To treat a sucking chest wound, which action is listed?

• A. Place directly on bleeding source
• B. Hold direct pressure for at least 4 min
• C. Place wad of gauze directly on wound
• D. Check for exit wound

Answer: (A)

When a sucking chest wound is present, the priority is to seal the opening so air cannot be drawn into the chest with breathing. The best action is to place a sterile dressing directly over the wound to create an airtight seal. If possible, secure the dressing on three sides so air can escape but cannot be drawn into the wound. Other actions aren’t as effective for this situation: holding direct pressure for a set time isn’t the key step here and may interfere with creating a proper seal; packing or stacking gauze directly into the wound can leave gaps and fail to seal; and checking for an exit wound doesn’t address the immediate need to prevent air entry.