PERFORMANCE CHECKLIST

DRESS AN OPEN CHEST WOUND

Situation: You have evaluated a casualty and found only one serious wound, an open chest wound. You are not in a hazardous environment.

GO NO GO

Exposes wound.

Opens field dressing plastic wrapper to create a flat surface without touching the inside surface of the plastic wrapper.

Places inside surface of plastic wrapper over wound when casualty exhales.

Ensures that plastic wrapper extends at least 2 inches beyond the edges of the wound. (Obtains and applies other airtight material to seal wound, if needed.).

Tapes three sides of wrapper.

Applies white side of field dressing over plastic wrapper.

Secures dressing with bandage.

Ties tails in a nonslip knot over the center of the dressing.

Applies manual pressure over wound (5 to 10 minutes if practical).

Positions casualty on injured side or, if casualty desires, sitting up and leaning against a support.

Checks for tension pneumothorax. (If found, lifts seal, lets air escape, reseals wound, and secures seal.)

OVERALL EVALUATION GO NO GO

(A no-go on any step gives an overall evaluation of no-go.)