Indications Treatment of suspected upper airway obstruction in obtunded or unresponsive patients Part of initial emergency treatment for apnea or impending respiratory arrest Improvement of airway patency during BVM ventilation and sometimes during spontaneous breathing Confirmation of apnea Contraindications Absolute contraindications There is no medical contraindication to providing rescue breathing; however, a patient may have a legal contraindication (do-not-resuscitate order or specific advance directive in force).