The way I understand the AHA's view on rescue breathing and CPR, Most poeple don't get any air in anyway, so they say just circulating the blood will provide enough o2 to sustain life until the patient can be intibated in most situations. At least that's what I was told at my last CPR class. 10 to 20 mile out to sea I guess would be different.
Actually, there is enough residual Oxygen left in your blood to keep you alive for 2-3 minutes after the onset of respiratory arrest, without any intervention whatsoever. And simply circulating the blood will not introduce any new Oxygen into the system, which is why we do compressions and rescue breaths.
What I had reference to was the fact that Rescue Breathing is no longer taught as a separate skill in a basic CPR course. If the victim is not breathing, then you go directly to CPR, at the new recommended compression ratio of 30:2.
However, several dive training agencies
do cover Rescue Breathing in their basic OW courses, in conjunction with unconscious diver rescues. You obviously can't do chest compressions in the water, and I am curious to see how the agencies will address this in their curricula (i.e. will they continue to teach Rescue Breathing in their courses for in-water resuscitation, or will some other procedure be recommended).