Finding yourself in a situation where a person is lying unconscious on the floor can be stressful and scary. If you were trained to perform CPR and know what to do, you should immediately start with the process. However, in some cases victims may have blood or vomit in their mouth, so to make things easier for you as a rescuer, it’s a good idea to have a CPR face shield.
This barrier is meant to protect you from germs, infections and viruses. CPR shields are applied onto the nose and mouth and will allow you to give rescue breaths without feeling grossed out or scared to perform it. Here’s what you need to know about CPR face shields.
What’s CPR Face Shield
A CPR face shield, also known as a face mask, is an item used during CPR to give rescue breaths to the victim. Traditionally, CPR used to be performed without a face shield or mask, where the person who rescues breathes directly into the mouth of the victim. But, using a CPR shield has many advantages. First of all, the shield ensures that blood, bodily fluids or germs are not transferred from the victim to the rescuer, which reduces the risk of infections and diseases. The CPR shield has a one-way filter valve in the mask that prevents entry of vomit, mucus, or blood into the rescuer’s mouth when they give rescue breaths into the mouth of the victim.
Why Use It?
If you are a rescuer, this mask is there to keep you safe. Even if you know the person you’re rescuing, it’s safe to wear it. Even though you might have learned to perform CPR without the mask, it’s a smart idea to carry one with you at all times, since you can’t know when you might use it.
How to Use a CPR Shield?
Before you use the shield, make sure you keep it in a pouch or envelop (often included in first-aid kits). Many people carry CPR masks in their bags, pockets or wallets. To administer the CPR mask properly you should first remove it from the wrapper and then place it over the casualty’s face. Many of these masks have a diagram printed on them, showing them the right position, so even if you haven’t used such a shield before, you will know what to do. Next, open the airway using a chin-lift or head-tilt manoeuvre. Place your mouth over the shield and give two rescue breaths to the victim. Keep performing chest compressions and rescue breaths until further medical help arrives at the scene.
Types of Barrier Devices
CPR shields are barrier devices that work as personal protective equipment made to keep the rescuer safe from any infections when they are in close contact with the victim. You may find yourself in a situation when you don’t know the victim, and surely it’s better to be safe than sorry. Hepatitis or HIV viruses spread through blood and other body fluids, so if the person has open wounds in their mouth chances are you might get infected. There is no way to know this about an unknown victim, so the mask is there to work as a barrier between them and you.
2 Types
There are two types of barrier shields used by rescuers – a flat plastic barrier and mask shaped like a pear. The first type is the flat plastic barrier is placed across the victim’s mouth and nose. It conforms to the face and allows you to blow rescue breaths through a hole in the middle. The hole has a one-way valve or a filter to keep you safe. Flat barriers are popular with lay rescuers since they are portable and most of the time they can fold uptight and can fit on a keyring.
A pear-shaped mask fits over the mouth and nose. It seals over the face and the rescuer blows rescue breaths through a one-way valve at the top.
This may look complicated to the untrained eye. However, for most rescuers, a flat barrier is perhaps the best option, since it’s easy to use and easy to carry.
Barrier or No Barrier?
Even if you don’t have a CPR shield, or don’t know how to use one, don’t hesitate to give CPR to the victim. If you panic that you might not know how to do it, call 000 and let the dispatcher walk you through the steps of CPR. They will ask you if you have performed CPR before and if you’re trained in rescuing people (and whether you’re willing to do mouth to mouth). The dispatcher will not care if you have a CPR shield or not.
So if you find a stranger lying unconscious and not breathing, ask someone to call 000 (or you can call yourself) and then start giving chest compressions and rescue breaths. In case the victim is someone you know r a family member, you won’t need a barrier shield. Keep in mind that time is everything in situations like this, so be sure to act fast and continue performing the CPR until medical help arrives.
If you plan to get a CPR mask make sure to keep it in a place that will always be within your reach (car keys, wallet, bag).
Australian Way of Life 