Chest injuries

Open chest wounds

1
Call 999.
2
Leave the wound open.Don't put a dressing on it or cover it. It needs to let air in and out.
3
Bleeding around it: if needed, press directly on the bleeding to control it.
4
If you're trained and have one, you can use a special vented chest dressing that lets air out when they breathe out. Keep an eye on it in case blood blocks it.

Good to know

Older first aid courses taught sealing a chest wound with a dressing. Current guidance is to leave it open.