In many places where cell phone service is not available, it is still possible to call emergency services. If you cannot personally make the phone call for any reason, designate another specific person to make the call. If you know what to do for the wound and there is someone else around, have them call the emergency services while you work on the wound.
Wash your hands with soap and water. Wear gloves, if available. If they are unavailable, you can use shopping bags or bread bags. [3] X Research source Wear a face mask and eye protection if possible. Dispose of anything contaminated with blood or bodily fluids in a safe way.
If there is more than one wound or opening, you should first handle a wound that is gaping and uncovered. Using a cloth or a piece of clothing or plastic, cover the entire wound, as well as two inches past its edge. If you can hear air passing through the chest cavity or see blood bubbling, tape two or three sides of the cloth down. This will stop air from building up in the chest. [5] X Research source After you deal with a gaping wound, you should look for wounds where you can stop the bleeding, if applicable. A gaping chest wound should be your first priority, but, after that, you should work to stop bleeding, wherever it may be. [6] X Research source A chest wound is often characterized by bleeding, frothy blood, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing. The chest may not rise normally when the person inhales.
Do not attempt to clean the wound. If you’re in a chemical environment, do everything you can to prevent exposing the wound and the first aid provider to the chemicals.
The plastic packaging for a sterile bandage can be a good makeshift dressing. A clean ziploc bag works well. If the wound is small, a credit card can sometimes be used when there is nothing else available. If clean plastic is not available, you can try using a folded piece of clean fabric. If you have absolutely nothing else you can use, you can use your own hand, which should be protected with a glove, as a last resort.
Forcing air out before sealing the wound will allow the person to breathe more easily after the wound is sealed. If the person is unconscious or can’t hold their breath for any reason, place the plastic on the wound after their chest falls and before it rises.
It’s best to tape the top and sides of the dressing and leave the bottom open. [11] X Research source Leaving one side open allows for air to escape when the person exhales. Sterile medical tape is ideal, but use whatever you have available. If no kind of tape is available, you or the victim will need to hold the plastic in place until the chest can be bandaged.
The knot will provide additional pressure over the wound and will help to keep the seal airtight. The dressing should not interfere with breathing. Keep pressure on the plastic as you apply the dressing so that the plastic doesn’t slip off the wound. If you don’t have a proper field dressing, you can use a sheet or long piece of fabric instead.
Stabilize the object by placing a heavy dressing around it. This dressing should be made from the cleanest material available. When applying bandages, don’t wrap the bandages around the protruding object. When tying a knot in a bandage, tie the knot beside the object, not on it. Trying to remove the object can cause life-threatening bleeding, so an impaled object should only be removed at the hospital, in an operating room, where bleeding can be controlled.
If sitting up, the victim should rest against a tree or wall. If the victim becomes tired of sitting up, have them lie back down on their side.
Severe shortness of breath Unequal chest (one side looks bigger than the other) Veins on the neck bulging (jugular vein distension) Blue lips, neck or fingers (cyanosis) No lung sounds on one side
Keep the person still and don’t move them unless it’s necessary. Begin CPR if the person shows no signs of life. Loosen tight clothing. Cover the person with a blanket to prevent them getting a chill. Prevent them from eating or drinking anything. Apply pressure to bleeding sites so that the person experiences less blood loss.
