Ask the Experts - AIDS/HIV

Can I get AIDS/HIV or other serious infectious diseases from doing CPR?

To date there has never been a case of anyone being infected with HIV or other serious diseases by doing "mouth to mouth" in a cardiac arrest. The question of infections is important but should not be over-emphasized. Some people are scared by this, scared away even from learning CPR. That is just plain wrong.

Most cardiac arrests occur at home and usually involve people like family members or friends. You probably know all about their health problems.

HIV is known to be transferred only by intimate sexual contact or by blood, either through transfusions or sharing dirty needles.

Some organizations recommend using facemasks or shields when doing CPR. That is probably wise for people who are more likely to be in a position to do CPR like lifeguards but most of us don't carry these around in our pockets.

New CPR standards de-emphasize the need to do mouth-to-mouth breathing. They recommend clearing the airway with a finger if necessary and chest compressions as the basic essentials. These involve little risk of disease transmission. Whether you do CPR or help someone with a cut finger, it is only prudent to wash your hands and rinse your mouth after.

Worrying about AIDS and hepatitis should not scare you away from taking this CPR course. Most of the course is actually not about CPR. Learning about Risk factors, about how to Recognize a developing emergency and about how to React to that is valuable heart health information. Three of the four R's don't even involve touching the patient to Resuscitate!

Remember, even if you are trained, you don't ever have to do CPR if you are concerned. But you can still call for help. That may be critical to someone's survival.

Learn CPR. Your family and friends need you.  

-- Justin Maloney, Emergency physician, Ottawa Hospital