Cool, I'm ready to start sticking people should the need arise. First person with so much as light asthma is getting the business.

Combat tip from a medic during desperate circumstances: When doing a Needle Decompression during either combat or lots of noise, it sounds gross to do but lick a portion of your skin above your glove line and then put it over the decompression needle which should allow you to feel air coming out of the needle in any circumstances due to the "cold feeling" of the air hitting your wet skin. No cold feeling means no air coming out. It works.

“If you stab the heart, obviously there’s gonna be some problems there.”

As a non-medic that does carry a trauma kit and responds to medical calls, I thank you for making this video to demonstrate all the reasons I should not under almost any circumstances attempt this procedure!

Needles, and especially extra long ones, are never pleasant. But I can promise you this: if your life is really in jeopardy, a long needle will be the least of your concerns.

Rule #1: Do Not stab the meaty-beaty with your icky-sticky

"this should only be done by professionals" Me, with what I thought was a red sharpie in my trauma kit: 👁️👄👁️

"If you accidentally stab the patients heart that's gonna be a problem" *Me, taking notes*

As a collapsed lung survivor back in high school and looking into becoming an emt I can say that a spontaneous pneumothorax sucks extremely. Getting the air sucked out of you and not knowing what's wrong is terrifying. Stay safe man.

Had a bad trauma call the other day. Ended up Decompressing him. Worked really well!

The advantage of going into the 5th intercostal space is it takes you out of the cardiac box. We were taught it during my TCCC course.

I'm thinking of tatooing 'x's on my chest to pinpoint where the needle should go. That way I could do this to myself if I ever need to.

We had to do this in our cls (combat life saver) class in the guard and it was pretty neat to learn. Everyone new to the military is getting cls certified and I believe it's a wonderful skill to have. Thanks for the post man!

As a National and AZ certified EMT, I can say that unless you're trained, certified as a Paramedic or higher, under medical direction, or you have a medical license and training, don't even try it. You'll penetrate the heart, lung, or great vessels, which will do more harm than good. A sucking chest wound can be a pneumothorax, a hemothorax, or a pneumo/hemo-thorax. Put on occlusive dressings and get the patient to definitive medical care as soon as possible. They're going to need surgery to fix the problem. The proper personnel and the proper surgical theater doesn't exist in the field.

My chest started hurting when he pushed that needle in. Ive gone too deep down the KZfaq rabbit hole lol

I had a life-changing experience at the emergency medicine cadaver labs. Everything in your video is spot on as far as how it is taught to the masses. However, there are a few major problems with how these skills are taught that haven't hit the masses yet. - You will never see tracheal deviation as a late or early sign. The books all have that listed because it is visible on an XRAY. It's not a late sign, it's just a sign only seen by radiologists when they get scanned at the hospital. Somehow the idea of it being a late sign occurred, probably out of a misconception.The flexible part of the trachea is not visible to the human eye. -Just to clarify, you are right that the needles are generally too short. But it's not because the needle catheter can't ' get into the thorax' . It's PLENTY long to get inside the thorax. In fact, people frequently biopsy the heart and liver when they insert the needle in. It just isn't long enough to feed the catheter to the superior thorax, (angled towards the collarbone). Most patients only need about 2cm past the ribs to get inside the thorax. -Which leads me to point # 2. EMS academies and schools everywhere are teaching your exact method. Burying the needle all the way in. This is terrible! you can easily stab the heart with less than 2 inches from the midclavicular line. We watched this occur on several of the cadavers. We even stuck our finger in... It' more close than you think. -The correct way to insert the catheter is to grip the needle with two hands. Intentionally find the middle of the rib with the tip of the needle. This depth is highly variable because many people have a ton of adipose tissue. Manually push the needle above/below the rib and proceed 2 cm. Immediately angle the needle towards the collarbone and feed the catheter upwards. You do not want to go much further than 2cm, as there is no reason to do this.

As a Marine that had this done to him I've always wanted to know more. Thank God for Corpsmen.

Good to know that about the no-longer-needed one-way valve. Fun fact: instead of using the finger of a glove, I was taught to push the needle through the tip of a lubricated condom. The cut-finger of a glove never sealed anything when I used it. The lubricant helped keep the inside of the condom stuck together and, when unrolled, made an effective one-way valve. And that’s why this faithfully married paramedic kept condoms in his pocket on the band-aid bus.

As a nurse, I find this video a valuable training resource. Why, I lament, why Nurses are not cross-trained with Paramedics? As a nurse I need to have these skills, not just hanging IV's and making patient assessments. This has got to change. Thank you very much!

Cool video and education. California AEMS just applied this. As a former US ARMY 68W Combat Field Medicine Specialist, we were absolutely allowed to utilize decompression.

Don't know why this was recommended for me, but okay then

Great info. As a former combat medic, I always thought it was super important to know the signs of tension pneumothorax. There are several, and you're right, tracheal deviation is a late sign. We initially trained with 2nd ICS/mid-clavicle, but started transitioning to mid-axillary anterior 5th ICS. The move to mid ax had less to do with body armor and more to do with mid clavicle being less effective on thicker chested men, and women(breasts). In the beginning (during the invasion), we were using IV needles, but that changed after some lessons learned.

I’ve treated numerous gunshots, tourniquets, cpr. The tactical medicine training I got was great, but you’re 100% correct. This procedure is not fought enough. I think they are worried about liability with teaching cops invasive procedures with no emt certs

I had two lung collapses and now a lung surgery I applaud your video here honestly I think everyone should at least have the basics of using a compression needle so bravo good sir bravo great videos keep up the awesome work

Thanks for posting always good to refresh on the skill sets - a reminder to those that haven't reviewed this procedure in a while don't forget standard precautions and to prep the site with an alco-swab b4, hate to give my Pt a secondary infection.

This and your chest trauma videos were great! I'm a vet who recently decided to start carrying a trauma pack as part of my EDC, and this these were great refreshers of the CLS classes I took so many years ago. Thank you for making them, keep up the great work!!

I have to say, this was the coolest thing I learned in the Army’s 40 hour combat life saving course.

Good stuff. Thank you for what you do. I know you may help a lot of people in the medical field, but helping people help themselves or others is a greater gift.

You are very informative and enjoy your show. This brings back my faith in medics.

Was trained on this procedure 20 yrs ago at an Army Combat Lifesaver course. Good refresher video thanks.

This video came up as "Recommended for you" while I was researching ifak/trauma kits. Thank you for doing this! I am of the belief that you should have this equipment in your kit at all times, even if you can't use it, as you are far more likely to run into someone, on the scene, who has the training to use your gear, then you are to stumble upon the gear you need to save a life.

I've just started watching you, I'm in ireland and I have just subbed. You are going to go far, keep up the great videos.

In combat, we are taught to lay down in line with their head and rest out hands on their chest watching for equal rise and fall while keeping our ear over their mouth listening/feeling for their breathing as well. We use the same techniques you taught here as well (very comforting to know lol). We never treat on the “X” (where the action is) other than our CATs so we have “time” to search and assess the patient. Awesome video

Thanks for the great video! Keep up the great work!

Bless you brother I'm a 68W who hasn't done this since AIT and just wanted a refresher keep up the good work.

I’m taking A&P right now in high school and I think it’s cool I can understand a lot of the medical terms he’s using based on what I learned in the class.

I can almost guarantee that this video will save someones life. Very well presented, especially impressed how you refer to combat situations, and acknowledge that body armour should stay on and to vent from the side as you did. Thank you

I cant find my third rib to save my life

Well done. Great basic step by step of the operation and alternative sites. Kudos.

i just did my first one yesterday as a brand new medic! thanks for the tips, sam

Former medic here. Great vid and training.

I told a lot of my friends that medical skills like this one is going to be very useful for prepping and after I showed them this video they agreed with me

Can't wait to see the rest of your vids. Thanks for the awesome content!

I love your content and the way to clearing and easily explain things.

Im just here to brush up on everything the Navy taught me already. Good video. Almost exactly as I was trained back in '06-07 before a horrible deployment.

Hey, I found another Iowan. It's cool to see you!

Excellent video, great explanation. I've also noticed that many services are going down the road of bilateral pleural or lateral decompression for any indication of needle decompression.

Every interesting and informative video. Thanks, Sam.

Good stuff man, glad this information is out there to be found. Active Duty Marine and aspiring EMT here, so glad I can find out this stuff. They only teach us to treat sucking chest wounds with a Chest Seal but this a great follow up!

Sweet! I will try this on myself tonight for practice. I figure I've got 2, maybe 3 sticks in me before I need actual help.

Thanks. I was watching a video of foreign soldiers in Ukraine. They were evacuating a casualty. It took the MRAP so long to get there, and by the time he got there, you could hear the soldier struggling to gasp for air. I knew immediately it was an untreated sucking chest wound, but I was just so stunned that all of those soldiers didn't have some basic understanding of first aid to treat him. It made me want to refresh my knowledge on this. These videos are great. I just wish the people who need this information would come here.

Great video brought me back to CLS pre deployment

Of the Needles D- performed in North Carolina last year, 2 of 3 the medic stabbed the heart. The needles are not meant to be buried to the hub. The purpose of the needle is to puncture the pleura..! That's it! You can't even breathe threw it until needle is removed. Test it yourself! As you insert attempt to slide catheter in. As soon as catheter inserts without resistance needles stays there then hub the catheter and remove the needle. Catheter can stay in from 10-30 seconds. Trust me. Ask experienced trauma medics/esp military. Also the reason tension pneumo started in first place secondary to puncture is one way valve going in. Great video explaining it by Dr Najeeb!

The 5th intercostal is a good site, it’s especially used during a clamshell thoracotomy

I love your videos!🚑👌🏻 Greetings from Mexico! ❤️

Hi, I'm a firearm operator, i'm following you from Turkey. I found your video really helpful. I appreciate you sharing this information. :)

Probably one of the most relieving experiences I’ve ever had. Having air and blood fill up your chest cavity is excruciating but when that needle goes into your lung cavity, it felt like the elephant took its foot off my chest.

*W A R N I N G:* This video may cause..... Manual breathing.

The best video about needle decompression.

I feel more confident now. Thank you.

Can you do a video on Burn Dressings, Burn Gels, and Burn Sheets. Thank You

Great video! The pucker factor is high doing this the first time but its a rush like no other when the patient gets immediate relief. One of the most important tools in the paramedics tool box in my opinion.

I'd love to change the world... That song is part of the ending music, vary interesting, great video by the way👍.

just found this channel already love it

Had a thought for land marks how a skeltelon ? Then u could see the ribs clearly just a thought ikr love ur vids just subbed. emt i and anesthsia tech curr do alot of back country xploring so good to refresh thank U

Dude, things sure have changed over the years. IED May 25th, 2005 in Iraq....tension hemo-pneumothorax. Long story short, removed body armor and my friend is still alive to this day. Also, the fast way to dart is to use a very simple method for the location...draw a line from the nipple straight up, then draw a line from the nipple perpendicular to the first line. Anywhere in that area is fine. Of course, take into consideration the heart on the left side.

just ditched my last Medic Channel since it was always adds, so here i am gonna check ya out for a while.... great Vid BTW

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for thank you

U should have a store, I would buy from it👌

Me again... In uni we have been taught that, if no equipment is on hand and there is no hope of such equipment arriving within the next few minutes, this can also be done with any sharp knife and any sort of tube, say a pen. Of course, that is highly improvised and a measure of last resort, though I share our profs' view that one should know how to improvise if needed. Without a proper thorax drainage, or at least a Heimlich valve, the lung won't inflate all that much though. Because of the pleural cavity it will collapse due to its own elasticity until sufficient negative pressure is generated to pull it apart again. The main purpose of a pleural puncture is to relieve pressure from the other lung, the heart and great vessels, and the N. vagus. The other lung will provide sufficient oxygenation. By the way, this topic saved my *ss during an anatomy exam.

Instant sub! Absolutely love this content

This was a helpful refresh. I’ve been out of the army for 12 years, but writing a book and wanted to get it right. 😂 Thank you!

It bugs me that these tactical websites include these but not a tourniquet in a trauma kit.

Why did my squeamish ass click on this video?

Have never been to school to become and EMT or doctor but knew that one spot was in the 3rd or 4th intercostal area. Good to know I was able to remember that from hearing it or learning it somewhere.

Excellent tutorial (for general information). Solid video.

I'm taking A&P and med term and I actually understood the medical terminology he used. I'm proud of myself 😂😂

From what I got taught in TCCC in the Marine Corps from a medic was to always aim for that 5th spot he mentioned because of the less risk of puncturing the heart, coming from combat medics who have seem combat etc.

I had a lung collapse surgery and these really help me to trust my doctors

Excellent presentation. Learned a lot.

I was waiting for the medic to stick that needle into someone's chest .. but it's fine i have learnd something today.

Thanks for this video. I'm not trained on this, and don't plan on ever doing it, but I live in the Pacific Northwest, which is a major earthquake zone. As such, having at least a working knowledge of how to do this just might save someone's life in a SHTF, do it or they die for sure because help isn't coming kind of situation.

Thought you should know theres a sony camera video on the medical video playlist. Jave a great week thankyou so much for all the work you do, your patients are so greatful when you arrive

been through CLS a few times. never knew the side trick, good stuff.

This was done in the movie "The three kings. "

OK overall not a bad video. Been teaching this skill to paramedics since 1986 and yes we have gone through changes in techniques, like using or not using one way valves. One suggestion though, get your hands out of your pockets and off the stethoscope! Place them on the patient's chest. You can feel the side you need to decompress by the bulging intercostal spaces. Nothing else required. Jaws running and sirens blaring no problem. KISS, keep it simple stupid.

Very useful and educational. Thank you.

This was a great video thank you for sharing your information I really appreciate it

You should be specific. This should be done in the prehospital setting only by licensed paramedics. Not police or anyone else with a few seconds of an introductory to the NeedleD😮😢

One thing I was taught is that when doing it under the arm pit, a easy way to figure out where you should insert the needle is to take the opposite hand of the injured side and to put it across the body. Put their hand into their arm pit without the thumb. And feel for a gap in the ribs around the bottom of their fingers. And a lot of the time its in the correct place. Obviously this is a little faster for combat style self or buddy aid. What’s your thoughts on this method?

Great refresher, well done!

Thank you for this video! I always wondered how this procedure worked.

So the 4th or 5th AAL is our 2nd choice now you use mid axillary for chest tubes.

I hope there's qualified people watching this somewhere.

Solid video! Keep up the great work!

I'm current military and we learn this in my combat life savers class but they dont really explain why we do it just how to do it. This helped alot to explain the why.

how long does the decompression niddle can stay in the bag without being used.. How long does it last if not used?

Thanks a lot. Question though; for how long do u leave the needle in place in the chest

Hey man. I have not seen any of your videos. I've just seen the first few seconds of this one, but I subscribed.

As a former Hospital Corpsman this is great information!