Car, office, home, and daypack all have FAK's with mask and gloves, but, I don't actually EDC them on me. I have a couple of the Red Cross keychain kits floating around too, in glove compartments of our cars. I figure that under most situations, I have one of those options handy.

I recert regularly on WFA and CPR, but, mostly cause we require having 2 people certified on any outdoor trips with the troop. When I was a volunteer on SAR years ago (80's) in the White Mountains, I did the "old fashioned" 2 person CPR once, drowning situation, no mask....... someone mentioned in an earlier post how the training doesn't prepare you for breaking a rib, or an unsuccessful attempt... they also don't mention the concept of projectile vomit...

Yeah I EDC surgical gloves. But I also use a backpack so plenty of room. It might be a bit prissy but I use the surgical gloves for all kinds of stuff like dealing with greasy bike chains when in nice clothes among other things.

I did carry a key CPR mask in my car or gym bag but stopped.

It was a work requirement.



They gave us a book and a booklet (protocol) to put in the first aid kit. The trainer knew the pages by heart as if it was the bible. It was funny, he asked us to name a page and he would tell us exactly what was the subject at that particular page. He made many jokes.



I know. They emphasized this.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Frankie

In the 70's I helped found a volunteer ambulance corps that serves a very busy urban area. I became an EMT when you could be certified in a challange written/practical exam. I've done CPR dozens, yes dozens of times, both with and without equipment. In all that experience, I only had three sucessful rescitations. But heh, three is better than none. I don't carry gloves and a mask in my pockets, but they're part of my home/car/briefcase kits.

Back in college when I was en EMT I kept gloves all over and a Laredel Pocket Mask in my book bag. The mask and a set of gloves made the transition with me to the working world and stayed exactly where I put them in my briefcase for years. I have no idea where they are now.

I recently joined my local volunteer EMS squad, and I guess I'm the exception that proves the rule, for the time being. My first call with the squad was last week. 60-something male with chest pains. All went well until we were about halfway to the ER, when he crashed big time. CPR and defib in a moving ambulance with lights and sirens blaring sure is exciting. The good news is that the patient was taken off the respirator this morning. He lived. (Very different from the traumatic arrests others have spoken of, where there is very little chance of successful resuscitation.) This is the first CPR I've been involved in, and the fact that it worked has me totally in awe.

I don't think I could watch someone go down without helping, so I feel I owe it to my family to get a mask back into my bag, which is with me almost all of the time when I'm out of the house.

Jesselp, good for you!!

And many, many thanks for giving your time and energy to help in this way.

If you are TRAINED in pre-hospital care, do you have a legal obligation to lend assistance?

NO

Do you have a moral obligation?

I believe so.

This is a decsion I belive we all need to make before confronted with an incident.

If you decide you will help, then be prepared.

Cardinal rule when assisting someone you don't know; If it's wet don't get it on you! PERIOD! There are just to many things out there that once you are exsposed they never go away. Many are fatal, many more will make your life miserable for the rest of your days.

Just not worth taking the chance.

I've got a simple mask (AMK's CPR Medic got used for parts of my EDC FAK), and three pairs of nitrites.

That being said, if I didn't have them, I'm not sure if it would stop me.

"...I'm not sure if it would stop me..."

Be very careful doing that. Victims, 'specially if the rescuer is getting too much air into their stomach, have a tendency to upchuck, right into your mouth if you don't have a mask. That is why they invented the one way valve. Rough it would be, but in todays world, there are kids being born with AIDS and other nasty things every day. I will not go bareback on anyone I don't know, period...

I know the risks. But I also know me. I not sure I could stand there and sit on my hands. That is why I carry a mask. :P I know I'm prone to being a bonehead.

Ok, to be honest, for SOME people, I know I could do it.