Episode 7 of 14 · 2 min read
How Breathing Works: The Respiratory System
The respiratory system is your airways and lungs. Understanding how breathing works explains why an open airway is the first thing a first aider protects.
The mechanics of a breath
Your body breathes spontaneously as long as two things are true: there is air to breathe, and the airway is open.
To breathe in, the diaphragm contracts and flattens while the ribs lift, making room for air to be drawn into the lungs. To breathe out, everything relaxes and the air leaves. Then the cycle starts again.
Why this matters in first aid
In an unresponsive casualty the muscles relax, including the tongue, which can fall against the back of the throat and seal the airway shut. That is why the head tilt chin lift, and the recovery position, sit at the heart of basic life support: they keep the machinery of breathing open.
Common questions
Why do unconscious people stop breathing?
Often the airway is blocked rather than the lungs failing: the relaxed tongue falls against the back of the throat. Opening the airway with a head tilt chin lift can restore breathing on its own.
Related skills
Go beyond reading
Skills stick when you practise them
A certified course puts these skills in your hands: real CPR practice, real feedback, a recognised certificate for work. One-day Emergency First Aid at Work courses run across the UK.
Find a certified courseFirst Aid Guru guides support learning and refreshing your knowledge. They are not a substitute for regulated, hands-on first aid training or for professional medical advice. In an emergency call 999 (UK) and follow the call handler's instructions.