What sign indicates effective ventilation during CPR?

The sign that indicates effective ventilation during CPR is the patient's skin regaining color. When performing resuscitation, one of the immediate goals is to restore oxygenation to the body's tissues. Cyanosis, or bluish discoloration of the skin, particularly around the lips and fingernails, often indicates lack of oxygen. As ventilation becomes effective and oxygen is delivered properly to the lungs, you should observe the return of normal skin color, signifying that the oxygenation process is functioning as it should.

This regaining of color reflects improvements in the body's ability to transport oxygen to the tissues, particularly when supplemental breaths are administered. Other signs, such as audible breathing sounds or the return of a pulse, may indicate different stages or aspects of the resuscitation process but are not direct indicators of effective ventilation. Eyes opening and closing does not specifically correlate with or provide concrete evidence of successful ventilation.