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# Chest Wounds and Broken Ribs |
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## When to suspect broken ribs |
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Tenderness to the touch, or stabbing pain with breathing or coughing |
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after an injury to the chest, may be a broken rib. Feel along the |
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rib with your fingers. If there is a spot where it sticks up under |
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the skin, or where it dips in and is very tender, it is broken. If |
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only one rib is broken and it is not poking in or out of the body, |
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give pain medicine. The person should avoid lifting and hard work |
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for a few weeks. It will heal without any special treatment. Remind |
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the person to take deep breaths every few hours. This hurts, but |
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keeps the lungs working. |
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Crushing injury |
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A fall or crushing injury (like a car or motorcycle crash) can break |
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many ribs at once. |
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## Many broken ribs (flail chest) |
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Many broken ribs |
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* Tape a thick pad, or folded piece of clothing over the broken |
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ribs. |
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* Lay the person in whatever position best helps them breathe. |
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* Watch for signs of shock and get help. |
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shock |
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## Deep chest wounds |
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A gunshot, stab wound, explosion, or badly broken rib can cause air |
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to leak in and out of the lungs. This may cause lung collapse. |
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* Immediately cover the opening with anything airtight, like a |
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bandage covered in petroleum jelly or a folded plastic bag. |
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* Tape only 3 sides so air can get out but not get in. A square |
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bandage taped at the top and sides to a person's chest. |
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* Lay the person in whatever position best helps them breathe. Get |
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help. |
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Deep chest wound treatment |
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> from NEW WHERE THERE IS NO DOCTOR © Hesperian Health Guides, |
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> 1919 Addison St Ste 304, Berkeley, CA, 94704, 1.510.845.1447, |
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> [email protected] |
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