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Bag valve masks for emergency resuscitation

Summary A regional office raised concern about infection transmission during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. OSHA noted a CDC recommendation to use bag valve masks or similar devices, but said no OSHA standard then required that equipment. OSHA now archives the memo as potentially outdated.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1986-04-03
Date issued
April 3, 1986
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA archives this memorandum and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1910 First Aid Healthcare
Source
View the official document

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OSHA archives this memorandum and says it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

April 3, 1986

MEMORANDUM FOR: GERALD REIDY
Regional Administrator

ATTENTION: SALVATORE ROBERTO
Technical Support

THRU: JOHN MILES
Director
Directorate of Field Operations
EDWARD BAIER
Director
Directorate of Technical Support

FROM: RALPH YODAIKEN
Director
Office of Occupational Medicine

SUBJECT: "Ambu" Bags (Bag Valve Masks) - Pocket Masks

Further to my discussion with Michael Yarnell regarding Michael Lasky's complaint, I want to reiterate the points I made during that discussion:

  1. Mr. Lasky's concern regarding the potential transmission of infectious disease through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is well taken.
  2. CDC has recommended that Bag Valve Masks (Ambu bags) or similar equipment with short tubes be used by persons administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
  3. OSHA does not have a standard which requires the use of this equipment. Although to the best of my knowledge, most large city emergency rooms today have bags and masks available, it may not be an industry-wide practice. Particularly where small hospitals are concerned, this equipment may not be available or supplied. The National Association for Emergency Medical Technicians does not have any statistics on the use of this equipment. The information, therefore, is anecdotal, based on discussion with physicians at CDC and local hospitals.

If you need further assistance regarding this matter, please call me at FTS 523-7047.

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