Carrying Oxygen off duty

[Chief1C]

BVM's are for two person CPR

IMO. All providers need to be able to do CPR, using a BVM; as a single rescuer. I've been in that position on occasion. A third crew member is a luxury that we aren't always lucky to have.

While expensive, there are BVM's that have mask restraints, and a 36" long hose between the mask and bag, to allow you to stay at the victims side, and ventilate them, with out moving around. The patient gets the same, if not better tidal volume, and you're as safe as you can manage in your CPR position.

However, since many ambulances don't have restraint systems for persons performing resuscitation, you're probably not safe anyway.

--Anyhoo

The BIG boxes.. Trauma, IV, etc.. They look heavy, but roomy.

[emt322632]

Actually for the new hands only CPR the AHA is incorporating it into ALL levels of CPR from Heartsaver up to Healthcare provider.

Hands only CPR is meant only for witnessed out of hospital arrests, nothing else. I stressed this to my students the other night, and told them that if they had a barrier device with them, they should perform regular CPR.

However if no barrier device is present, it's time to go to work with hands only. Personally, I would never do mouth to mouth on someone I didn't know, so this makes hands only CPR perfect for everyone, not just lay rescuers.

Sorry to hijack the post...

[Mateo_1387]

Why not do continuous compressions as a health care provider. I know AHA may not say it, but test show there is good air movement, and that if you stop compressions for say ten seconds to breath, it will take about 15-30 seconds of compressions (not sure on the exact numbers, but I know this should be close), and that is just to get the blood moving, it probably going to take a few more seconds to get oxygenated blood to the vital organs. So the person receiving compressions is not perfusing for roughly 45 seconds, just to put two puffs of air in. In my opinion, it should be continuous compressions, BVM/Mask or not.

[daniell68]

Originally the topic was carrying O2 in a personal kit, I guess I did not post back quite right as I started talking about hands free cpr. But if you are going to or want to carry O2 in your kit, and you are a provider level in CPR, why would you not have a barrier? I said nothing about not using a BVM as a single rescuer I even mentioned using it for rescue breathing, and I agree that hands only cpr works and may even be better than the old way in certain circumstances. There is also studies on getting away from chest compressions all together and doing abdominal compressions, or even using a device that would cause a negative pressure in the chest on release of the compression. this is probably in the wrong post so sorry bout that.