You are transporting a 19-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the chest. On scene you covered the wound with an appropriate dressing. Now, as you reassess the patient, you note that the patient is tachypneic and complaining of difficulty breathing. Breath sounds on the side of the injury are diminished. Your immediate action would be to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lifting the dressing from the wound for several seconds can help relieve a potential tension pneumothorax, which is likely given the patient's symptoms of difficulty breathing and diminished breath sounds on the side of the injury. This action allows trapped air to escape, potentially stabilizing the patient's condition temporarily until definitive care can be provided.

You Are Transporting a 19-Year-Old Male with a Gunshot Wound