Page 22 - Participant Manual

CPR Breathing Barriers

CPR breathing barriers are used to protect you from contact with saliva and other body fluids, such as blood,
as you give rescue breaths. Breathing barriers also protect you from breathing the air that the person exhales. The
most basic and portable type of breathing barrier is a face shield, a flat piece of thin plastic that you place over
the person’s face, with the opening over the person’s mouth. The opening contains a filter or a valve that protects
you from coming into contact with the person’s body fluids and exhaled air. A pocket mask is a transparent,
flexible device that creates a tight seal over the person’s nose and mouth to allow you to give rescue breaths
without making mouth-to-mouth contact or inhaling exhaled air. Breathing barriers sized specifically for children
and infants are available. Always use equipment that is sized appropriately for the injured or ill person.

Hand Washing

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm running
water when you have finished giving care, even if you
wore disposable gloves. Wash for a minimum of 20
seconds and make sure to cover all surfaces of both
hands: your wrists, the palms and backs of your hands, in
between your fingers and underneath your fingernails.

If soap and water are not available, you may use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer to decontaminate your
hands. When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer,
use the amount of product recommended by the
manufacturer. Rub it thoroughly over all surfaces of your
hands, including your nails and in between your fingers,
until the product dries. Wash your hands with soap and
water as soon as you have access to hand-washing
facilities.

Safety First! Alcohol-based hand sanitizers may not be as effective if your hands are visibly
soiled with dirt or body fluids. In addition, although using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer © 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
properly will reduce the number of pathogens on your hands, it may not eliminate all pathogens.
For these reasons, always wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you can, even if you
used an alcohol-based hand sanitizer!

Chapter 1 Before Giving Care | 14 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 1 Before Giving Care | 15 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual