First Aid for a Sucking Chest Wound 🚑🩸 #ambulance #paramedic #emergency #firstaid #hospital #nurse

A penetrating chest injury can cause a sucking chest wound, where air is pulled into the chest with every breath. This can quickly become life-threatening if not treated properly. If you don’t have a commercial chest seal available, you can improvise one with simple materials until professional help arrives. 1️⃣ Put on gloves if available to protect yourself. 2️⃣ Use gauze, cloth, or a shirt to wipe blood and moisture from the wound and surrounding skin. 3️⃣ Cover the wound with your hand to temporarily stop air from entering the chest. 4️⃣ Place a piece of plastic (for example a zipper bag or any plastic wrapper) over the wound. 5️⃣ Tape the plastic down on three sides only, leaving one side open. This creates a simple one-way valve: air cannot enter the chest, but trapped air and fluids can escape, helping reduce the risk of a tension pneumothorax. This is a temporary life-saving measure until trained medical personnel take over. ⚠️ Always call emergency services immediately in this case. Stay safe.