What is the recommended way to assess breathing in an unconscious patient?

The recommended way to assess breathing in an unconscious patient is to look, listen, and feel. This approach involves observing the chest for rise and fall, listening for breath sounds, and feeling for airflow at the mouth and nose. It is a systematic method that allows the responder to quickly and effectively evaluate whether the patient is breathing adequately.

Using this technique is crucial in emergency situations because it provides immediate information about the patient's respiratory status. If there is no breathing, it prompts the rescuer to initiate appropriate interventions such as rescue breathing or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This method is especially important in unconscious patients who cannot respond verbally or physically.

The other options do not provide a reliable way to assess breathing. Tapping the patient and observing might help determine consciousness but does not assess breathing. Asking the patient to cough is not applicable to an unconscious individual, as they are unable to respond. Checking for a pulse is important for assessing circulation, but it does not specifically assess breathing.