Chest Injuries

1
Chest Injuries

• Types
• Injuries to chest wall
• Injuries to lungs
• Check ABCs
• Conscious sit up or place with injured side
  towards the ground (to ease breathing)

2
Injuries To Chest Wall Rib Fractures

• Painful to move, cough, breathe
• Point tenderness
• Do not wrap (restricts breathing)
• Stabilize (Use pillow or tie arm)
• Encourage deep breathing
• Seek medical attention?

3
Injuries To Chest Wall Flail Chest

• Major injury
• Several ribs in the same area are broken in more
  than one place
• Chest wall may move in opposite direction from
  the rest of the chest
• Stabilize with
• Pillow
• Hand
• Place with injured side towards the ground
  (remember to treat for shock)
• Monitor ABCs and seek medical attention

4
Injuries To Lungs

• Hemothorax
• Blood fills chest, lungs cant expand
• Pneumothorax air fills chest cavity
• Open pneumothorax (sucking chest wound)
• Air moves in and out of chest cavity
• Lungs cant expand
• Tension pneumothorax air is pulled in, cant
  exit

5
Sucking Chest Wound

• Seek medical attention
• Seal wound to stop air from entering (saran wrap,
  etc.)
• Tape in place (leave one corner untaped)
• (May use gloved hand)
• Victim having trouble or getting worse?
• Remove, allow air to escape, then reapply

6
Severe Blow To Abdomen

• Place on side
• Expect vomiting
• No foods or liquids
• Seek medical attention

7
Protruding Organs

• Do not re-insert
• Cover loosely with moist, sterile dressing or
  clean cloth
• Best to wait for EMS (saline solution)
• Cover area with a towel or blanket
• Seek medical attention

8
Pelvic Injuries

• Accompanied by
• Pain
• Shock
• Internal bleeding
• Inability to use lower extremities
• Damage to bladder and other organs

9
Determining Pelvic Injuries

• Gently press downward and inward at iliac crest
• Do not press if pain is already present
• Pain may indicate broken pelvis
• (suspect spinal cord injury)

10
Pelvic Injuries What To Do

• Treat for shock
• Pad between thighs
• Tie knees and ankles together
• Keep on firm surface
• Seek medical attention