After administering rescue breaths, what is the next step if an infant's chest does not rise?

The appropriate next step after administering rescue breaths and observing that the infant's chest does not rise is to repeat the rescue breaths. This indicates that the initial breaths may not have been effective in inflating the lungs, which could be due to various reasons such as improper positioning of the infant, the airway being obstructed, or a seal not being formed effectively during the rescue breaths.

Repeating the rescue breaths allows for another attempt to establish an open airway and provide adequate oxygen to the infant. It is crucial because the priority in CPR for infants is to ensure that they are receiving effective ventilations before proceeding to other interventions. If the chest still does not rise after repeating the breaths, further actions like checking for obstructions or starting chest compressions may be warranted based on the situation.

In this context, moving directly to chest compressions or back blows without ensuring the airway is open and breaths are effective could compromise the infant's condition. Seeking medical assistance should be part of the overall emergency response but does not substitute for the importance of addressing immediate life-saving measures like rescue breathing in a timely manner.