steadman and oldranger, you raise a very good point. It certainly bears considering.

My experience with the "mouth condom" type of barrier device is that if the patient vomits, the filter gets clogged and the barrier becomes useless. When I carry a barrier device, I prefer the pocket mask because I can shake or rinse it out and go back to work. But again, as you pointed out, that certainly factors into the "anticipated need" debate.

With the training you describe (or the training I have, for that matter), I don't believe you are legally required to do anything. Would love to hear other's opinions.....

let your upper body weight compress the chest

I think I understand the technique you are describing (more or less), but those of slight build may not have the weight to do effective compressions by dropping their upper body weight alone. Since the heart is clearly not moving the blood, whatever you do for compression has got to squish it, and do so despite the sternum and ribs. Takes a bit of oomph!

Anyway, I admire your willingness to contemplate an hour of CPR intervention, without signs of revival in the subject.

Jim: GorgeMedic provided a better answer than what I can write in the "First Aid - When Help is Delayed" thread concerning good samaritan laws.

IRT not knowing what you are doing, this is why you should go dust off (or buy a new) Boy Scout Handbook and go practice some more, or go seek some training.

Considering the dead guy you found by the trail... if there are obvious signs that he is dead (rigor, lividity, etc) then don't start. Once you start, the rule of thumb in the CPR courses I've taken say to go until you are exhausted or relieved.

Aimless: I figure that after about an hour or so (maybe less- I'm older than I was when I worked EMS) I'd be exhausted, and that meets the criteria for stopping in my last CPR class.

Steadman