Responsive? Breathing? The Ten Seconds That Decide

A cool-down in pairs where students calmly and carefully practice the first check: is the person responsive and breathing normally? The slow pace brings heart rates down while locking in the most important step of any rescue.

How to play

1. In pairs at a mat: one lies face up and the other kneels beside them (1 min).
2. Check responsiveness: tap the shoulders gently and ask loudly 'Can you hear me? Are you OK?' (2 min).
3. Open the airway gently with one hand on the forehead and two fingers under the chin, then look, listen and feel for breathing while counting to ten (2 min).
4. Switch roles and repeat the whole sequence without help (2 min).
5. The partner lying down draws a case card and the pair says out loud what they would do next (1 min).

Rules

• Taps and moves are always gentle: you learn the motion, you never force the neck.
• Never take more than ten seconds to check breathing.
• The person lying down can say 'stop' at any time.
• Work quietly so you can listen.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: guide their hand to find forehead and chin, and assess mainly by listening and feeling.
• Students who prefer no contact: practice on a manikin or a cushion with a face drawn on it.
• Limited mobility: assess the partner lying on a bench at wheelchair height.

Learning goals

• Check responsiveness correctly.
• Assess breathing in ten seconds or less.
• Cool down with a precise, calm task.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 15
• case cards: 15

Teacher tip

The cards cover three cases: responsive; unresponsive and breathing (recovery position and call 911); unresponsive and not breathing normally (call 911, get the AED, start CPR). Common mistake: mistaking occasional gasps for normal breathing; stress that gasping is not breathing.

More activities like this

More cool-downs for Middle School