Question

A 42-year-old man has a large knife impaled in the center of his chest. He is unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic. You should:

A) carefully remove the knife, control the bleeding, and begin CPR.
B) carefully remove the knife, control the bleeding, and apply the AED.
C) secure the knife in place with a bulky dressing and transport immediately.
D) stabilize the knife with bulky dressings, begin CPR, and transport at once.

Answer 1

The appropriate response to a victim with an impaled knife in the chest is to secure the object, begin CPR, and transport for medical assistance immediately.

Step-by-step explanation:

Emergency Response to Impaled Object in Chest

If a 42-year-old man is found unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic with a large knife impaled in the center of his chest, the correct course of action is to stabilize the knife with bulky dressings, begin CPR, and transport the patient to a medical facility immediately. It is critical not to remove the impaled object because it may be acting as a tamponade, controlling internal bleeding by plugging the wound. Instead, the knife should be secured in place to prevent further injury. After stabilization, high-quality chest compressions should be initiated as per CPR guidelines, which include compressing the chest at least 5 cm deep and at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, until professional medical help is available or the patient shows signs of life. Using an AED is not recommended in this scenario without the assessment and direction of medical professionals due to the risks associated with the impaled object in the chest.