CPR manikins are essential tools for students to learn how to correctly perform CPR in real life. Unfortunately, one less-than-pleasant part about having and maintaining CPR manikins is that they have to be cleaned. And knowing how to clean CPR manikins properly is essential for preventing bacteria growth and the spread of germs.
Not only is reusing a CPR manikin without properly cleaning it disgusting, but it can also be dangerous. There’s a long list of pathogens that spread through contact with saliva, so if a manikin hasn’t undergone proper hygiene procedures, it could go from being a useful tool to a disease vector.
Read on to learn how to clean CPR manikins and improve the overall hygiene of your CPR training.
How to Clean CPR Manikins in 5 Steps
When you’re in the middle of teaching a CPR class, you should wipe the manikin’s face with disinfectant wipes and allow it to dry between each use.
After class, though, things get a little more complicated — there’s more than one way to clean a manikin and knowing how to clean CPR manikins depends on the type of manikin you’re using. That said, here’s an overview of what you should do:
- If your manikin can be disassembled, start by doing so. Discard the used lung bags, but keep the rest of the manikin parts, as they can be reused.
- Some CPR manikins are dishwasher safe. However, as there are a variety of different kinds of manikins, make sure that yours is safe to go in the dishwasher before tossing it in.
- If your manikin isn’t dishwasher safe, use warm soap and water to clean both external and internal surfaces.
- After you’ve washed the manikin parts with soap and water, it’s a good idea to use a 1:10 solution of bleach and water to rinse the manikin. However, before doing this, ensure the manikin’s manufacturer indicates that it’s safe to use bleach on it. Some models could be destroyed or degraded by bleach.
- Once you finish cleaning the manikin, ensure it’s completely dry before you reassemble it. If you reassemble it while it’s still wet, it could cause mold or some other form of microbial growth.
While these are good general recommendations for manikin hygiene, always check with the manufacturer of your manikin to make sure you’re following its specific recommendations.
Tools to Improve CPR Manikin Hygiene
In addition to having to learn how to clean CPR manikins and spend the time regularly cleaning yours, there are other tools you can use to ensure your CPR practice is safe and hygienic. One of these tools is the bag valve masks and CPR rescue masks.
A bag valve mask is a breath barrier with a one-way filter valve designed to protect rescuers when performing CPR in real-world scenarios and students while using CPR manikins.
Another great tool you can use to help reduce risk and save time — especially if you run small or occasional in-person or blended CPR classes — is a single-use manikin option (also known as a SUMO manikin).
Improve CPR Hygiene With a ProTrainings SUMO Manikin
ProTrainings designed the disposable SUMO manikin to be used only once. That way, you don’t ever have to worry about knowing how to clean CPR manikins. Additionally, while the SUMO was designed for single use, it can be used safely by up to five people, provided they each use a face shield.
Our SUMO manikins are a great alternative to the traditional multiple-use manikin, particularly if you only need it for one day. It can save you money, time, and the headache of cleaning and sanitizing a CPR manikin in between uses.
Keep in mind that a SUMO kit comes in either adult or infant size, so make sure to get the right one for the type of CPR class it will be used in (or better yet, get an all-ages kit to be safe).
Knowing how to clean CPR manikins is just the tip of the iceberg in administering high-quality, effective CPR and first aid training. Visit the ProTrainings website to learn more about our online CPR and first aid courses.