1. Assessing the feasibility of cardiopulmonary resuscitation over bulletproof vests: Implications for rapid response by police officers
- Author
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Roberto Barcala‐Furelos, Silvia Aranda‐García, Miguel Díaz‐Sobral, Adrián Gómez‐Silva, Sheila Vázquez‐Álvarez, María Fernández‐Méndez, and Martín Otero‐Agra
- Subjects
bulletproof vest ,cardiac arrest ,CPR ,first aid ,Surgery ,RD1-811 ,Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid ,RC86-88.9 - Abstract
Abstract Introduction The aim was to evaluate the feasibility and quality of chest compressions (CCs) performed by police officers on a victim wearing a bulletproof vest as well as analyze the time taken to remove the vest. Methods Ten officers conducted two 5‐min cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) trials. Trial 1: on a dummy wearing bulletproof vest (CPR‐VEST)/Trial 2: bare‐torso dummy (CPR‐NO). Results CC's quality and the timed vest removal. Results show that CC's quality was a median of 90% in CPR‐VEST and 99% in CPR‐NO (p = 0.08). There were significantly poorer results in CPR‐VEST in CC with correct recoil (CPR‐VEST: 12%, CPR‐NO: 10%, and p = 0.04) and rate (CPR‐VEST: 82%, CPR‐NO: 97%, and p = 0.01). The bulletproof vest removal time was 9.45 ± 1.33 s. Conclusion The removal of the vest is prioritized to facilitate CPR. CC over the vest is performed with similar quality levels to standard CPR, supporting the immediate initiation of CPR in special circumstances where the vest cannot be removed.
- Published
- 2024
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