Common causes of chest injuries include gunshot, stab, or shrapnel wounds to chest and blunt-force trauma.

Note obvious signs of penetrating trauma, bruising, swelling, crackling/popping (on palpation), or other deformities of the chest. Check the casualty’s respiration and ability to breathe. All open and/or sucking chest wounds should be treated by immediately applying a vented chest seal to cover the defect.

For respiratory distress not resolved by a chest seal or in a casualty with known or suspected chest or back trauma without an open and/or sucking chest wound, consider a tension pneumothorax, and perform a needle decompression of the chest.

Injuries to the chest are very serious and can be life-threatening. The casualty’s condition can change quickly with a chest injury.