I highly value it when you open packaging on screen! I can barely afford these potentially life saving supplies - but without knowledge and training in their use they are worthless - so your demonstrations are a big stop-gap help to me until I can get to training where I can do this myself! Thank you.
These short demonstrations are so incredibly useful. Having evidence based answer to a simple question: "Can I fold a chest seal?" is incredibly reassuring. Having your wealth of videos covering these topics is great. Thank you.
I have the twin pack of the hyfin vent chest seals literally crammed in my ifak pretty bent out of shape and I always wondered if they would still perform as intended, thanks for the reassurance Skinny Medic!
I love it when things are opened on video so I can see what it is and outs features especially pouches and other stuff (I know that's different) but have just one person who shows the stuff benefits everyone else so they know what they are gonna get
thank you for this video! my mom's a nurse from the mid 70's and she really digs the new stuff that we use today and your videos are always a pleasure to watch. cheers from the Philippines!
Thank you for all the videos you make. You seem to always release a video exactly when I'm thinking about that topic. I always go through your past videos as my first source when looking for information. I like it when you open up items. I personally can't afford to buy extras of everything. So, when you open them and demonstrate how to properly use the item, it is an immense help. Thank you for your service and continued support for training and helping others.
Hey thanks for sharing, man! As for opening the stuff you do, keep opening them. You can't teach properly without doing so. Having the actual item opened up and seeing how to properly use this stuff is very important. It could save someone's life. Thanks again for sharing and God Bless
@skinnymedic, thanks for the video. I’m a Respiratory Therapist. I work in a level 1 trauma center so I see a lot. I’ve put in a lot of nights in the ER, but we still don’t see some of the things you show. I see a lot of guys on forums that have IFAKS 14g caths for rapid needle decompressions for tension pneumos, but they don’t know where or how to insert one. Along with nasal trumpets, but they don’t know one size doesn’t fit all. Thanks for posting these videos.
Yeah, I was looking at IFAKs and wondering what the actual use case is for the nasal trumpets. Sealing a chest wound is pretty straight forward - apply giant sticky pad to stop unwanted air ingress. The nasal trumpet and needle are for people with more training/knowledge than I have. But if nothing else maybe it's good to have them on hand even if you don't know wtf to do with them in case someone is on scene who does?
Is TH-cam still demonizing your vids? They should do something about this. The system is broken since they tried to change a good running system. I think they should support your channel (at Least the vids with medical Content) by not demonizing your content Great vid! Happy to see your vids!
I always see these chest seals sold in 2-packs. I would assume you want to keep both in an IFAK to treat an entrance and exit wound, correct? I was thinking I could split them up to supply more kits, but I guess you always want at least two. Thanks for demo'ing these on camera.
Medical aid has come a long way. Back in the day we were taught how to seal a chest wound with the plastic wrapper from the individual bandage and 100mph tape. Thankfully I never had to use that training. I like it when you open items on camera to show the real deal.
Very cool video I agree with you open stuff up so you can show people how things work. There is always going to be hard to please people no matter what you do. Thank you for all you do in teaching us you do an amazing job. I have one question how long do these last if you store in your bag how many years could you keep before having to buy a new one?
Thanks for answering that question and for opening that package. It helped seeing the actual crease one might encounter and how it flattened out. A quick but worthwhile video.
Nice video! Thanks, and I just got my first package from your generous sale, very cool, love the size of the small red pouch. Still room to add an item or two! Looking forward to the ankle pouch. Thanks a lot for the videos, and the good prices on equipment. Shalom
Hey thanks for the video. I got some in my bag right now that barely fit but I'm fixing to go bend them so they'll fit cause I now see it will. Thanks again
Hey , thanks for your cool vids and resources. A kid at my agency gives the Hy Fin chest seals really bad reviews and prefers the Asherman Chest seals. He said the Hy Fins sucked when he was in Iraq trying to use them on kids that were diaphoretic and bloody. I found this out after we had replaced our "expired" asherman chest seals with Hy Fin chest seals. Have you had any experience or preferences with Hy Fin vs Asherman ?
Hello Skinny medic. I am old school where we have never had a commercially made chest seal. Please tell me why a commercial chest seal is better than a zip lock bag and waterproof tape. The zip loc bag and tape are also much cheaper than the commercial chest seals .I do enjoy your video's keep them coming.Thank you and have a good day
I was woundering, do the abdominal pads made for covering stitches fold safely as well as regular abdominal pads. If I’m thinking correctly, chest-seals are different. But, they seem similar atleast. That’s why I thought I’d ask here.
Serious question: Was taught in military to just use the plastic wrapping from the pressure bandage as a chest seal (supposedly the inside of the packaging is sterile too). Does that not work anymore or ...? Improvise, Adapt and Overcome!
Recently i read that the german military has removed chestseals from IFAKs for a few years now supposedly because the danger isn`t worth the effort. What`s your take on it? Especially when one isn`t trained with the needle.
Great video! Skinny, are you planning to come to NC to teach a class next year? I was thinking of attending, but you're about 4 hours away and I don't want to make the drive if I don't have to.
What you show with the one non vent chest seal its allowed for the one with vent too? I ask because i want put the chest seal with vent in ifak but they are a little to big for it. Thank you!
Hey skinny medic, I have a question. Does a vented chest seal do the job of a decompression needle? Because wouldn't a vented chest seal be far more easy and safe to apply than a decompression needle in the case of a sucking chest wound? Or are there pros and cons to both? I've always wondered what the point of a decompression needle was when there are vented chest seals that allow air to come out.
joe Anderson A tension pneumothorax can still be created without a penetration wound, such as a fractured rib that damages the lung and causes internal bleeding. A vented chest seal can prevent pressure build up from a sucking chest wound but may not be the best solution.
It's nice to have, but not a substitute. They can fail, get clogged up with *stuff*, or pressure can still build up. But if you haven't ever gotten pro training to use a needle D, don't try it.
Thank for the info, I have been wondering this myself. I do appreciate you opening one of them so everyone can see what happens when they get folded. If you were opening a $100 sterile, non-reusable item I might cringe a bit but it's your gear and you can do what you feel you need to do to make your point, and these chest seals are not very expensive. However, I would not be upset if you chose not to open something up. Anyone who has an opinion of what you should do with your gear in your videos should stop watching, go make their own videos and then they can make the decisions.
If I took the smaller chest seals and opened them and stuffed two into one pack to save space would that be ok? They take up too much space in my pocket ifak. If not I just might eliminate them.
Hey thank you so much for answering this age old question. Is one fold the max amount of recommended folds or can it be folded again to fit a smaller pocket?
Zachary Lankford there might be issues with patient confidentiality is the thing. A call-out is not really the time to be getting releases signed 😁. It would be fascinating though. The only time I've seen EMTs at work is when they're working on me and I'm not paying much attention to what they're doing
grouch314 and getting a realise signed would be funny "Sir before i put this tournequet on and save your life, are you ok with being on TH-cam. (Patient passes out) Um Sir? Sir? I think he'll be cool with it."😁😂
I was watching the other day a live on FB from the TCCC committee, and they were debating the changes for thoracic injuries, such as using vented (non-occlussive) chest seal or otherwise phrased non-occlussive dressing. And in absence of one such, leaving the wound open. Any thoughts on that? And should this change become the new TCCC standard, would products like tegaderm films (for example) which are labelled as "breathable" be considered as non-occlussive dressings in that respect? Thanks in advance for you reply;
evan wants to wear it instead of a belt. the problem with that idea even if it was long enough is you would have to take it off and have an extra belt in your car if you ever needed to go somewhere with metal detectors.
There are a couple companies I know of making tourniquet belts, not TCCC recommend or anything, but neither is the SWATT, RATS, or SAM. But you can also wear the RATS Tourniqet around your waist (not as a belt), look up John Lovell's vid.
SM, based on your advice (and that of John at Active Self Protection) I began carrying an ankle IFAK (or AFAK). I'm having and issue with it. My Hyfin Compact chest seals are setting off the metal detectors where I have to go daily. I know they are the issue because a security officer I know wanded all of my items, and the chest seals were the culprit. I was hoping to keep my AFAK discrete when going through security. In your video on them, when you opened it, it looked like the Halo chest seals also have an aluminum looking inner lining to the packaging. (thanks for opening it!) Do you know of another brand of vented chest seal that will not set off a metal detector?
Thanks for the quick reply. I did see a old (2009?) US Army video comparing chest seals. It looked like the Asherman was having trouble sticking to a simulated "bloody" patient at the 3:00 mark. th-cam.com/video/elqADz2Sgeg/w-d-xo.html Have they been improved since then? The Hyfin and Halo both look super sticky - and SM says that is a medical term! :-)
I think it's the mylar-like wrapper. And, I only was carrying 1, not 2 in my AFAK. I have tape to make another out of the packaging, if needed, as I have learned that from you. :) You really have increased my readiness for medical emergencies. We now have trauma kits with CAT tourniquets in both cars, in the range bag, and in my briefcase, and my AFAK (SWAT-T in the AFAK for compactness). Thanks so much for all you do!!! Now I'm looking for some real training in my are of NW Ohio.
I know this is off topic but how does the application of this on a hairy chested man or a woman with big boobs affect the functionality of this product?
I highly value it when you open packaging on screen! I can barely afford these potentially life saving supplies - but without knowledge and training in their use they are worthless - so your demonstrations are a big stop-gap help to me until I can get to training where I can do this myself! Thank you.
Hear hear!
Me, too!
Thank you for the feedback!
Frank Robertson absolutely I agree thank you very much for doing that
Can you use a hyfin chest seal for a stab wound in the abdominal area or the neck?
Educating tens of thousands > opening one chest seal
These short demonstrations are so incredibly useful. Having evidence based answer to a simple question: "Can I fold a chest seal?" is incredibly reassuring.
Having your wealth of videos covering these topics is great.
Thank you.
I have the twin pack of the hyfin vent chest seals literally crammed in my ifak pretty bent out of shape and I always wondered if they would still perform as intended, thanks for the reassurance Skinny Medic!
same here , corners bent , half folded at the middle . i too was concerned about this but not anymore !
Thank you for sacrificing a top shelf chest seal just to educate us for free. I really appreciate it. Thank you and keep up the great work!
Man, this is a great video. I am a Trauma Surgeon, and I always wondered. Thank you. I will pass this on. We all wondered.
Ik this is a few years late but do vented and nonvented have different purposes?
I truly appreciate the fact that you open things in videos and show your viewers what to expect. It’s very helpful
I love it when things are opened on video so I can see what it is and outs features especially pouches and other stuff (I know that's different) but have just one person who shows the stuff benefits everyone else so they know what they are gonna get
Awesome!
Feeding the algorithm here to encourage more of these videos
thank you for this video! my mom's a nurse from the mid 70's and she really digs the new stuff that we use today and your videos are always a pleasure to watch. cheers from the Philippines!
Thank you for all the videos you make. You seem to always release a video exactly when I'm thinking about that topic. I always go through your past videos as my first source when looking for information. I like it when you open up items. I personally can't afford to buy extras of everything. So, when you open them and demonstrate how to properly use the item, it is an immense help. Thank you for your service and continued support for training and helping others.
I think it’s great you open stuff. It allows to see the product and better understand them... keep up the good work
Hey thanks for sharing, man! As for opening the stuff you do, keep opening them. You can't teach properly without doing so. Having the actual item opened up and seeing how to properly use this stuff is very important. It could save someone's life.
Thanks again for sharing and God Bless
Love that you open and show how products are used
@skinnymedic, thanks for the video. I’m a Respiratory Therapist. I work in a level 1 trauma center so I see a lot. I’ve put in a lot of nights in the ER, but we still don’t see some of the things you show. I see a lot of guys on forums that have IFAKS 14g caths for rapid needle decompressions for tension pneumos, but they don’t know where or how to insert one. Along with nasal trumpets, but they don’t know one size doesn’t fit all. Thanks for posting these videos.
Yeah, I was looking at IFAKs and wondering what the actual use case is for the nasal trumpets. Sealing a chest wound is pretty straight forward - apply giant sticky pad to stop unwanted air ingress. The nasal trumpet and needle are for people with more training/knowledge than I have. But if nothing else maybe it's good to have them on hand even if you don't know wtf to do with them in case someone is on scene who does?
To anyone who gets butthurt about him opening it - it's his money and his life, he can do what he wants. 😂 You're the man skinnymedic.
Always show everything about the product & practical use for it including opening, storage & does & don’ts thank you!
Glad it helps
Is TH-cam still demonizing your vids? They should do something about this. The system is broken since they tried to change a good running system. I think they should support your channel (at Least the vids with medical Content) by not demonizing your content
Great vid! Happy to see your vids!
it seems like every other one gets flagged
Hello, new to the channel just wondering why TH-cam would want to demonitize this guys videos.
I always see these chest seals sold in 2-packs. I would assume you want to keep both in an IFAK to treat an entrance and exit wound, correct? I was thinking I could split them up to supply more kits, but I guess you always want at least two. Thanks for demo'ing these on camera.
Medical aid has come a long way. Back in the day we were taught how to seal a chest wound with the plastic wrapper from the individual bandage and 100mph tape. Thankfully I never had to use that training. I like it when you open items on camera to show the real deal.
Tysm for opening it and showing on screen ❤
I have wondered about that for a long time. Thanks.
i know i am a few years late... but THANK YOU... i had training as a Marine.. and training from our Corpsman... but that was many many moons ago....
Thanks for this vid! I just received an IFAK refill from you and it wouldn’t quite fit in the bag. I knew I would find the info here!
Very cool video I agree with you open stuff up so you can show people how things work. There is always going to be hard to please people no matter what you do. Thank you for all you do in teaching us you do an amazing job. I have one question how long do these last if you store in your bag how many years could you keep before having to buy a new one?
You & your work are such a blessing. Thank you.
Thanks. Best med advise for a first responder, have learned much.
Thanks!
I have a Condor EMT lite pouch and wondered if the hyfin vented chest seal would fit, thank you so much.
Very helpful. Thanks for explaining and demonstrating that!
What about heat and storage? I live in FL and it gets pretty hot, and not a lot of shade in employee parking area
Also following
SkinnyMedic, you are the man. I thoroughly enjoy your sharing of knowledge. Great job, God Bless. Drive on!
Thank you for the support!
Really good to know, I just assumed you couldn’t. Makes packing IFAKs much easier
Thanks for answering that question and for opening that package. It helped seeing the actual crease one might encounter and how it flattened out. A quick but worthwhile video.
Thank you for the support!
Perfect timing! I've been wondering about this too.
was looking for exactely this information. Thanks!
Nice video! Thanks, and I just got my first package from your generous sale, very cool, love the size of the small red pouch. Still room to add an item or two! Looking forward to the ankle pouch. Thanks a lot for the videos, and the good prices on equipment. Shalom
Hey thanks for the video. I got some in my bag right now that barely fit but I'm fixing to go bend them so they'll fit cause I now see it will. Thanks again
Hey , thanks for your cool vids and resources. A kid at my agency gives the Hy Fin chest seals really bad reviews and prefers the Asherman Chest seals. He said the Hy Fins sucked when he was in Iraq trying to use them on kids that were diaphoretic and bloody. I found this out after we had replaced our "expired" asherman chest seals with Hy Fin chest seals. Have you had any experience or preferences with Hy Fin vs Asherman ?
Very useful video , thank you .
Hello Skinny medic. I am old school where we have never had a commercially made chest seal. Please tell me why a commercial chest seal is better than a zip lock bag and waterproof tape. The zip loc bag and tape are also much cheaper than the commercial chest seals .I do enjoy your video's keep them coming.Thank you and have a good day
I wondered about folding them too. Thanks for the info!
Thanks for this post. You validated what I went with.
Just bought them from you and I was wondering about this, great timing! Oh by the way, keep opening stuff up. That way I don’t have too!
I was wondering what the proper storage for a nasopharyngeal airway was? Can they be bent or folded? If you've already done this video I apologize.
Thanks. Always enjoy your vids
Thanks!
Thanks for the exact information I was looking for!
Hyfin makes a compact chest seal that takes up less room in a kit if space is a real big problem.
I was woundering, do the abdominal pads made for covering stitches fold safely as well as regular abdominal pads. If I’m thinking correctly, chest-seals are different. But, they seem similar atleast. That’s why I thought I’d ask here.
Next run you do of AFAK's you should make it to hold chest seals
Thanks! Very clear explanation
Yes, it did help. Thanks!
Awesome!
This helps a lot. Great video. Thanks
I love the videos
I work as a RSO at a Gun Range , can you please do a video on trauma to the hand ….when a gun explodes in someone’s hand
Serious question: Was taught in military to just use the plastic wrapping from the pressure bandage as a chest seal (supposedly the inside of the packaging is sterile too). Does that not work anymore or ...? Improvise, Adapt and Overcome!
Recently i read that the german military has removed chestseals from IFAKs for a few years now supposedly because the danger isn`t worth the effort. What`s your take on it? Especially when one isn`t trained with the needle.
Thank you for your videos! Keep up the good work!
Great video! Skinny, are you planning to come to NC to teach a class next year? I was thinking of attending, but you're about 4 hours away and I don't want to make the drive if I don't have to.
What you show with the one non vent chest seal its allowed for the one with vent too? I ask because i want put the chest seal with vent in ifak but they are a little to big for it. Thank you!
Question Sir, my Halo chest seal is expired. Do I need to throw it out and get a new one, or can I just put some duct tape in the kit to tape it down?
I would get a New one,but still keep the expired seal. As long as no damage to package it will last much longer.
Awesome channel!!!! Thx for the good work!
Hey skinny medic, I have a question. Does a vented chest seal do the job of a decompression needle? Because wouldn't a vented chest seal be far more easy and safe to apply than a decompression needle in the case of a sucking chest wound? Or are there pros and cons to both?
I've always wondered what the point of a decompression needle was when there are vented chest seals that allow air to come out.
joe Anderson A tension pneumothorax can still be created without a penetration wound, such as a fractured rib that damages the lung and causes internal bleeding. A vented chest seal can prevent pressure build up from a sucking chest wound but may not be the best solution.
Taylor Hodsden oh thank you.
It's nice to have, but not a substitute. They can fail, get clogged up with *stuff*, or pressure can still build up. But if you haven't ever gotten pro training to use a needle D, don't try it.
It can help prevent but doesn't do the same job
Thank for the info, I have been wondering this myself. I do appreciate you opening one of them so everyone can see what happens when they get folded. If you were opening a $100 sterile, non-reusable item I might cringe a bit but it's your gear and you can do what you feel you need to do to make your point, and these chest seals are not very expensive. However, I would not be upset if you chose not to open something up.
Anyone who has an opinion of what you should do with your gear in your videos should stop watching, go make their own videos and then they can make the decisions.
If I took the smaller chest seals and opened them and stuffed two into one pack to save space would that be ok? They take up too much space in my pocket ifak. If not I just might eliminate them.
I leave my IFAK in the car and sometimes forget to take it out when I get home. Will the heat of a closed car in the summer be a problem?
Nice information thanks.
Great video. As someone else asked: What effect does Southern summer heat (inside your vehicle) (long term) have on your trauma bag and IFAK?
Following
Very good question ! Did you have an answer ?
i have a slightly smaller hyfin chest seal and a really small bleeders pouch, is it ok to have multiple folds in it? (3 folds)
Hey thank you so much for answering this age old question. Is one fold the max amount of recommended folds or can it be folded again to fit a smaller pocket?
You can fold it multiple times
Excellent video
Thanks
Thanks Skinny. When you open and demonstrate your stuff then we don’t have to.
Thank you for posting !
Thank you for the support!
Can you fold the Halo chest seals? I have a small trauma kit pouch and would like to fit those inside????
great vid, lot of things I have wanted to know
Awesome!
What if you made a bunch of tiny holes in the chest seal, could that work as a vent?
no it wouldn't seal
Skinny, what you you think about Fox Chest Seals? Haven't seen you mention them... Thanks from the UK, keep-up the great work!
I don't have much experience with them
Can you fold the Vented Hyfin Chest Seals without issue?
thanks, lots of medical gear outfitters packages arrive at my house
Just a suggestion but would you be willing to wear a Gopro headsit or chest rig when you go on a EMT call. It might be interesting.
Zachary Lankford there might be issues with patient confidentiality is the thing. A call-out is not really the time to be getting releases signed 😁. It would be fascinating though. The only time I've seen EMTs at work is when they're working on me and I'm not paying much attention to what they're doing
grouch314 i thought of the patient confidentially thing it was just just an idea i had had during the video. It wasn't all thought out yet.
grouch314 and getting a realise signed would be funny "Sir before i put this tournequet on and save your life, are you ok with being on TH-cam. (Patient passes out) Um Sir? Sir? I think he'll be cool with it."😁😂
Zachary Lankford it's a great idea and if it was possible, it would be really informative and interesting, I just don't think it's feasible
I can't do that
I was watching the other day a live on FB from the TCCC committee, and they were debating the changes for thoracic injuries, such as using vented (non-occlussive) chest seal or otherwise phrased non-occlussive dressing. And in absence of one such, leaving the wound open. Any thoughts on that? And should this change become the new TCCC standard, would products like tegaderm films (for example) which are labelled as "breathable" be considered as non-occlussive dressings in that respect? Thanks in advance for you reply;
What about removing them and putting them in sealed plastic bags to save space? Still gonna dry out?
You should make a cat tourniqeut that's long enough to act as a belt because some people may not have enough pockets to carry a regular one
You can get a pouch or case for your belt. Or just fix them to your belt with a strong rubberband. Just some options for carrying TQs :D
lol wut
evan wants to wear it instead of a belt. the problem with that idea even if it was long enough is you would have to take it off and have an extra belt in your car if you ever needed to go somewhere with metal detectors.
But then when you need it, your trousers will fall down
There are a couple companies I know of making tourniquet belts, not TCCC recommend or anything, but neither is the SWATT, RATS, or SAM. But you can also wear the RATS Tourniqet around your waist (not as a belt), look up John Lovell's vid.
Can you use a chest seal for a gunshot wound to the abdominal area?
SM, based on your advice (and that of John at Active Self Protection) I began carrying an ankle IFAK (or AFAK). I'm having and issue with it. My Hyfin Compact chest seals are setting off the metal detectors where I have to go daily. I know they are the issue because a security officer I know wanded all of my items, and the chest seals were the culprit. I was hoping to keep my AFAK discrete when going through security. In your video on them, when you opened it, it looked like the Halo chest seals also have an aluminum looking inner lining to the packaging. (thanks for opening it!) Do you know of another brand of vented chest seal that will not set off a metal detector?
DannyH ashman is in a paper /plastic packet. No metal in it at all
Thanks for the quick reply. I did see a old (2009?) US Army video comparing chest seals. It looked like the Asherman was having trouble sticking to a simulated "bloody" patient at the 3:00 mark. th-cam.com/video/elqADz2Sgeg/w-d-xo.html Have they been improved since then? The Hyfin and Halo both look super sticky - and SM says that is a medical term! :-)
That is interesting ... I am not why they set off the metal detector
I think it's the mylar-like wrapper. And, I only was carrying 1, not 2 in my AFAK. I have tape to make another out of the packaging, if needed, as I have learned that from you. :) You really have increased my readiness for medical emergencies. We now have trauma kits with CAT tourniquets in both cars, in the range bag, and in my briefcase, and my AFAK (SWAT-T in the AFAK for compactness). Thanks so much for all you do!!! Now I'm looking for some real training in my are of NW Ohio.
Really appreciate your videos. I'd love to support your page. Could you make a custom pledge that is not monthly?
Helpful, thanks
Can they stay in my truck when its below freezing?
Good advice!
Thanks!
Is the beacon chest seal effective?
How many times can it be folded im trying to have it fit my hsgi o3d.
Thanks for the info
Thanks Skinny
Thank you for the support!
Cool vid brother!
Thank you for watching!
I know this is off topic but how does the application of this on a hairy chested man or a woman with big boobs affect the functionality of this product?
These are designed to stick to ANYTHING... including Chuck Norris's hairy chest and/or a p*rnstar's boobs.
👍often wondered about that.
Doing in giveaways for Christmas?
Yes but it will be on my Patreon page ... www.patreon.com/skinnymedic
+SkinnyMedic Ok
Good video. Best
Thanks SM.
Thank you for watching!
Thank you.
Thank you!
Gulf War Corpsman 2nd Marine Division . Approved!!!
To everyone who has their panties in a bunch about him “wasting” a seal, go ahead & resell the open package for medical training purposes