When we think of traumatic injury, we typically envision gruesome wounds: amputations, avulsions, impaled objects, and compound fractures. Any of these injuries can impact the thoracic cavity, but thoracic trauma can also be frighteningly subtle. Let’s explore the various ways the chest can be impacted by trauma and some of the clinical signs that may accompany such injuries. 

Head and neck injuries are very common during emergency calls, particularly following a vehicle crash, fall, or another trauma that affects the upper portion of a patient’s body. Those who suffer such injuries, beyond the potential for long-term skeletal, muscular, or neurological issues, also carry a high risk for a range of airway issues or crises. If a responder is not able to resolve these issues promptly, the consequences can be fatal.

Aspiration pneumonia has a mortality rate of 5% to15%, and that rises to as much as 22.7% in those with COPD. The secretions patients aspirate are often contaminated with pathogens from the oral cavity, increasing the rate of morbidity and necessitating additional interventions, and potentially long hospital stays. Prompt intervention is the key to preventing serious complications associated with aspiration pneumonia. Portable emergency suction can help prevent aspiration pneumonia, as well as its attendant complications.

When an emergency responder arrives at an emergency scene where one or more patients have suffered physical trauma, unspoken in the goals during the moment is to not only provide effective treatment, but to avoid causing any additional trauma.

Often when we think of the airway, we consider the entire respiratory system, forgetting that the upper and lower airway structures have different anatomies and, thus, are affected by different respiratory issues.

On January 2, people around the nation — be they football fans or not — were stunned by the live images from the Monday night football game, as the Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapsed seconds after a tackle. Trainers soon began performing CPR, as it was later revealed the young player’s heart stopped twice on the field and he could not breathe without medical assistance.

Paramedic training doesn’t just end the minute an EMT graduates from their school or program. In today’s world, medical needs and environments are constantly evolving, and professionals need versatile skillsets to attend to a wide range of emergencies daily.

Airway management is a necessary intervention in many patient emergencies — from airway compromise to respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. However, depending on how severe the patient’s condition is, and the invasiveness of the intervention, airway management often causes negative effects to patients’ mental and physical health.