Pocket face mask

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Breathing aids

Hospital Corpsman Revised Edition

Suction devices

POCKET FACE MASK
Apocket face mask designed with an oxygen-inlet flow valve for mouth-to-mask ventilation can be used to give oxygen-enriched artificial ventilation. Although a pocket face mask system cannot achieve oxygen concentrations as high as the bag-valve mask system, it has the advantages of providing greater air volume (up to 4 liters per breath) and of being much easier to use (since both hands are free to maintain the airway and keep the mask firmly in place). See figure 4-24. The pocket face mask also acts as a barrier device. It prevents the rescuer from coming in contact with the patient's body fluids and breath, which are possible sources of infection.

To use the pocket face mask, stand behind the head of the victim, and open the airway by tilting the head backward. Place the mask over the victim's face (for adults, the apex goes over the bridge of the nose; for infants, the apex fits over the chin, with the base resting on the bridge of the nose). Form an airtight seal between the mask and the face, and keep the airway open by pressing down on the mask with both thumbs while using the other fingers to lift the jaw up and back. Ventilate into the open chimney of the mask.

Figure 4-23.-Bag-valve mask ventilator in use.

Figure 4-24.-Providing mouth-to-mask ventilations with style="mso-spacerun: yes"> pocket face mask.

Oxygen can be added by hooking the valve up to an oxygen supply. Since the rescuer's breath dilutes the oxygen flow in artificial ventilation, adjust the flow rate to increase oxygen concentration. At 5 liters per minute, the oxygen concentration will be approximately 50 percent. At 15 liters per minute, this concentration will increase to 55 percent.

The mask has an elastic strap so it can be used on conscious, self-ventilating patients to increase oxygen concentration.