Make Waves and Master the Lifeguard Test 2025 – Dive into Success!

In the case of drowning, the primary concern is the lack of oxygen reaching the lungs and, subsequently, the brain. When a person is submerged in water, they may not be able to breathe effectively or at all, leading to hypoxia, which is a critical lack of oxygen that can cause irreversible brain damage within minutes.

Providing rescue breaths is essential because it helps restore oxygen to the lungs and, therefore, to the body’s vital organs. While a person may not have a pulse in severe drowning situations, the immediate provision of rescue breaths can help buy valuable time until professional medical assistance arrives or until the individual can be revived, as it mimics the body's need for oxygen.

Other conditions, such as severe allergic reactions, heat stroke, or cardiac arrest, may require different forms of intervention. For instance, allergic reactions might necessitate the use of an EpiPen, heat stroke treatment involves cooling the body, and cardiac arrest typically requires chest compressions along with rescue breaths only if the individual is not breathing.