Abstract: A breath detection apparatus for monitoring individual breaths of a patient. The apparatus includes a sensing assembly comprising a humidity sensor. The sensing assembly adapted to be connected to an oxygenation device wherein respiratory gases of a patient are directed over the sensing assembly and the humidity sensor is adapted to monitor differences in humidity during a breath of the patient. The humidity sensor generates an electrical signal representing a humidity level in response to measuring the humidity during the breath. The apparatus also includes a processor in electrical communication with the sensing assembly to receive electrical signals generated by the humidity sensor and determine a state of the relative humidity during the breath, and a visual display element controlled by the processor and adapted to display a predetermined visual alert in response to the state of the relative humidity during the breath.