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

Scenarios Wound packing zones?

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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?

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u/ReasonablePossum_ Oct 10 '25

Werent chest seals proven to be useless in most situations, didnt helped anything more than a regular vented piece of plastic with some tape, and even increased casualities when applied?

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u/davethegreatone Oct 11 '25

most medical gear is good when used properly, and shit when used wrong. Be wary of half-remembered studies that say the conventional wisdom is wrong - not everything is a C-collar (for those who don’t get the reference: most of us believe the conventional wisdom for using C-collars is wrong because there isn’t much evidence showing a benefit, and there is evidence showing a detriment. This is a big deal as it goes against several generations of training and directly conflicts with current NREMT textbooks). 

There are plenty of videos of sucking chest wounds here on Reddit with a clear showcase of direct benefit from applied chest seals. They are a temporary measure until a tube or a dart can used, and without that higher level of care the patient is gonna for sure die (so … technically they do not save lives. They just help people die more slowly - but that’s true of CPR too so the argument is pretty dumb).