What is the significance of rescue breaths in CPR?

Rescue breaths are a critical component of CPR, particularly for individuals who are unresponsive and not breathing. The primary significance of delivering rescue breaths is to provide oxygen to the person's lungs, which is vital for sustaining life until advanced medical care can be obtained. When a person is not breathing, their body cannot receive the oxygen it needs to function, leading to brain damage and potentially death. By performing rescue breaths, you are helping to supply oxygen directly to the lungs, which can improve oxygenation of the blood and support vital organs during a cardiac arrest.

In contrast, while keeping a person awake is important in different scenarios, it is not relevant when someone is unresponsive and requires resuscitation. Stabilizing a person's spine is crucial in specific traumatic injuries; however, it does not pertain directly to the function of rescue breaths in CPR. Lastly, while rescue breaths can indirectly assist in circulation by providing oxygen to the bloodstream, their primary purpose focuses on ensuring that oxygen is delivered to the lungs first. This makes the role of rescue breaths fundamental in managing unresponsive patients during CPR.