consistent approach that reinforces the move between the crucial actions needed to resuscitate a patient: compressions to circulate blood and breaths to supply oxygen. This method is particularly important in cases of cardiac arrest and is designed to improve outcomes for the victim, enabling a higher chance of regaining a normal heart rhythm until advanced help arrives.

The other choices do not align with the recommended guidelines for adult CPR, which clarify the importance of this specific ratio and rhythm.