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One for the Road: Way better BVM in 4 steps!

“I guarantee that you can improve your BVM technique by following these four essential guidelines”

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Editor’s Note: Now playing on EMS1 – “One for the Road,” featuring Steve Whitehead and sponsored by Hartwell Medical. Whether it’s street-smart tips on what to carry in your cargo pocket, or what to do when you make a mistake in the field, bookmark the series today for a great way to brush up on the essentials all medics need to know twice a month. Have a question? Ask Steve.


The BVM skill isn’t basic; it’s foundational. And doing it well is difficult. There are two things I can say about this topic with almost certainty:

  1. At some point in time, you were trained to use a bag-valve-mask.
  2. You could almost certainly be doing it way better.

I guarantee that you can improve your BVM technique by following these four essential guidelines. Make sure each breath is the right volume of air going to the right place, every time.

One for the Road is sponsored by Hartwell Medical. A 30-year player in the industry, Hartwell Medical’s field-tested EMS product line includes vacuum splinting, airway management and immobilization devices designed to meet the latest spinal motion restriction protocols.

Now playing on EMS1 – One for the Road, featuring Steve Whitehead and sponsored by Hartwell Medical. Whether it’s street-smart tips on what to carry in your cargo pocket, or what to do when you make a mistake in the field, this twice-monthly series is a great way to brush up on the essentials all medics need to know. Watch One for the Road.

Steve Whitehead, NRP, is a firefighter/paramedic and EMS instructor with the South Metro Fire Rescue Authority in Lone Tree, Colorado; and creator of the blog, The EMT Spot.