Question

Frank was returning to x from a fishing trip on the x. Tired and dehydrated from his trip, he did not see the moose crossing the highway. Frank hit the moose and wreaked his truck. You are an EMT responding to this call. Dispatch tells you that Frank has a penetrating chest wound with difficulty breathing. What is causing Franks’ breathing difficulties? How do you treat Frank?

Answer 1

Lungs are the closed and packed organ functioning in exchange of air namely carbondioxide and oxygen.To maintain this a pressure is needed. Any injury can cause this transportation difficult making them to hard to breath. When a puncture or a penetration occurs in the cavity during inspiration the air enters lungs causing pneumothorax and making the patient dyspnoeic.

Treatment :

• Apply pressure on the site where there is penetration with sterile gauze to prevent air leaking inside.A chest seal can be used yo treat this patient. Before applying this the patient can be asked to breath out completely.
• Watch for signs of tension pneumothorax,in case if this happens the chest seal has to be removed
• Administer oxygen to meet its deprivation
• Any tight clothing to be removed.
• Shift patient to hospital to prevent complications and removal of the wound