"hesitation about doing
direct mouth-to-mouth until one arrived.  Is this barrier a response
to real risks, or is it an aesthetic matter to increase people's
willingness to do CPR?  If the risks are real, do you have any
figures on just how risky it is?  Likewise on the compressions-only
-- is that based on outcomes or aesthetics?"
It's medical fact David. We have a lot of transmittable diseases these days
that did not exist years ago when some of these tactics for CPR help began.
The chest-compressions-only is also based on medical fact. No hospitals
teach CPR using mouth-to-mouth anymore. I carry one of those little plastic
barrier devices in my van.

Bob ... with his current CPR card
"This card certifies that the above individual has successfully completed
the national cognitive and skills evaluation (with a rubber dummy) in
accordance with the curriculum of the American Heart Association for the BLS
for Healthcare Providers (CPR & AED Program."