Question

question 3
7.75 pts
you are providing care for a 23 - year - old male who was attacked and stabbed on his way home from work. the knife has been removed and the assailant has fled the scene. the victim has a 2 - inch wide wound to his right chest from which you can hear a sucking sound when the victim breathes in. there is minimal bleeding from the wound. based on this information, you should:
cover the wound with a sterile dressing and seal it with an occlusive dressing.
cover the wound with a sterile dressing and tape it around all four sides.
leave the wound uncovered and call 9 - 1 - 1.
have the victim hold onto his wound and go call for help.

Explanation:

When dealing with a sucking chest wound (which is indicated by the sucking sound when the victim breathes in), it is crucial to prevent air from entering the pleural space. An occlusive dressing (which is air - tight) is used. If you tape it on all four sides, it can create a dangerous situation during exhalation as trapped air has no way to escape. So, covering the wound with a sterile dressing and sealing it with an occlusive dressing (leaving one side not fully sealed or using a vented occlusive dressing, although the option here is the general concept of occlusive dressing) is the correct approach. Leaving the wound uncovered will allow more air to enter, and having the victim hold the wound and going to call for help leaves the victim unattended and the wound untreated during that time.

Answer:

cover the wound with a sterile dressing and seal it with an occlusive dressing.