What should be done if there is no visible chest rise during ventilation?

If no visible chest rise occurs during ventilation, it is crucial to first ensure that the airway is correctly positioned. Repositioning the airway can help to alleviate any obstruction that may be preventing effective ventilation. This could involve adjusting the patient’s head position or ensuring that any jaw or tongue obstruction is cleared.

Visible chest rise is an important indicator that the ventilation is occurring properly; if the lungs are not being inflated due to a blocked or improperly positioned airway, simply increasing the ventilation rate or administering oxygen will not resolve the underlying issue. Additionally, starting CPR is not appropriate at this stage unless the patient is unresponsive and not breathing, as the first step should be to confirm that the airway is open and ventilation can occur effectively.

Therefore, the correct action when there is no visible chest rise is to reposition the airway to facilitate effective ventilation. Proper airway management is fundamental in emergency medical situations, and addressing it first can significantly improve patient outcomes.