(5)
Place the casualty in the Fowler's position, as tolerated.
(6)
Start an IV using normal saline or Ringer's solution.
(7)
Monitor the casualty's cardiac rhythm.
Section III. CHEST DECOMPRESSION
1-14. GENERAL INFORMATION
Chest decompression is the removal of air or blood from the chest cavity through
a seal or valve device. Once the chest cavity is emptied of air or blood, the lung can
expand and pressure in the chest cavity once again becomes negative.
a. Indications of Need for Chest Decompression.Any casualty with one of the
following chest injuries will probably need chest decompression:
(1)
Tension pneumothorax (collapsed lung).
(2)
Hemothorax (accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity).
(3)
Simple pneumothorax (accumulation of air in the thorax), if the wound is
large.
(4)
Flail chest with pneumothorax.
b. Complications Associated with Chest Decompression. Complications
which may occur include the following:
(1)
(2)
Lung puncture.
(3)
Hitting a pulmonary vessel.
1-15. NEEDLE CHEST DECOMPRESSION
a. Symptoms. Needle chest decompression is indicated if one of the following
conditions exists: the casualty has tension pneumothorax; air must be released from
the casualty's chest and adequate instruments are not available; the casualty has
massive pneumothorax with mediastinal shift or without mediastinal shift.
MD0569
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