What is an essential factor to ensure when giving rescue breaths?

Giving rescue breaths that last about 1 second is vital because this timing allows for adequate inflation of the lungs without causing excessive pressure or over-inflation, which can lead to complications such as gastric distention or barotrauma. Each breath should be delivered gently, ensuring that the chest visibly rises, indicating that air is entering the lungs. This careful timing also helps to ensure that the rescuer can monitor the effectiveness of the breaths, making it possible to adjust technique if necessary.

In contrast, focusing on aspects such as slow deflation or providing continuous breaths without assessment can detract from the overall effectiveness of the rescue process. Properly timed breaths are essential to maximize the chances of a successful resuscitation while minimizing potential risks to the patient.