The present invention provides a symmetrical face mask suitable for use with one hand that allows an operator to provide a reliable seal with the patients face with his/her hand and arm in an anatomically favorable position for application of a users physical strength. In general, a user may reach at an acute angle to the plane of their chest and engage the invention mask with their hand in a manner the user may shake another persons hand, i.e., with a distal portion of their radius and ulna arranged essentially vertically so that side to side motion of the hand translates to forward and rearward motion of a mask shell while a user reserves full bi-directional rotational capability of their arm for forward or rearward rotation compression of the mask shell while, at the same time, reserving full and lever-efficient, bi-directional pushing and pulling range of a users arm for greater pressure of the mask shell to a right or left side of a users fleshy cheek.
