The Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and Tactical Combat Casualty Curriculum is now recommending taping chest wound seals on all 4 sides. The goal is to seal the hole completely and quickly. The concept of a one-way valve from a dressing taped on 3 sides doesn’t seem to work in the real world. If a tension pneumothorax develops, release the dressing to release the pressure.
These curricula recommendations have been adopted from NOLS Wilderness Medicine and have been edited to conform to the standards
set by Center for Wilderness Safety and the Wilderness Medical Society in accordance with the WMS National Practice Guidelines.