What is the primary risk of rear restraint methods in terms of breathing?

• A. Reduced oxygen intake due to airway obstruction.
• B. Positional asphyxia risk if the airway is compromised or breathing is restricted.
• C. Increased heart rate.
• D. Decreased peripheral vision.

Answer: (B)

Breathing can be compromised when someone is restrained from behind because the position and pressure can limit chest and abdominal expansion and, in some cases, shift or compress the airway. This creates the risk of positional asphyxia: if the airway is compromised or breathing is restricted by how the body is held, ventilation drops and the person may not get enough oxygen, even without a complete airway blockage.

While an obstructed airway can contribute to reduced oxygen, the central mechanism in rear restraint is the mechanical restriction of ventilation caused by body position, which is what positional asphyxia describes. Increased heart rate is a stress response, not the primary breathing risk here, and decreased peripheral vision is unrelated to breathing.