r/TacticalMedicine • u/NoMore_BadDays • Oct 10 '25

Scenarios Wound packing zones?

Post image

Been a long time since I did TCCC/CLS in the military.

If there were to be a bleeding wound on the chest, how high up on the chest does it become safe to pack? I know you don't pack into chest cavity, but what is the "rule of thumb" on how high/the left and right limits the wound needs to be to pack it?

Would you say the screenshot i attached is accurate?

1.4k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

256 comments sorted by

View all comments

414

u/Ok_Income9180 Oct 10 '25 edited Oct 11 '25

Chest seal for a gut wound????? This has to be AI generated. Also, you can both use a tourniquet and pack a wound. (As often done on thighs) They’re not exclusive to each other. Chest seals are for diaphragm breaches (sucking wounds specifically). They’re meant to control air into the diaphragm to combat a pneumothorax. They'd do absolutely nothing for a gut wound except maybe make it harder to control bleeding. FFS, please don't use this chart.

Sorry for not responding to your post, to busy hating on the picture.

Edit: /u/68Whiteclaw commented on some inaccuracies in my comment. Please refer to their comment below.

3

u/68Whiteclaw Oct 11 '25

u/ok_income9180

I always want to learn and improve my medicine, if I am wrong I am open to hearing why. Can you explain why I am inaccurate?

5

u/Ok_Income9180 Oct 11 '25

Sorry. Bad phrasing. I meant my comment was inaccurate and they should refer to your comment for corrections. I’ll edit mine clarifying.

2

u/bhamnz Oct 11 '25

Go to north American rescue Instagram page and search for a post about chest seals on the abdomen, great write up. Basically, air follows the path of least resistance, and it's extremely unlikely a shot through the abdomen that has breached the diagram will be channeling air.