Ensure the person is resting and breathing normally
Have the person sit or lie still
Observe the chest or abdomen rise and fall
Count one rise and one fall as one breath
Count breaths for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
Count for a full 60 seconds if breathing is irregular
Do not tell the person you are counting if possible
Record the number of breaths per minute
Note whether breathing is shallow, deep, fast, or irregular