Assessment of chest trauma is one of the more difficult presentations for first responders and paramedics. This discussion will focus on systematic assessment, treatment principles and risk stratification for the pre-hospital health provider.

Learning objectives:

• Differentiation of various types of chest injury
• Risk assessment and supportive signs of different types of chest trauma
• Application of treatment modalities according to clinical findings
• Recognition of the need for utilisation of higher skillsets
• Understanding of the importance of analgesic regimes in chest trauma

Biography: Shaun Whitmore

Shaun Whitmore is an Intensive Care Flight Paramedic with Air Ambulance Victoria. Shaun is also an Urban Search and Rescue Operator, and AusMAT Team Leader, a Wilderness Medical Instructor and a Division 1 Registered Nurse. Shaun has interests in austere, remote and disaster medicine, and has been involved in the introduction of first responder and aeromedical systems in Borneo and PNG. Shaun has recently authored the Chest Injury Chapter for Paramedic Principles and Practice/A Clinical Reasoning Approach 2E.