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If someone needs immediate help with chest wound, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A penetrating or open wound to the chest wall. The person may have trouble breathing or bubbling blood at the wound.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112. Seal chest wound except one edge. Keep them upright. Do not pull out objects.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Hole, stab, or gunshot wound to the chest with sucking or bubbling sounds.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Severe difficulty breathing, one side of chest not moving, or blue lips.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Coughing blood, rapid weak pulse, or person becoming unconscious.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Air may enter the chest through the wound and collapse a lung (tension pneumothorax). This can become fatal within minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood at the wound may also mean injury to blood vessels or the heart lining.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 on speaker.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Help the person sit upright leaning slightly toward the injured side if breathing is difficult.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Find airtight material — plastic bag, foil, or commercial chest seal. Tape it over the wound on three sides so air can escape but not enter.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If no plastic, use a gloved hand or cloth to cover the wound while help is on the way — any seal is better than an open hole.
When and how to get professional help.
Any penetrating chest wound needs emergency care immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Seal and support breathing. Do not remove objects, probe the wound, or attempt needle decompression.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Chest wound — trouble breathing" and whether there is an object embedded.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report if breathing is getting worse or the person is losing consciousness.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT remove an object stuck in the chest.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give food or drink.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT lay the person flat if they struggle to breathe sitting up — support the position that helps most.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should pull out a knife or object stuck in the chest
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — The object may be plugging bleeding. Removing it can cause catastrophic blood loss. Stabilize in place and seal around it.
Other scenarios in the same family.
After crush release
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has just been released from a crush injury. They may look okay initially but can deteriorate rapidly.
Amputation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A finger, toe, hand, foot, or larger part of a limb has been partially or completely severed in an accident.
Impaled object
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A knife, rod, glass shard, or other object is embedded in the body and must not be removed by civilians.
Crush trapped
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person is pinned under a vehicle, wall, machinery, or debris. They may have crush injuries and internal bleeding.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep the person still and monitor breathing every few seconds.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All open chest wounds require emergency hospital care and surgery may be needed.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If breathing stops or the person becomes unresponsive, start CPR while waiting for paramedics.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Fatal bleeding or lung collapse when object is removed.