Home / First aid

CPR face shield: breathing barriers, one-way valves and how to use one

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

We research products from makers' specs and health sources; we do not run hands-on tests. Links to Amazon may earn us a commission at no cost to you. How this works.

What a CPR face shield is

A CPR face shield is a thin barrier, often with a one-way valve, placed over a person's mouth so you can give rescue breaths without direct mouth-to-mouth contact. The American Red Cross first aid kit list includes 1 breathing barrier with a one-way valve, alongside 2 pairs of nonlatex gloves. The Red Cross's first CPR step is to check the scene for safety and use personal protective equipment.

Pocket masks are another style, sold with one-way valves in adult and infant sizes; keychain face shields come in a small pouch you can carry every day. See our first aid kit guide and disposable gloves guide.

Real-use shields vs training shields

Many listings for CPR face shields are bulk manikin protectors made for training classes. They are labeled for manikin use, so check the listing for a one-way valve and real-use wording before you buy one for your kit.

Red Cross CPR steps with breaths

• Check the scene for safety and use PPE.
• Check responsiveness with shout-tap-shout, looking for breathing and life-threatening bleeding.
• Call 9-1-1 if the person does not respond and is not breathing or only gasping, and get equipment.
• Position: person on their back on a firm, flat surface; kneel beside them.
• Compress: two hands centered on the chest, shoulders over hands, elbows locked, at least 2 inches deep, 100 to 120 per minute, 30 at a time, letting the chest return after each.
• Give 2 breaths: head-tilt/chin-lift, pinch the nose, seal over the mouth, about 1 second each, making the chest rise.
• Repeat 30 compressions and 2 breaths; use an AED as soon as one is available, and keep pauses under 10 seconds.

Using the shield for breaths

With the shield over the person's mouth as its package directs, follow the Red Cross breath steps: open the airway with head-tilt/chin-lift, pinch the nose, make a complete seal and breathe for about 1 second so the chest rises. The Red Cross says if the first breath does not make the chest rise, retilt the head and check the seal before the second; if the second does not work either, an object may be blocking the airway.

Follow the instructions printed on your shield's package, since designs differ.

Hands only CPR

The Red Cross says that if you are not trained in full CPR, hands only CPR, CPR without rescue breaths, is simple to learn and easy to remember and increases the likelihood of surviving cardiac arrest. Call 911, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest at least 2 inches deep, 100 to 120 compressions per minute, letting the chest return each time. Do not delay compressions to find a shield.

The Red Cross hands only steps: kneel beside the person with your knees about shoulder width apart, place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest with your other hand on top, interlace your fingers and keep them up off the chest, and position your shoulders directly over your hands with elbows locked.

Get trained

The Red Cross notes that even after training, remembering CPR steps correctly can be a challenge, and encourages taking a class. It describes CPR as able to help save a life during cardiac arrest, when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs. Print the Red Cross steps and keep them with your travel kit or home supplies, and store your face shield where you will grab it, such as on your keys. For bleeding emergencies, see our tourniquet guide.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

Do I need a CPR face shield?

The Red Cross kit list includes a breathing barrier with a one-way valve, and its CPR steps call for using PPE.

How many compressions and breaths in CPR?

Sets of 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths, at 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

Can I do CPR without a face shield?

Yes. The Red Cross says hands only CPR, without breaths, is an option if you are not trained in full CPR.

Are manikin training shields the same as CPR face shields?

No. Training shields are for practice on manikins; buy a real-use shield with a one-way valve for your kit.

How deep should chest compressions be?

At least 2 inches, per the Red Cross.

Sources

• How to Perform CPR: Adult CPR Steps (redcross.org), American Red Cross
• Hands Only CPR for Adults (redcross.org), American Red Cross
• Make a First Aid Kit: What to Include (redcross.org), American Red Cross

Sources checked 2026-10-15.