The rescuer’s exhaled air contains approximately _____ oxygen and _____ carbon dioxide.

Study objective: To compare the concentration of a rescuer's exhaled O2 and CO2 during mouth-to-mouth ventilation with or without chest compression.

Design: Prospective repeated measures study. Simulated one- and two-rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed as recommended by the American Heart Association.

Setting: University laboratory.

Participants: Fifty-five healthcare professionals certified in basic and advanced cardiac life support volunteered as rescuers in this study.

Measurements and results: Thirty-three volunteers performed one-rescuer CPR, and 22 volunteers performed two-rescuer CPR. Minute ventilation for both groups increased 50% to 130% during CPR (p < 0.05). During the performance of CPR, the concentration of exhaled O2 increased from 16.4 +/- 0.7% to 16.9 +/- 0.5% in the one-rescuer CPR group and from 16.5 +/- 0.9% to 17.8 +/- 0.6% in the two-rescuer CPR group (p < 0.05). The concentration of exhaled CO2 in the one-rescuer CPR group did not change significantly throughout the entire experiment, but decreased in the two-rescuer CPR group from a baseline measurement of 4.0 +/- 0.6% to 3.5 +/- 0.4% (p < 0.05). During CPR, the concentration of exhaled CO2 was 4.0 +/- 0.4% in the one-rescuer CPR group compared with 3.5 +/- 0.4% in the two-rescuer CPR group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The gas given by mouth-to-mouth ventilation is a hypercarbic and hypoxic mixture compared with room air. Mouth-to-mouth ventilation is the only circumstance in which a hypercarbic and hypoxic gas is given as therapy. Further laboratory and clinical studies are necessary to determine the effect of mouth-to-mouth ventilation during CPR.

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

  • Always call triple zero (000) in an emergency. This fact sheet is not a substitute for proper CPR training by an accredited organisation.
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialised treatment is available.
  • Chest compressions are the priority in CPR. If you can't to do rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) chest compressions alone may still be life-saving. Try to minimise interruptions to chest compressions until help arrives.
  • CPR is a life-saving skill that everyone should learn. Courses are available.
  • CPR works on the principle of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths of rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) – known as 30:2).
  • Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can be used by anyone in an emergency and are easy to use. Voice prompts guide you through what to do.
  • The steps involved in CPR are known as DRSABCD (or ‘doctors ABCD’).

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The rescuer’s exhaled air contains approximately _____ oxygen and _____ carbon dioxide.

The rescuer’s exhaled air contains approximately _____ oxygen and _____ carbon dioxide.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

The rescuer’s exhaled air contains approximately _____ oxygen and _____ carbon dioxide.

The rescuer’s exhaled air contains approximately _____ oxygen and _____ carbon dioxide.

  • The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly.

  • Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment

  • The major sources of man-made air pollution in Melbourne are from motor vehicle emissions and wood heaters.

  • Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) and asthma attacks need urgent emergency first aid. In an emergency, always call triple zero (000).

  • Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that requires urgent medical attention.

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What percentage of exhaled oxygen is delivered during mouth to mask breathing without supplemental oxygen?

The amount of oxygen available to the patient in mouth-to-mouth is around 16%. If this is done through a pocket mask with an oxygen flow, this increases to 40% oxygen. If either a bag valve mask or a mechanical ventilator is used with an oxygen supply, this rises to 99% oxygen.

What percentage of oxygen do mouth

Because mouth-to-mouth ventilation gas contains only 17% oxygen, but 4% carbon dioxide, it is unknown whether 500-mL tidal volumes given during rescue breathing may result in insufficient oxygenation and inadequate carbon dioxide elimination.

How does CPR work if we exhale CO2?

There is still plenty of oxygen to supply a victim with enough to keep things going. In addition, the additional carbon dioxide in the rescuer's breath will raise the victim's blood carb on dioxide levels, which will addd to the normal stimulus to start breathing on their own.

Do we give CO2 during CPR?

During CPR, the concentration of exhaled CO2 was 4.0 +/- 0.4% in the one-rescuer CPR group compared with 3.5 +/- 0.4% in the two-rescuer CPR group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The gas given by mouth-to-mouth ventilation is a hypercarbic and hypoxic mixture compared with room air.