A person has collapsed in the staff kitchen, on a construction site or in a childcare room. They are not responding when spoken to. In that moment, knowing how to check unconscious breathing is not a minor first aid detail – it determines what happens next. A quick, correct check helps you recognise whether to place them in the recovery position or begin CPR and use an AED.
The goal is not to make a medical diagnosis. It is to identify whether the person is breathing normally and respond without delay. A calm, practised approach protects the person in front of you and gives everyone nearby clear direction.
Start with DRSABCD
Australian first aid follows the DRSABCD action plan: Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR and Defibrillation. The sequence matters because you cannot help someone if you become injured yourself, and a blocked airway can prevent breathing even when a person’s heart is still beating.
First, check for danger. Look for traffic, electrical hazards, fire, machinery, violence, unstable structures, fumes or anything else that could place you, the casualty or bystanders at risk. Remove the danger only if it is safe and practical. Do not rush into an unsafe area.
Next, check for a response. Speak loudly and clearly: “Can you hear me?” Gently squeeze their shoulders. For an infant, gently tap the foot rather than shaking or squeezing the shoulders. If there is no response, treat the person as unconscious.
Send for help early. Ask a specific person to call Triple Zero (000), collect the workplace first aid kit and bring the AED if one is available. Being specific prevents the common problem of several people assuming somebody else has made the call. If you are alone, call 000 on speaker so you can continue providing care while speaking with the operator.
How to check unconscious breathing in 10 seconds
Once the person is unresponsive, open their airway. Carefully roll them onto their back if they are not already lying flat and it is safe to move them. Place one hand on their forehead and gently tilt the head back. Lift the chin with two fingers. This head-tilt, chin-lift manoeuvre moves the tongue away from the back of the throat and helps open the airway.
Look inside the mouth only if you can clearly see something blocking it. Remove visible material with your fingers if it is easy to reach. Do not perform a blind finger sweep. Pushing an unseen object further down can worsen the blockage.
With the airway open, check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. Position your cheek and ear close to their mouth and nose while looking towards their chest. You are checking three things at once:
- Look for the chest or upper abdomen rising and falling.
- Listen for the sound of regular breaths.
- Feel for air moving against your cheek.
Normal breathing is regular and effective. You should see a consistent rise and fall of the chest, hear quiet breathing, and feel air movement. Do not spend longer than 10 seconds trying to decide. If you are unsure whether breathing is normal, act as though it is not.
Do not mistake gasping for normal breathing
An unconscious person may make occasional snorting, gurgling, groaning or gasping sounds. These are sometimes called agonal breaths. They can occur shortly after cardiac arrest and are not normal, effective breathing.
Agonal breathing may be slow, irregular or noisy, with long pauses between breaths. The chest may move once or twice, then stop. It can be confronting, particularly when a person appears to be taking an occasional breath, but it requires the same immediate response as no breathing: start CPR and use an AED as soon as possible.
This is why first aiders are taught to check for normal breathing, not simply any sign of breathing. A delayed decision can delay lifesaving chest compressions and defibrillation.
If they are breathing normally
If the person is unconscious but breathing normally, place them in the recovery position. This helps keep the airway open and allows fluid, vomit or blood to drain from the mouth rather than entering the airway.
Kneel beside them, move the arm nearest you out at a right angle, place their far hand against their cheek, bend the far knee, then roll them towards you onto their side. Adjust the top leg so it supports their position. Tilt their head slightly back and keep their mouth facing downwards so fluids can drain.
Call 000 if this has not already been done. Continue to monitor their breathing and response until emergency services arrive. Breathing can deteriorate, so repeat the check regularly. If they stop breathing normally at any stage, roll them onto their back and begin CPR.
Where a serious injury is suspected, such as after a fall, vehicle incident or impact to the head, neck or spine, avoid unnecessary movement. However, an open airway and normal breathing remain the priority. If they need to be moved to manage their airway, do so as carefully as possible while keeping their head and neck aligned.
Do not give an unconscious person food, water, medication or anything else by mouth. Do not leave them alone, even if they seem to be sleeping. Their condition needs active observation.
If they are not breathing normally
If the person is not breathing or has only occasional gasps, begin CPR immediately. Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest, put your other hand on top, and press down firmly and quickly. For adults, aim for 30 compressions followed by two rescue breaths, continuing at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
If you are not willing or able to give rescue breaths, provide continuous chest compressions. Any CPR is better than no CPR. The Triple Zero operator can guide you, and other people nearby can take turns with compressions to reduce fatigue.
Use an AED as soon as it arrives. Turn it on and follow the voice prompts. AEDs are designed for use by ordinary people, including workplace staff who may not have used one before. Attach the pads to the bare chest as shown on the diagrams, make sure nobody is touching the person during analysis, and follow the device’s instructions. Continue CPR whenever the AED tells you to do so.
Why workplaces need a shared response
The person who finds an unconscious colleague may not be the designated first aider. In real emergencies, the nearest capable person often starts the response, while others call 000, collect the AED, guide paramedics to the location and manage the surrounding area.
That is why a workplace emergency plan should make practical arrangements clear: where first aid kits and AEDs are located, who has first aid training, how emergency services enter the building, and how staff communicate across large sites or multiple floors. In education and care settings, the plan should also account for children, visitors and parent communication. In hospitality, retail and public-facing workplaces, staff need confidence managing an incident while protecting privacy and keeping the area clear.
Training is more than a compliance record. It gives teams the chance to physically practise opening an airway, recognising abnormal breathing, placing someone in the recovery position and responding when the scene is busy or stressful. Repetition makes the first few seconds less overwhelming.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most common error is waiting too long to decide whether breathing is normal. Keep the check to 10 seconds. Occasional gasps, noisy snorts and irregular breaths do not count as normal breathing.
Another mistake is forgetting the airway step. A person can appear not to be breathing because their airway is obstructed by their tongue or fluids. Open the airway first, then reassess. Avoid crowding the casualty with bystanders, and do not let someone hold an AED back because they are worried about using it incorrectly. The prompts are there to guide you.
It also helps to avoid vague instructions. Rather than calling out, “Someone ring an ambulance,” nominate a person and say, “You in the blue shirt, call 000 and return to me.” Clear leadership is a safety skill.
Build confidence before an emergency happens
No one wants to use these skills, but workplaces and families are safer when people know what to do without searching for instructions under pressure. Keep first aid qualifications current, make sure emergency equipment is visible and maintained, and include realistic response scenarios in safety discussions.
EDS Training Group helps teams turn first aid knowledge into calm, practical action through hands-on training that prepares people to respond when it matters. Be ready to look, listen and feel for normal breathing – then act decisively for the person who needs you.
