Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Pocket mask
Introduction
A pocket mask, or pocket face mask or CPR mask, is a device used to safely deliver rescue breaths during a cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest.
Design
Design
The pocket mask is a small device that can be carried on one’s person. Air is administered to the patient when the emergency responder exhales through a one-way filter valve. Modern pocket masks have either a built in one-way valve or an attachable, disposable filter to protect the emergency responder from the patient’s potentially infectious bodily substances, such as vomit or blood.[1]
Many masks also have a built-in oxygen intake tube, allowing for administration of 50-60% oxygen. Without being hooked up to an external line, exhaled air from the provider can still provide sufficient oxygen to live, up to 16%. Earth’s atmosphere consists of approximately 21% oxygen.
Usage
Usage
While a pocket mask is not as efficient as a bag valve mask, it does have advantages, besides portability, when only one rescuer is available. Because the bag valve mask requires two hands to operate, one to form a seal and the other to squeeze the bag, the pocket mask allows for both of the rescuer’s hands to be on the patients head. This allows the responder to perform a jaw thrust on patient’s suspected of a spinal injury.