I was at the library yesterday with my son, and while walking back to my car I saw a man slumped over sitting by a tree, I walked by and discovered him unconscious and blue. I dialed 911 and was instructed to do CPR. I am freaked out because the 911 officer had me check his mouth for any objects and I had to stick my non-gloved hand into his mouth. I had to preform CPR until EMS arrived but no mouth to mouth (they didnt ask, I would not have done it anyway!) But the reason I am scared is bc while laying him flat he had track marks all up his arms, and I had a small cut on my middle finger on the hand I had to stick into his mouth. Can you get any type of diseases from exposure to saliva?
I was so scared, I feel like a horrible person bc I kind of wish I would have never went to the library yesterday bc now all I can think of is possible diseases I could be infected with, or if this guy could possibly sue me in the future (I had to give EMS and 911 my name, so they know exactly who I am)
Specializes in Peds, School Nurse, clinical instructor.
I keep a CPR face shield with pair of gloves inside it on my key chain.....just something to think about in case you find your self in this situation again. Props to you for helping this unfortunate soul. Hopefully your exposure and risk were minimal... :)
I keep a CPR face shield with pair of gloves inside it on my key chain.....just something to think about in case you find your self in this situation again. Props to you for helping this unfortunate soul. Hopefully your exposure and risk were minimal... :)
I often wondered what I would do in this type of situation. Can you please share where you got your CPR face shield/gloves that you can put on your key chain? Sounds like something very useful for us to have. :)
I was at the library yesterday with my son, and while walking back to my car I saw a man slumped over sitting by a tree, I walked by and discovered him unconscious and blue. I dialed 911 and was instructed to do CPR. I am freaked out because the 911 officer had me check his mouth for any objects and I had to stick my non-gloved hand into his mouth. I had to preform CPR until EMS arrived but no mouth to mouth (they didnt ask, I would not have done it anyway!) But the reason I am scared is bc while laying him flat he had track marks all up his arms, and I had a small cut on my middle finger on the hand I had to stick into his mouth. Can you get any type of diseases from exposure to saliva?
I was so scared, I feel like a horrible person bc I kind of wish I would have never went to the library yesterday bc now all I can think of is possible diseases I could be infected with, or if this guy could possibly sue me in the future (I had to give EMS and 911 my name, so they know exactly who I am)
Crystal
I'm not understanding your entire post. You're a nurse? Why not start CPR immediately and let your son dial 911? You see a blue person slumped over and they don't appear to be choking, why check their mouth?
As a nurse you should know you do whatever you can without exposing yourself. I had a similar situation and I had someone call 911 and I did compressions, and compressions only and the person survived.
No person is going to sue for anything. As far as diseases you need to report your possible exposure to the state health dept. They will test him and also you.
Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.
Be sure to buy a new one roughly once a year. Plastic has a hard time surviving the temperature variations, and being in a pocket/purse for extended periods of time.:)
I'm not understanding your entire post. You're a nurse? Why not start CPR immediately and let your son dial 911? You see a blue person slumped over and they don't appear to be choking, why check their mouth?
As a nurse you should know you do whatever you can without exposing yourself. I had a similar situation and I had someone call 911 and I did compressions, and compressions only and the person survived.
No person is going to sue for anything. As far as diseases you need to report your possible exposure to the state health dept. They will test him and also you.
-I am not a nurse, I graduated from nursing school in May, I am BLS certified but have never done CPR on a live person and have never witnessed a code.
-My son is 3, he does not know how to call 911, nor explain to EMS what the situation is
-I had no idea if this guy was choking,I did not think he was but I followed directions from EMS, they instructed me to open his mouth and inspect the airway and to make sure he was not choking.
bsyrn, ASN, RN
810 Posts
I keep a CPR face shield with pair of gloves inside it on my key chain.....just something to think about in case you find your self in this situation again. Props to you for helping this unfortunate soul. Hopefully your exposure and risk were minimal... :)