A chest seal is a specialized medical dressing designed to cover penetrating wounds to the chest. Its primary function is to create an airtight barrier, preventing outside air from entering the chest cavity. This prevents severe, life-threatening conditions caused by air entering the chest. Knowing how to apply a chest seal can be a decisive action in emergency situations.
Identifying a Sucking Chest Wound
A “sucking chest wound,” medically known as an open pneumothorax, occurs when a penetrating injury creates a direct pathway between the outside environment and the pleural space, the area between the lung and the chest wall. This type of wound often results from incidents like stabbings or gunshots.
A hallmark sign is an open wound on the chest that may produce a distinctive bubbling or hissing sound as the injured person breathes. Other indicators include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. The danger lies in air being drawn into the pleural space with each inhalation, which can lead to the lung on the injured side collapsing.
Pre-Application Essentials
Before applying a chest seal, ensure the safety of both the rescuer and the injured person. Assess the environment for any ongoing threats. Contact emergency medical services immediately.
Conduct a rapid assessment of the injured person’s responsiveness and airway patency. Remove clothing around the chest injury to fully expose the wound site. This allows for clear wound confirmation. Having the chest seal readily available helps expedite the application process once the wound is identified and the area prepared.
Applying the Chest Seal
Once the wound is exposed and confirmed, prepare the skin around the injury for application. If feasible and without significant delay, wipe the skin clean and dry to ensure optimal adhesion. Commercial chest seals often come with a gauze pad for this purpose.
Apply the chest seal directly over the entire wound opening, ensuring a complete and airtight covering. Press firmly on the edges of the seal to create a secure bond with the skin, preventing air from leaking in or out. If there are multiple penetrating wounds to the chest, each separate injury requires its own chest seal.
Chest seals are categorized into vented and non-vented designs, each with a specific action. Vented chest seals incorporate one-way valves that allow trapped air and blood to escape from the pleural cavity while preventing air from re-entering. This mitigates the risk of tension pneumothorax, a serious complication. Non-vented seals, conversely, create a complete airtight barrier, which can necessitate manual intervention if air begins to accumulate internally.
After Application: Monitoring and Next Steps
Following the application of a chest seal, continuous monitoring of the injured person’s condition is important. Observe their breathing patterns, level of consciousness, and skin color for any changes. These observations can provide important clues about the patient’s respiratory status and overall well-being.
A significant complication is tension pneumothorax, where air builds up in the chest cavity, compressing the lung and potentially shifting the heart. Signs include increasing difficulty breathing, worsening chest pain, a rapid heart rate, and low blood pressure. If an unvented chest seal was used and signs of tension pneumothorax appear, one corner of the seal may need to be temporarily lifted during exhalation to release the trapped air. Vented seals are designed to manage this automatically, though vigilant monitoring remains important. Maintaining the injured person’s body temperature by keeping them warm is also a supportive measure. Regardless of the seal type or patient response, professional medical attention and urgent transport to a medical facility are always required.
Important Safety Information
Applying a chest seal serves as a temporary, life-saving measure in an emergency, but it is never a substitute for comprehensive medical care. Professional medical intervention is essential after such an injury. Call emergency services without delay for prompt medical attention.
Individuals are encouraged to seek proper first aid and trauma training from certified organizations. Hands-on instruction from programs like “Stop the Bleed” or those offered by the Red Cross provides practical experience in managing severe injuries. These instructions are for educational purposes, and individuals should be aware of local Good Samaritan laws, which offer legal protection to those who provide aid in emergencies.