Abdominal and Chest Injuries

Participants enrolled in standard first aid training (courses now available in Lethbridge) will learn to recognize, treat and provide care for victims with abdominal and / or chest injuries. This page is designed to present candidates with the minimum requirements to complete the skills component of the abdominal and chest injury component of a standard first aid course. Participants are required to use skills and knowledge presented in earlier components of the course. The material posted on this page is for information purposes only.

To successfully complete a standard first aid course participants must include the following when treating patients with abdominal and / or chest injuries:

  • Check the scene and environment for any dangers or hazards.
  • Determine the cause, mechanism of injury and history of the emergency.Abdominal and Chest Injuries
  • Complete the primary assessment (includes checking for level of consciousness and ABC’s)
  • Contact EMS and obtain a AED using a bystander if available / possible.
  • Place the victim into a appropriate position with limited movement.
  • Treat the patient for shock and reassure the victim.
  • Rescuer must wear and use appropriate protective / barrier devices.
  • ABC’s must be maintained.

For victims with open pneumothorax:

  • Rescuers must cover the wound with a airtight dressing.

For victims with flail chest injuries:

  • Rescuer should support flail segment and treat any associated wounds.

For victims with genital injuries:

  • Obtain a history and place the victim into a appropriate position.
  • Rescuer should encourage victim to do a self examination of the injury.
  • Rescuer can assist in controlling external bleeding if present.
  • Rescuer can assist in applying ice if appropriate.

For victims with a broken pelvis:

  • Rescuer should immobilize in the position found.
  • Control and treat any external bleeding if present by using clean and sterile bandages.

Additional Notes:

  • Participants will learn the difference between wounds to the chest wall,  open and close pneumothorax, broken ribs, flail chest, blunt abdominal injuries, genital injuries and broken pelvis.
  • Rescuers should always consider spinal injuries with the above associated trauma’s.
  • Rescuers will learn to provide assisted breaths if patient has severe shortness of breath.
  • Other treatment for open pneumothorax is done by using a gloved hand.

Candidates will learn recognize and treat victims of the above mentioned injuries in more detail when enrolled in a standard first aid course. The material posted above is the minimum required components to successfully complete this component of a standard first aid class.