Several disorders are known to have been communicated during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, as the mouth, saliva, exhaled air and blood are common sources of transmissible viruses and bacteria.
Rules for low-risk CPR
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- Using mouth-to-mask resuscitation is recommended.
- Always wear gloves.
- Always wash your hands after resuscitation.
- Avoid contact with the victim’s blood or body fluids, if possible.
Blood or other body fluids from the victim 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 any body fluid from the victim splashes into your eye, gently rinse your exposed eye with water and seek medical advice. If blood or body fluid splashes into your mouth during CPR, thoroughly rinse your mouth out with water and also seek medical advice.
Needlesticks
You may encounter hazardous sharps (‘needlesticks’) when presented with an unconscious victim. Be sure to wear gloves when handling them with care and dispose of them safely using a sharps container as per your local SOPs.
All needlestick injuries carry a risk of infection.
To treat a needlestick injury on a victim, wash the broken skin area with warm soapy water and advise the victim 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 on the SurfGuard User Guide.