What is essential to do between giving the first and second breath during CPR?

Allowing the chest to fall and for the air to exit between breaths during CPR is essential for several reasons. When you deliver a breath, it's important to ensure that the chest rises, indicating that air is entering the lungs. However, if you do not allow the chest to fall before giving the next breath, you risk over-inflating the lungs, which can impede effective ventilation and lower the overall efficiency of the breaths being given.

This process, often referred to as "releasing air," ensures that the person receives a fresh breath with each cycle of ventilation. Also, letting the chest return to its resting position helps create a negative pressure within the chest cavity, which aids in drawing in more air with the next breath. This aspect of the ventilation technique is critical to providing effective CPR, as it ensures that oxygen can circulate properly through the circulatory system, thereby increasing the chances of sustaining vital organ function until more advanced medical help arrives.