Advantages & Disadvantages of CPR Masks

A cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) mask is a mask that a person wears to administer CPR to another. CPR is administered when a person needs an emergency supply of oxygen to kick-start breathing or to improve blood circulation to the heart and lungs. CPR provides this oxygen, helping to prevent brain damage. A person who gives CPR can wear a CPR mask while doing so to prevent germs and diseases from getting transmitted between the person administering CPR and the patient.

Germ Prevention

• A CPR mask filters air administered in CPR and allows the person providing resuscitation to avoid direct mouth-to-mouth contact during CPR. In this way, the mask allow resuscitation to occur while minimizing the risk of germs or infection spreading between the person administering CPR and the person receiving CPR.

Small Size

• Their small size is another advantage that CPR masks have. CPR masks are very small and can easily be carried in a first aid kit or by emergency response staffs. This portability makes them not only useful, but also convenient.

Easy Operation

• Easy operation is another advantage. A CPR mask contains a tube that ‘captures’ oxygen and channels it to the mask. This in turn delivers oxygen to the patient. When performing resuscitation, every second can make the difference between life and death. A CPR mask goes on easily, with a simple band over the head.

Disadvantages

• Some masks contain latex, which can cause a reaction in people allergic to this substance. If a resuscitator or patient has an allergy that is not known, the mask could cause a potentially fatal allergic reaction. Another disadvantage is that some advanced kinds of masks cannot be easily fixed to the patient’s mouth, potentially costing time or resulting in imperfect delivery of oxygen.