What condition indicates the use of mouth-to-nose ventilations instead of mouth-to-mouth?

Mouth-to-nose ventilations are indicated when you cannot make an effective seal over the patient's mouth. This situation might occur due to various reasons, such as the patient's mouth being too small, injured, or physically blocked, making it impossible to deliver air effectively via mouth-to-mouth ventilation. By using the mouth-to-nose technique, you can still provide necessary rescue breaths and support the patient's breathing.

The other conditions listed do not specifically necessitate the switching of ventilation technique. For instance, if a patient is an infant, the standard practice is typically to use a different approach tailored to their size and anatomy, rather than switching to mouth-to-nose ventilation. Similarly, if a patient is in respiratory distress, the focus is usually on assisting ventilation rather than changing techniques, unless there are issues with sealing the mouth. An injured mouth may not be the only reason that affects your ability to create a proper seal, making the inability to seal over the mouth the key condition for using the mouth-to-nose method.