Final answer:
The head should be tilted back slightly by lifting the chin using the head-tilt, chin-lift technique to ensure an open and clear airway during rescue breathing. This position is vital for effective air flow during the procedure and is a key part of CPR which also includes chest compressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
During rescue breathing, an adult's head must be positioned appropriately to ensure that the airway is open and unobstructed. The head should be tilted back slightly by lifting the chin. This maneuver is known as the head-tilt, chin-lift technique. It's essential to maintain the head in this position while performing rescue breaths to allow air to flow freely into the lungs. In conjunction with chest compressions, rescue breathing is a critical component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which aims to circulate blood that contains oxygen to the brain and other vital organs until professional medical help can take over or the heart starts beating on its own.
CPR is often performed in emergencies where a person has stopped breathing or their heart has stopped beating. The guidelines for CPR recommend chest compressions that are at least 5 cm deep and at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, which coincides with the rhythm of the song “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees. While current CPR practices focus mainly on quality chest compressions, rescue breathing is still a fundamental skill.