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#AskPracMed – What do I do if a chest injury sounds like it is sucking?

A sucking chest wound means air is entering the pleural space through the chest wall and beginning to compress the lung. The goal is to seal the wound to prevent more air entering. A commercial chest seal is the best option. Vented seals are preferred as they allow air and blood to escape while preventing more air from entering. If you don’t have a chest seal, the plastic sheet inside a layered trauma bandage can be used as an occlusive seal pressed firmly against the wound. This is a serious injury that requires emergency medical care. Seal it, monitor the person closely, and get emergency services there as quickly as possible.

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Hyfin Chest Seal Combo pack

HyFin® Chest Seal (Combo Pack)

Bleeding Control Kit

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Simon Carkeek

Simon is a former NZDF Recon Operator and Patrol Commander with over a decade of service, including two deployments to Afghanistan, Solomon Islands peacekeeping, and humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami. Domestically, he responded to the Christchurch earthquakes and the Scotts Ferry floods. After service, Simon spent nearly five years in private contracting across Asia Pacific and the Middle East — working as a PSD Team Medic, Site Security Manager, and setting up medical clinics in austere environments where the nearest hospital was a long way away. He's a former action guy and a self-described meatball medic. He founded PracMed NZ because most first aid training wasn't preparing people for real emergencies. It still isn't, everywhere else.