Would you do that?

[garciadiego]

If in a public situation and someone, a total stranger, is not breathing, it's a car accident, drowning, whatever, would you, no barrier device is availabe, do mouth to mouth? I have not been in thiis situation but I don't think I would.

[wheeliesurfer]

I always carry a barrier device with me (face shield on keychain and pocket mask in car), but if I were caught without a barrier device I would still try and find a way to respond. I would even consider covering the mouth with a T-Shirt so there was no skin to skin contact (and if the victim were to vomit it would provide a little bit of a barrier/obstruction before it came to my mouth!).

I feel that as a trained responder I have a duty to act as long as it is safe for me to do so (there is no fire, electrical hazard, chemical spill, etc). Now, seeing as this scenario is in public (not my place of employment where I am required to respond within my scope of training), I would not feel compelled to respond to the full extent of my training (being sure not to be negligent, practice outside my scope of training, etc) including doing compression only CPR if there was indication of possible communicable disease (track marks, open sores around the mouth or nose, etc) and I did not have the proper equipment to keep myself safe. However, barring obvious signs of infection risk I would most likely provide full CPR or rescue breathing until EMS arrived and took over care.

[OwlieO.O]

No, I wouldn't do mouth-to-mouth. No first-responder (and this is true of what they tell fire-fighters, etc.) should risk their lives for the lives of their patient. You don't want two people dying trying to save one life. Plus, paramedics should be able to arrive before an individual begins to go brain dead from lack of O2. Blood circulating from compression-only is very sufficient.

Also, this is why I have barriers in my car - gloves, gown, mask, glasses.

[newohiorn, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

"You give a nonbreather a minute and you're going to have a cardiac arrest anyway and then you can do compressions!"---was meant as a tongue in cheek comment.

Peace.

[Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B]

"You give a nonbreather a minute and you're going to have a cardiac arrest anyway and then you can do compressions!"---was meant as a tongue in cheek comment.

Peace.

My apologies...sarcasm and the written word are often not the best of friends.

I use my phone, to type, I work at night, and I'm a bad speller. Pick any reason you want for my misspellings

[Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN]

If that's what was called for, as in an opioid overdose where the person has a pulse but is simply not breathing effectively, yes I would. While it might be kind of icky, the chances of "catching something" from the simple act of rescue breathing are actually very small. Plus as mentioned previously, you can try using a plastic bag or a t shirt as a barrier.

[danigirldc]

Absolutely not. I'd call for help and do compressions.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for all your replies....but the situation is that the person is not breathing but DOES have a heart rate, a pulse, then what? You have no barrier device and you don't want to contract a disease.

solve the problem....get a mask...Amazon.com: Pack of 5 Ambu Res-Cue Key Mini CPR Mask Keychains: Health & Personal Care

$12.00 for 5.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

If that's what was called for, as in an opioid overdose where the person has a pulse but is simply not breathing effectively, yes I would. While it might be kind of icky, the chances of "catching something" from the simple act of rescue breathing are actually very small. Plus as mentioned previously, you can try using a plastic bag or a t shirt as a barrier.

This.

I remember attempting to use one on a person with a pulse and agonal breathing, until another bystander snatched it away from me...and did nothing... jaw-thrust did fine.

I now carry a one way valve mask in my kitchen sink handbag , just in case.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

Thanks for all your replies....but the situation is that the person is not breathing but DOES have a heart rate, a pulse, then what? You have no barrier device and you don't want to contract a disease.

Posters are not getting the moral/ethical question you have presented.

This scenario has variables.It would depend on the situation. The young mother with newborn twins with her.. of course.

A smelly street bum, of course not.

For everyone else in between, I feel my exposure would be limited and give the mouth to mouth.

No visible blood though, that's a deal breaker.

[AmyRN303, BSN, RN]

Compression only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional 30:2 CPR for the layperson in the field. Personally, I'm not highly worried about the possibility of "catching" something from rescue breaths given, but if there is blood involved, I'm not chancing it. Good quality compressions are my main focus.

This changes with a child....the guidelines for compression only CPR are not recommended for children.

All a moot point as I carry a mask with me anyway.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

I carry a BVM with me everywhere so its a moot point.

Seriously though its a tough call. Very situational

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

Posters are not getting the moral/ethical question you have presented.

This scenario has variables.It would depend on the situation. The young mother with newborn twins with her.. of course.

A smelly street bum, of course not.

For everyone else in between, I feel my exposure would be limited and give the mouth to mouth.

No visible blood though, that's a deal breaker.

I wasn't seeing the moral/ethical dilemma perhaps because I didn't see it as one; I thought the OP was being a little presumptuous that one would be concerned with those issues of mouth to mouth, especially when it has already been proven that such issues of "catching a disease" have been disproven.