When should you perform rescue breaths?

Performing rescue breaths is essential in situations where a victim is unresponsive and not breathing adequately. When engaging in CPR, if the airway is clear, it is safe and appropriate to provide rescue breaths. This intervention is critical because it helps to deliver oxygen to the lungs, which is vital for survival during cardiac arrest or any other scenario leading to respiratory failure.

Rescue breaths should be given after ensuring that the airway is open and unobstructed. In the context of CPR, if you encounter a victim who is unresponsive and not breathing or only gasping, giving breaths at a proper ratio alongside chest compressions becomes a crucial step in maintaining oxygenation until professional help arrives or until the person begins to breathe normally again.

In contrast, other situations such as when the victim is conscious, only has a normal heart rate, or is breathing normally do not warrant the need for rescue breaths. These scenarios indicate that the victim does not need artificial ventilation, making option B the appropriate choice.