What does the term "rescue breathing" refer to?

The term "rescue breathing" specifically refers to the process of delivering breaths to a patient who is not breathing on their own. This technique is essential in situations of respiratory failure, where the individual has a pulse but is unable to initiate breathing adequately or at all. During rescue breathing, a rescuer provides air into the lungs of the non-breathing patient, typically through a mouth-to-mouth method or using an apparatus designed for this purpose, with the goal of maintaining oxygenation until normal breathing resumes or advanced medical help arrives.

The other choices describe different aspects of CPR and emergency care. Performing chest compressions is a crucial part of CPR, but it does not involve providing breaths. Checking for a pulse is an important assessment step in determining cardiac function, but it does not involve the act of breathing assistance. Using a bag-mask ventilator is a method of delivering breaths, which is related to rescue breathing but is not synonymous with the term itself; it's a specific tool used in that process. Thus, the correct understanding of "rescue breathing" lies in its focus on providing breaths to an individual who has stopped breathing.