What is the easiest way to determine if a patient's chest is rising during resuscitation?

Observing chest movements is the most effective way to determine if a patient’s chest is rising during resuscitation. This method allows the rescuer to visually confirm the expansion of the chest, which indicates that air is being delivered into the lungs. It provides immediate and clear feedback on the effectiveness of ventilation. When observing chest movements, the rescuer can also assess the symmetry of the rise and fall, which can give additional information about the patient's respiratory status.

Other methods, such as listening for breath sounds or counting breaths, may not accurately reflect whether ventilation is occurring, particularly in emergency situations where visual cues are more immediate. Touching the chest can confirm that the chest is rigid, but it does not provide concrete evidence of airflow or effective ventilation. Therefore, visual observation stands out as the most straightforward and reliable technique during resuscitation efforts.