Final answer:
To give breaths without a face mask, you should seal the person's nose by pinching nostrils shut for adults or using a mouth to mouth-and-nose technique for children. Ensure the airway is open with a head tilt-chin lift maneuver. These techniques should be used when trained in CPR and when immediate resuscitation is necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
When giving breaths to a child or an adult without a face mask, one must take certain precautions to ensure that the breaths are effective and safe. If available, use a barrier device; if not, it's important to seal the person's nose closed. For an adult, pinch the nostrils shut with your thumb and index finger while providing breaths. In the case of a child, the nose may be covered sufficiently with the same technique or by pressing the lips over both the child's mouth and nose due to the smaller facial structure. This direct mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose-and-mouth method can be used when no face mask is available and immediate resuscitation is required.
It is crucial to ensure that the head tilt-chin lift maneuver is correctly performed to open the airway. This enables the breaths you provide to enter the lungs effectively rather than being obstructed by the tongue or other parts of the airway. As a reminder, these techniques should only be performed if you are trained in CPR and if there is no risk of disease transmission, or if the urgency of the situation outweighs these concerns.