5 Ways to Assess a Chest Injury

1. Check for Signs of Injury

After someone sustains a chest injury, his condition should be immediately assessed. The bones of the chest help protect vital organs, including the lungs and the heart. If muscles and bones are damaged, it could affect breathing and even be life-threatening. Look at the chest for obvious signs of trauma such as deformities, bruising, swelling, cuts and bleeding.

2. Assess Breathing

A chest injury can bruise the lungs and may compromise breathing. If you are assessing a chest injury on someone else, watch for signs that she is having trouble breathing, such as gasping for air, rapid breathing or skin turning bluish. Put your head on the chest and listen to be sure you can hear air moving in and out. If breathing is seriously affected, it's essential to get medical treatment immediately.

3. Look for Rib Fractures

Carefully feel the sides of the chest along the rib cage and check for tenderness. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to confirm broken ribs without a chest X-ray. Several broken ribs can create a condition known as flail chest. Watch the chest as it rises and falls. Notice if there is equal expansion of the chest on both sides. The injured person will likely have pain with breathing and may have shallow breaths. Keep in mind that broken ribs can puncture a lung and possibly collapse it. If you suspect a punctured lung, seek medical treatment immediately.

4. Spot Open Chest Wounds

If the chest injury caused a puncture wound, it may have created an open chest wound. Assess the chest for signs of a puncture by looking for an entrance or exit wound. Listen for sounds of air escaping from the injury site. Notice any bubbles coming from the injury site, which indicates air is escaping from the chest wall. Watch for additional signs of an open chest wound such as coughing up blood.

5. Watch for Shock

A severe chest injury can reduce the amount of blood to vital organs. This can lead to shock, which is a serious condition. It's essential to identify shock quickly so medical treatment can start. Check vital signs such as respiratory rate and heart rate. A weak, fast pulse and a fast respiratory rate are signs of shock. Look at the color of the victim's skin. A bluish color can indicate shock. Watch for other signs of shock, including clammy skin, excessive sweating, confusion, nausea and light-headedness.