Credits Hours: 1.00

Course Description:
Prehospital management of potentially life-threatening chest injuries is challenging for the EMS professional. An organized patient assessment plan and aggressive and thorough management of the injury are essential for delivery of quality patient care. This course will review general anatomy and physiology of the thoracic region, describe various injuries involving the thoracic cavity, and provide appropriate assessment and management techniques for treating the patient who has experienced thoracic trauma.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Describe the general anatomy and physiology of the structures located in the thoracic cavity.
• Describe the general principles related to the assessment and management of the patient with an injury to the thoracic cavity.
• Given a list of signs and symptoms, distinguish between life-threatening and nonlife-threatening emergencies involving the thoracic area.
• Given a list of signs and symptoms, construct a patient management plan for common thoracic trauma emergencies.