During the secondary assessment, the EMT notes instability and a flail segment to a patient's lower left lateral chest. The EMT would immediately:

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The best choice would be to stabilize the flail segment with the EMT's hand. A flail segment occurs when two or more adjacent ribs are fractured in two or more places and become unattached, causing a portion of the chest wall to move independently from the rest of the chest during breathing. This can lead to respiratory distress and inadequate ventilation. By stabilizing the flail segment with the hand, the EMT can provide support for the chest wall during breathing and potentially prevent further injury or deterioration of the patient's condition.

During the Secondary Assessment, the EMT Notes Instability and a Flail