Although the risk is low, several conditions are known to have been communicated during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation (Fragkou, 2021), as the mouth, saliva, exhaled air and blood are possible sources of transmissible viruses and bacteria.
Rules for low-risk CPR
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- Use PPE, including resuscitation mask with a one-way valve and eye protection (if available) when delivering rescue breaths.
- Wear gloves – it is good practice to have a pair of gloves in your pocket or bum bag when on patrol. If a risk to the rescuer is identified during assessment of danger, gloves should be applied (i.e., when there is a risk of coming into contact with blood or bodily fluids).
- Always wash your hands after resuscitation.
- Avoid contact with the patient’s blood or body fluids, if possible.
Blood or other body fluids from the patient may contaminate your clothing or other first aid equipment used during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Items that are soiled or single use should be placed in a leakproof heavy-duty plastic bag and disposed of as per your local standard operating procedures (SOPs).
If bodily fluid from the patient splashes into your eye, gently rinse your exposed eye with water and seek medical attention. If blood or bodily fluids splash into your mouth during CPR, thoroughly rinse your mouth out with water and seek medical attention.
Needlesticks
You may encounter hazardous sharps (“needlesticks”) in the course of your lifesaving duties. All needlestick injuries carry a risk of infection. Be sure to wear gloves when handling them with care and dispose of them safely using a sharps container as per your local SOPs.
To treat a needlestick injury on a patient, wash the broken skin area with warm soapy water and advise the patient to go to the hospital or visit a medical professional. You may also recommend mental health support services. Remember to complete an incident report form. You can find out more about Incident Reporting in the SurfGuard User Guide