Is using an Ambu bag or BVM on someone who doesn't need it dangerous?

Question

Keep in mind that the 'victim' would have let out as much air as possible before.

Answer 1

It probably won't hurt them, unless you try to force air in past the lung's volume, and then you might cause trauma to the lungs.
However, it's really difficult to ventilate someone who is conscious and breathing well. We tried it in EMT-Basic school, and it's a bit of a challenge. There are some situations where it is necessary to assist someone's respirations with a BVM when they are still conscious and breathing, but that isn't very often.
Hope this helps!

Answer 2

A conscious person would not let you use a BVM on them unless they are incoherent. If a person is unconscious and breathing less than six times a minute you can use a BVM to assist in ventilations. Also of course if they are in respiratory or cardiac arrest use it.

Answer 3

BVM on a patient who is breathing on their own would be a struggle as the person's respiratory effort would fight it. You could actually cause them to go into distress as you overcome their natural effort. letting out the air isn't as big a deal as getting good air in....the body naturally expells air (the diaphragm at rest pushes the air out).

Answer 4

<>A conscious person would fight the ventilatory effort. An unconscious, breathing person would breath at their intrinsic rate which would counter the device. And a person who is not breathing would benefit.