Best CPR Breathing Barrier

[MustanGT1964]

Whats the best CPR breathing barrier i can get?

[BLSboy]

None.
Don't bother with that shiite.
Do CPR until an equipped vehicle arrives.

[ExplorerLt1991]

The one that puts the most plastic between you and the victim as possible

[elswappo]

The American Heart Assoc. are recomending compression only CPR now for the lay parson. Thats you if you didn't arrive of the responding unit, and if you did show up on the truck you have better tools to use then you mouth

[BLSboy]

Unless its family, or a damn close friend
DONT DO MOUTH TO MOUTH!!

I have a BVM that was going to be thrown out at work, because the packaging was broken, so I took it, and threw it in the back of my truck instead.
It stays in my truck, and I have no intentions of taking it out unless something happens right in front of me.
Don't be a wacker and carry some micro shield around on your keychain.

[KEEPBACK200FEET]

Unless its family, or a damn close friend
DONT DO MOUTH TO MOUTH!!

I have a BVM that was going to be thrown out at work, because the packaging was broken, so I took it, and threw it in the back of my truck instead.
It stays in my truck, and I have no intentions of taking it out unless something happens right in front of me.
Don't be a wacker and carry some micro shield around on your keychain.

I was going to suggest that just to set someone up to make them look like a whacker, dangit.

[BLSboy]

We can still tell the kid to get an intubation kit!

[ExplorerLt1991]

Unless its family, or a damn close friend
DONT DO MOUTH TO MOUTH!!

I disagree. Not doing CPR would make me feel irresponsible.

The American Heart Assoc. are recomending compression only CPR now for the lay parson. Thats you if you didn't arrive of the responding unit, and if you did show up on the truck you have better tools to use then you mouth

Remember, do what you are trained to do or you are NOT protected by Good Samaritan laws.

[mvfd27]

I disagree. Not doing CPR would make me feel irresponsible.

Remember looking out for ourselves is our first priority....If you're not sure what nasties the down person may be carrying....just do compressions. Even doing compressions will cause some air exchange as discovered in CCR studies. I teach AHA CPR and advise my classes if they aren't comfortable putting the lip lock on a person, just do compressions...and CCR studies are showing that compressions are the most valuable part of CPR anyway.

Remember, do what you are trained to do or you are NOT protected by Good Samaritan laws.

This may vary from state to state, but in Wisconsin, even as a trained responder you are protected by good samaritan laws when you are not acting/responding as a part of your EMS/Rescue service. But you are right, you should act within your scope of training no matter what, it is in everyone's best interest, especially the patient's.

[BLSboy]

I wouldn't. I didn't put them in the position that they are in.
I damn sure am not going to put myself in a position that would expose me to bodily fluids....and guess what?
Doing mouth to mouth IS an exposure. Have you learned about gastric distention yet? Have you ever done mouth to mouth on a person, then have them vomit in our mouth?

CCR is a very effective tool, in fact, in some areas, CCR is more effective then CPR.

Any CPR class you take will inform you that doing just compressions is effective, should you not have a barrier unavailable.
But hey, its your life, if you want to get exposed to God knows what, knock yourself out.

[The nots so new FNG]

Remember, do what you are trained to do or you are NOT protected by Good Samaritan laws.

First - you are protected so long as you do not act in a grossly negilent way. This varies somewhat state to state but I would argue that mouth to mouth with NO barriers is grossly negligent. Its up to you to decide if compressions only is better than watching on the sidelines.

You do what you can with what you have. If you have nothing, compressions is likely all you can do which is a damn site better than nothing. Once the truck gets there, then you have tools to work with.

[ccfdblehman]

I don't believe the OP is concerned about not having nothing with him. He asked what the best barrier device is.
I personally do not find it wackerish if someone has a microshield on their key chain. I would be more than happy if someone pulled out a microshield in an attempt to save my life if I went down.

In response to the original question, I have a pocket mask I got in EMT class in the door of my car. Hopefully I'll never use it. I like the pocket mask though, because it can hold a lot more vomit than a thin sheet of plastic.

Also, in response to AHA teaching compression only CPR... that is for a witnessed arrest. That and if you don't feel comfortable with mouth to mouth.

[mvfd27]

Also, in response to AHA teaching compression only CPR... that is for a witnessed arrest. That and if you don't feel comfortable with mouth to mouth.

Just to clarify, I never said AHA teaches compression only CPR for all situations, it is simply a recomendation I make to all my classes for the very reasons you gave above.

[ExplorerLt1991]

I don't believe the OP is concerned about not having nothing with him. He asked what the best barrier device is.
I personally do not find it wackerish if someone has a microshield on their key chain. I would be more than happy if someone pulled out a microshield in an attempt to save my life if I went down.

In response to the original question, I have a pocket mask I got in EMT class in the door of my car. Hopefully I'll never use it. I like the pocket mask though, because it can hold a lot more vomit than a thin sheet of plastic.

Also, in response to AHA teaching compression only CPR... that is for a witnessed arrest. That and if you don't feel comfortable with mouth to mouth.

Yeah, I never meant not to say to do CPR without a barrier.

I meant that if you do CPR, do it how you are trained.

[ExplorerLt1991]

First - you are protected so long as you do not act in a grossly negilent way.

Performing a skill that you are not trained in/ altering your training. Is being negligent. I'll try to find a case law later...

[VESmedic]

don't be an idiot.....CCR until the engine/rescue arrives...there is no one on this planet other than close family that is worth getting a disease from, especially someone that, the outcome is most likely going to be very grim, those are the facts....

[ffscm72]

If you are CPR trained!, you can purchase on of these little doo-dads online. Great little invention that separates you from the dead guy...lol



Fairly cheap @ $10 or less.

Just do a google search for MDI CPR Microshield.

[The nots so new FNG]

Performing a skill that you are not trained in/ altering your training. Is being negligent. I'll try to find a case law later...

I'd love to see the case law. If its true - then you may have to sit back and watch someone die to avoid a lawsuit if you don't have a barrier. (I imagine that lawsuit from doing nothing would be worse though)

I stand by my statement. Compression only CPR is better than no CPR (witnessed or not). If you don't have a barrier, then this is your option. Do something constructive or do nothing.

With a truck and gear - I'd take a BVM with supplemental O2, airway adjuncts and suction with an AED on the side. Oh, add another person to do the compressions.

[BLSboy]

Performing a skill that you are not trained in/ altering your training. Is being negligent. I'll try to find a case law later...

ITS CPR YOU DINGLEBERRY!!
Laypeople who watch Baywatch can do it!
There is VERY little that one can do without equipment that could be negligent!
Save your 10 bucks, you're gonna need it for gas, do CCR, and dial 911.

We are not talking ACLS, needle decompression, manual defibrillation, or intubating here.
C
P
R

duh

[BLSboy]

I'd love to see the case law. If its true - then you may have to sit back and watch someone die to avoid a lawsuit if you don't have a barrier. (I imagine that lawsuit from doing nothing would be worse though)

I stand by my statement. Compression only CPR is better than no CPR (witnessed or not). If you don't have a barrier, then this is your option. Do something constructive or do nothing.

With a truck and gear - I'd take a BVM with supplemental O2, airway adjuncts and suction with an AED on the side. Oh, add another person to do the compressions.

You can't sue me if I have no PPE (and off duty). My safety comes first. Ergo, I am acting within my training as an EMT-(almost P).
Damn right compression only CPR is better then nothing. A precordial thump for witnessed collapse then CPR is even better (if you are trained in it)
I'll take a 3 man Rescue, with full ACLS medications, intubation kit, and new Zoll monitor/defib, with a "thumper" for compressions.