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County Fire Rescue Cadets
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The Few The Chosen The Elite
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Oxygen Masks, Flow Rates, % O2 Delivered
MASK
TYPE
|
FLOW
RATE |
%
O2
DELIVERED |
COMMENTS |
| Nasal Cannula |
2-6 liters/min |
25 - 40 % |
Use only for mild respiratory distress.
Usually well tolerated. |
Non-rebreather mask
w/ O2 reservoir bag** |
10 - 15 liters/min |
80 - 90 % |
Considered best mask for delivering
high-flow, high-concentration O2 to patients with
adequate air exchange and 10- 29 respirations / min. |
| Bag-valve mask w/ O2
reservoir bag** |
12 - 15 liters/min |
up to 100 % |
Considered best mask for delivering high-flow,
high-concentration O2 to patients who
are NOT obtaining adequate air exchange, or have<10or>30
respirations / min. Recommended for use with
two trained, practiced rescuers.
|
| "Micro-shield" mouth shield |
no supplemental O2 |
usually 16 - 18 % |
Compact, disposable, for
CPR only. No O2
inlet. Be sure the ventilation tube is
inserted into the patient's mouth, not the rescuer's mouth! |
*In cold weather it may
be difficult to unfold the semi-rigid pocket mask and to maintain a seal
with the patient's face.
**The O2 reservoir bag may become
brittle in cold weather.
Oral Airway indications and
cautions
- Use only in unresponsive patients without a gag
reflex.
- Remove immediately if the patient develops a
gag reflex or vomits.
- To choose the proper size, hold the airway against
the side of the patient's face. It should extend from the corner of
the mouth to the angle of the jaw
- In infants and children, the airway should not
be inserted upside down and rotated 180 degrees because of
the danger of injuring the teeth or soft tissues. Instead, use a tongue
blade to depress the tongue and insert the airway right side up, sliding
it gently into place over the tongue.
Nasal Airway indications and cautions
- May be used in semi-conscious patients, and with
a gag reflex; however, if inserted too far, it too can cause a gag
reflex.
- Do
not use in patients with a suspected basal skull fracture.
- To choose the proper length, hold the nasal airway
against the side of the patient's face. It should extend from the
tip of the nose to the angle of the jaw. Select an airway that is
approximately the same diameter as the opening of the patient's nostril
(fig. 6.13.)
- Lubricate the nasal airway with a water-base
lubricant or the patient's own blood. Do
not use petroleum jelly or any other oil-base lubricant.
- Insert the airway with the beveled opening facing
toward the middle of the nose, and with the natural curve of the airway
following the curvature of the patient's airway.
- If you meet resistance when inserting a nasal
airway, stop and try inserting it into the other nostril. Rotating
the nasal airway gently upon insertion will often help.
Suction devices and cautions
- If the patient is being ventilated by pocket mask
or bag-valve mask, hyperventilate the patient for a few breaths after
suctioning.
- Suctioning should be continued for no
more than 5 to 10 seconds at a time.
- Insert the suctioning tube only as far as you
can see, and suction only on the way out of the mouth.
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