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Impact to the chest at any distance should include examination for:
- Difficulty breathing
- Shortness of breath (SOB)
- Flail Segment
- Crepitus
- Asymmetric inspiration and expiration
- Blood in the phlegm
- Diminished or absent lung sounds
You may also want to consider ALS Paramedics because a traumatic blunt force injury to the chest will warrant a 12-Lead ECG. Cardiac dysrhythmias, heart murmurs or sudden death may occur with a direct blow to the chest. [25, 26] |