What instruction should the EMT give to properly assess a patient's breath sounds?

To effectively assess a patient's breath sounds, instructing them to breathe slowly through their mouth while you listen to their lungs allows for a more accurate evaluation. This instruction facilitates steady, audible sounds that can be clearly heard through a stethoscope, enabling better assessment of the lung function and air movement.

When the patient breathes slowly, it reduces the likelihood of erratic or rapid breaths that could obscure important auditory cues, such as wheezing, crackles, or diminished breath sounds. The use of the mouth also opens up the airway more effectively than nasal breathing, which can limit sound transmission and make the assessment less effective.

Additionally, holding one’s breath or coughing can interfere with the ability to assess breath sounds, making those options less suitable for this specific assessment task. Therefore, instructing the patient to breathe slowly through their mouth optimally supports a thorough and accurate evaluation of their respiratory status.