When using a bag-mask device, what is the recommended role of a lone rescuer?

The recommended role of a lone rescuer when using a bag-mask device is to maintain an open airway. In an emergency situation, particularly when performing CPR, it is crucial to ensure the airway is clear and that the victim can receive adequate ventilation. A lone rescuer can effectively manage the airway while delivering breaths through the bag-mask device.

Using this device requires a proper seal and technique to ensure effective ventilations, which may be challenging for a single rescuer, but it remains their primary responsibility to secure the airway and provide life-saving breaths after every 30 compressions. Instead of performing compressions without ventilation or avoiding the use of the device altogether, maintaining an open airway allows for the proper delivery of ventilations and increases the chances of successful resuscitation. Regularly switching roles, such as every five minutes, is relevant in scenarios with multiple rescuers but does not pertain to a lone rescuer’s responsibility.