Bill Tarrant EMT-P I/C

Chest Injury Divisions

Chest Injuries are broken into 2 categories:1. Open chest injury-Must have opening or

break in skin.2. Closed chest injury-Usually from blunt

trauma to chest cavity.

Closed Chest Injuries

Treatment of the Pulmonary Contusion

1. Supplementary Oxygen ASAP! 2. Check for flail chest and treat

accordingly. 3. Even without flail chest area may

experience relief with soft pressure to affected area.

Signs and symptoms may take hours to develop, due to slow swelling to area. GOOD PATIENT ASSESSMENTS!

Pericardial Tamponade

Pericardial Tamponade Signs:1. Trachial Deviation2. Narrowing Pulse Pressures3. Distended Neck Veins (JVD)

Treatment:

1.Rapid Transport! Treatment requires

Pericardiocentesis.

Treatment Continued:2. High Flow O2.

Tension Pneumothorax

Tension Pneumo Signs:1. JVD2. Trachial Deviation3. SOBLate stages patient unable to take deep

inspiration and blood pressure affected due to squeezing affect.

Treatment: 1. High flow O2! 2. Get the medics! Chest Decompression

ON TO THE OPEN CHEST WOUNDS

The Old Implaled Object

1. Don’t remove! 2. Stabalize in position. 3. High flow O2 4. Treat for shock. 5. To large to transport, cut above not

below…..

The Sucking Chest Wound

The art of the 3 sided dressing.