Author Question: You treated a 19 year old with a puncture wound to the chest by covering the wound with an ... (Read 31 times)

Pea0909berry · **on:** Jul 2, 2018

You treated a 19 year old with a puncture wound to the chest by covering the wound with an impermeable dressing. Now, as you perform your ongoing assessment, you note that the patient is tachypneic and is complaining of difficulty breathing. Breath sounds on the side of the injury are also diminished. Which of the following actions should you take immediately?

a. Assist his breathing with a bag-valve mask.
b. Lift a corner of the dressing from the wound for a few seconds; then reapply and check his breath sounds.
c. Add another layer to the dressing.
d. Load the patient quickly and transport him to a higher level of care.

Question 2

You have applied a nonporous dressing to a puncture wound on a patient's chest. An OEC candidate asks you why the dressing was taped only on three sides. Your best response is that taping the dressing on three sides:

a. permits oxygen to enter the lungs.
b. allows trapped air to escape upon exhalation.
c. is less painful for the patient.
d. decreases the chances that air will enter the chest upon exhalation.