The EMT's primary and first concern with any open injury to the chest is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The EMT's primary and first concern with any open injury to the chest is to stop air entry. This is because an open chest injury can cause a pneumothorax, a life-threatening condition where air enters the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. Controlling internal bleeding and checking for intercostal muscle damage are important considerations, but stopping air entry takes priority in this scenario. Evaluating for crepitus may also be important, but it is not the primary concern with an open chest injury.

The EMT's Primary and First Concern with Any Open Injury