Chest injuries may be caused by accidents, bullet or missile wounds,
stab wounds, or falls. These injuries can be serious and may cause
death quickly if proper treatment is not given. A casualty with
a chest injury may complain of pain in the chest or shoulder area;
he may have difficulty with his breathing. His chest may not rise
normally when he breathes. The injury may cause the casualty to
cough up blood and to have a rapid or a weak heartbeat. A casualty
with an open chest wound has a punctured chest wall. The sucking
sound heard when he breathes is caused by air leaking into his
chest cavity. This particular type of wound is dangerous and will
collapse the injured lung (Figure 3-21).
Breathing becomes difficult for the casualty because the wound
is open. The soldier's life may depend upon how quickly you make
the wound airtight.
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