I've heard a questionable advice about open pneumothorax first aid from a school nurse and would like to ask if it is legit. I do see the reasoning behind it but it seems like attempting such thing could go horribly wrong.
When i googled about pneumothorax first aid it just says that you should cover the hole (wound) with something that would not allow air to go through while the injured person has his/her chest compressed (breath out). So that when he/she tries to take a breath in the lung will be open by decreased pressure in the chest instead of sucking air through the hole.
However the advice i've heard was to go a step further and create an improvised valve that would let air out but not inside. This is achieved by placing some material that does not let air go through over the hole but only fixing the top side of it.
So when the pressure inside injured person's chest is lowered this bandage would be pressed onto the hole by the air outside and close it.
But when the air/fluid wants to escape through the hole it would go freely.
And in case of absolute emergency and lack of better options she said we can use a credit card for it (as a flap).
The question is:
- could it theoretically work?
- if it could work at least theoretically, how much better would it be than ordinary airtight bandage?
- should a person without medical education attempt it?
- would a person with medical education attempt it?
- what could go wrong and what are the chances?