Which is better?

[Medic Tim]

I think the reason a lot of texts say a pocket mask is better for only 1 responder is because you can use both hands to form a seal. The preferred method for a bvm(from the text) is 2 ppl. Unless it was a family member I will not ever be using one (pocket mask)

 

[leoemt]

What book is recommending pocket mask for anything in EMS? If I'm sole responding to an arrest I'm doing compressions only until I have extra hands. Once I have hands for CPR I'm managing the airway with BVM and OPA at a minimum; advanced airways as required and time allows. You won't find a pocket mask on an Ambulance or RRU around here and I don't remember using them at any level above first aid.

Brady Prehospital Emergency Care 9th Edition page 284:

"Mouth-to-mask ventilation is the preferred method to use when performing artificial ventilation because of the following advantages:

-One EMT can ventilate using the two handed mask seal technique, achieving a better mask seal.

-The mask eliminates direct contact with the patient's nose, mouth and secretions.

-Use of a one way valve at the ventilation port prevents exposure to the patients exhaled air.

-The method can provide adequate tidal volumes and possibly greater tidal volumes than bag-valve-mask ventilation.

-Supplemental oxygen can be administered through the oxygen inlet that most pocket masks have in addition to the ventilation port."

Copied word for word straight from the text.

 

[NYMedic828]

Copied word for word straight from the text.

Unfortunately, a worthless text.

 

[mycrofft]

Unfortunately, a worthless text.

It supports MY prejudices, mostly.

However, to quote the quote:
"Mouth-to-mask ventilation is the preferred method to use when performing artificial ventilation..."
is a value judgement. Who prefers it and why? Not every rescuer can ventilate a pt with their own cardio-respiratory systems or musculature. And neither is worth much more than a tinker's damn without some sort of airway. A BVM can be hooked directly to a trache tube, a pocket mask cannot.

 

[leoemt]

Unfortunately, a worthless text.

I never said it was a good text I will say this though, I have read a couple of EMT textbooks and this was the better of the bunch. Got me through NREMT so thats all that matters. Now I can start my real education. The brady website is absolutely horrible. Several contradictions to the text book. I found and notified them of at least 3 errors on the website. Pretty sad when a student notices mistakes. It seemed to me that whoever made the content on the website just got bored or lazy as the content seemed to get worse the further you went. I stopped using the website altogether.