Employee Factsheet: Coronavirus (Covid-19) and First Aiders
There are increased risks of transmission of the virus during provision of first aid and CPR. This factsheet details the measures to be applied to improve the safety of first responders.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
The Covid-19 virus is known to be present in human secretions and its presence in droplets whenever an infected person coughs or exhales is thought to be its principal mode of spread. The administration of rescue breaths during CPR, even with a face shield, carries an obvious risk, as do chest compressions, which cause an exhalation from the victim's lungs.
