EMT Lesson Plans

Chapter 27: Chest Injuries

National EMS Education Standard Competencies

Trauma Applies fundamental knowledge to provide basic emergency care and transportation based on assessment findings for an acutely injured patient.

Chest Trauma Recognition and management of 

Blunt versus penetrating mechanisms (pp 938–940)

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Open chest wound (pp 938–940)



Impaled object (pp 938–940)

 Pathophysiology, assessment, and management of blunt versus penetrating mechanisms (pp 938–940)  Hemothorax (p 948)  Pneumothorax (pp 945–948)  Open (pp 945–946)  Simple (pp 946–947)  Tension (pp 947–948)  Cardiac tamponade (pp 948–949)  Rib fractures (p 949)  Flail chest (pp 949–950)  Commotio cordis (pp 951–952)

Knowledge Objectives 1. Understand chest anatomy and the mechanics of ventilation in relation to chest injuries. (pp 937–938) 2. Describe the differences between an open and closed chest injury. (pp 938–940) 3. Recognize the signs of chest injury. (pp 939–940) 4. Differentiate between a pneumothorax (open, simple, and tension) and hemothorax. (pp 945–948) 5. Describe the complications of cardiac tamponade. (pp 948–949) 6. Describe the complications of rib fractures. (p 949) 7. Describe the complications of a patient with a flail chest. (pp 949–950) 8. Explain the complications of a patient with an open pneumothorax (sucking chest wound). (pp 945–948) 9. Recognize the complications that can accompany chest injuries. (pp 945–952) 10. Describe the management of a patient with a suspected chest injury, including pneumothorax, hemothorax, cardiac tamponade, rib fractures, flail chest, pulmonary contusion, traumatic asphyxia, blunt myocardial injury, commotio cordis, and laceration of the great vessels. (pp 945–952)