Assessing the feasibility of cardiopulmonary resuscitation over bulletproof vests: Implications for rapid response by police officers

Abstract

Introduction: The aim was to evaluate the feasibility and quality of chest compressions (CCs) performed by police officers on a victim wearing a bulletproof vest as well as analyze the time taken to remove the vest. Methods: Ten officers conducted two 5-min cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) trials. Trial 1: on a dummy wearing bulletproof vest (CPR-VEST)/Trial 2: bare-torso dummy (CPR-NO). Results: CC's quality and the timed vest removal. Results show that CC's quality was a median of 90% in CPR-VEST and 99% in CPR-NO (p = 0.08). There were significantly poorer results in CPR-VEST in CC with correct recoil (CPR-VEST: 12%, CPR-NO: 10%, and p = 0.04) and rate (CPR-VEST: 82%, CPR-NO: 97%, and p = 0.01). The bulletproof vest removal time was 9.45 ± 1.33 s. Conclusion: The removal of the vest is prioritized to facilitate CPR. CC over the vest is performed with similar quality levels to standard CPR, supporting the immediate initiation of CPR in special circumstances where the vest cannot be removed.