What is gastric inflation and how can it be minimized during rescue breaths?

Gastric inflation refers to the unintended filling of the stomach with air during the process of providing rescue breaths. This can occur when breaths are delivered too forcefully or rapidly, leading to air entering the gastrointestinal tract instead of the lungs.

Minimizing gastric inflation is essential because it ensures that the air is going to the lungs where it is needed for effective respiration, rather than the stomach, which does not contribute to oxygenating the blood. Gentle, comfortable breaths create an adequate airflow into the lungs while reducing the risk of air escaping into the stomach.

Using the correct technique—delivering slow and measured breaths—helps to maximize the effectiveness of rescue breaths by allowing the lungs to expand appropriately without excessive pressure that could push air into the stomach. Thus, focusing on providing gentle breaths is critical for effective basic life support and ensuring the afflicted individual receives necessary oxygen.