Lightning X Vented Chest Seal - Single Pack - Lightning X

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SKU: LX-CSVX2

Type: Chest Seal

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Lightning X CSV6 Vented Chest Seal — Twin Pack

Name: Lightning X CSV6 Vented Chest Seal — Twin Pack
Brand: Lightning X
SKU: LX-CSVX2
Price: 16.46 USD
Availability: InStock

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PRODUCT INFORMATION

Lightning X · Vented Chest Seal

Lightning X CSV6 Vented Chest Seal — Twin Pack

Two Lightning X CSV6 vented chest seals — one for the entry wound, one for the exit. Each 6.6 in. round seal has 1.25 in. side tabs, a high-tack medical-grade hydrogel, a transparent backing and a channeled flap vent that releases air and fluid while blocking air and debris from coming back in. Each seal comes with a 4-ply 4 × 4 in. sterile gauze pad for cleaning the skin first, in flat 5.75 × 4 in. packaging made for IFAKs.

Vented — channeled flap vent2 seals per pack6.6 in. roundGauze pad for skin prepFlat 5.75 × 4 in. pack

Two holes, two seals, two pads to wipe the skin first — and someone watching the breathing after both are on.

The short answer

What it is

Two vented occlusive chest seals, 6.6 in. round with side tabs, each packed with a sterile 4 × 4 in. gauze pad for cleaning the skin before application.

Use it for

An open or sucking chest wound — front, back or side — and its exit wound. The TCCC Guidelines call for a vented chest seal first.¹

How it's used

Wipe the skin with the pad, peel, center the seal over the hole and press it on. Then watch breathing; if it gets worse, burp the seal with the red pull tab.^1,3

Who carries it

First responders, military, law enforcement and prepared civilians — in the IFAK beside the tourniquet, the packing gauze and the pressure dressing.

At a glance

Type

Vented — channeled flap vent

Seals per pack

Seal size

6.6 in. round + 1.25 in. side tabs

Adhesive

High-tack medical-grade hydrogel

Backing

Transparent, large red pull tab

Packaging

Flat, 5.75 × 4 in.

Included

4-ply 4 × 4 in. sterile gauze pad per seal

Manufacturer item

LX-CSVX2

FDA

Class I, 510(k)-exempt

10 things to know about the Lightning X CSV6

Why the TCCC Guidelines put vented seals first, what is in the pack, and what the vented-seal research does and does not show.

01

Vented first is the TCCC position

The TCCC Guidelines dated 1 May 2026 direct that every open or sucking chest wound be treated by immediately applying a vented chest seal; a non-vented seal is used when no vented one is available, and the casualty is monitored either way.¹ What is carried is what goes on: most seals placed on U.S. casualties with chest wounds in Afghanistan were non-vented.¹¹
02

Why the vent matters

Sealing the hole stops air being drawn in through the chest wall, but an injured lung can keep leaking air inside. In pigs with an ongoing air leak, a non-vented seal led to tension pneumothorax in all 8 animals after about 1.4 L of air while a vented seal held through 2 L⁶ — the finding behind TCCC's 2013 move to vented-first.⁵
03

How the CSV6 vents

Lightning X describes a channeled flap vent that self-regulates: it releases air and fluid from the wound while preventing air and debris from re-entering.³
04

Vent designs perform differently

With a bleeding chest wound in pigs, success ranged from 6 of 6 to 0 of 4 across five vented brands; pooled blood lifted seals off or clogged one-way valves.⁷ In a communicating-pneumothorax model, three vented brands all evacuated air and blood.⁸ The CSV6 was not among the brands tested, and a 2021 systematic review judged the evidence on individual brands limited.¹⁰
05

Two seals, two gauze pads

The twin pack carries two seals for an entry and an exit wound, and each seal comes with a 4-ply 4 × 4 in. sterile gauze pad for cleaning the wound area before application.³ The pad is for wiping the skin — never for packing into the chest.
06

6.6 inches round, with side tabs

Each seal measures 6.6 in. round with 1.25 in. side tabs.³ The adhesive has to reach intact skin all the way around the wound, so center the seal on the hole.
07

High-tack hydrogel for dirty skin

Lightning X specifies a high-tack, medical-grade hydrogel that bonds through blood, sweat, hair, sand and water.³ In swine-skin testing, adhesion after hot and cold storage held for four vented brands and dropped for a fifth⁹ — brands differ, which is why the pack includes a pad to wipe the skin first.
08

Red pull tab, two tabs

A large red pull tab and a two-tab design make application — and burping the wound later — fast under stress, and the transparent backing lets you see the hole as you place the seal.³
09

Flat and kit-friendly

Flat, low-profile packaging measuring 5.75 × 4 in. is designed to fit IFAKs, tactical pouches and compact first aid kits.³
10

Not on the evidence-based device list — and no chest seal is

The Evidence-Based Standard Devices & Adjuncts list dated 15 December 2021 names no chest seal, so the CSV6 is not evidence-based standard; absence from the list does not by itself mean a product was tested and failed.² The Lightning X Vented Chest Seal is an FDA-registered, Class I (510(k)-exempt) occlusive wound dressing.⁴

How to apply the Lightning X CSV6

The sequence taught for chest seals under the TCCC Guidelines, using the gauze pad that comes with each seal.

1

Expose and find every hole. Cut clothing away and look and feel front, back, sides and armpits. Life-threatening bleeding is controlled first — tourniquet, packing, pressure dressing.
2

Cover it now. Put a gloved hand over the hole — or have the casualty do it — while you open the pack.
3

Wipe it. Use the included 4 × 4 in. gauze pad to wipe blood, sweat and debris from the skin around the wound.³
4

Peel and place. Peel the backing with the red pull tab and center the seal over the wound, adhesive side down.³
5

Smooth it down. Press from the center out, side tabs last, so the edges seal all the way around.
6

Seal the exit. Apply the second seal the same way on any other chest wound you found.
7

Position and watch. Unconscious and breathing: recovery position. Conscious: let them sit up or take whatever position helps them breathe.¹ Watch for increasing shortness of breath, falling oxygen and signs of shock.¹
8

Worse? Burp it. Lift an edge with the pull tab to let trapped air escape, then press it back down — or remove the seal. Trained providers follow the Guidelines' decompression direction.^1,3

Train before you need it. Practice the wipe-peel-place-burp sequence on a chest seal trainer. Chest seals are single use — one opened for practice does not go back into a kit.

Where it fits

Use it for

Open or sucking chest wounds — the device type the TCCC Guidelines call for first¹
Entry and exit wounds from the same injury — two seals per pack
Skin exposed to blood, sweat, hair, sand or water, once wiped with the included pad³
IFAKs, tactical pouches and compact first aid kits³

Not for

Packing — never pack gauze, including the included pad, into a chest or abdominal wound
Over a protruding or impaled object — stabilize the object instead
Limb bleeding — that is the tourniquet, packing gauze and pressure dressing
Leaving unwatched — vented seals still need someone monitoring breathing¹
Practice — train on a chest seal trainer

The evidence

Every study cited above, what it tested, and how strong it is.

Study	Evidence type	What was studied	What it found
*Kheirabadi et al., J Trauma Acute Care Surg* 2013**	Animal · crossover	Unvented (HALO) vs vented (Bolin) seal on an open chest wound with an ongoing air leak, 8 swine	Both restored breathing within 5 min; the unvented seal led to tension pneumothorax in all 8 after ~1.4 L of air, the vented seal held through 2 L
*Kheirabadi et al., J Trauma Acute Care Surg* 2017**	Animal · comparative	Five vented seals on a bleeding open chest wound, 26 swine	Success: Russell 6/6, Sentinel 6/6, HyFin Vent 4/6, SAM 1/4, Bolin 0/4; one-way valves clotted or detached
*Kotora et al., J Emerg Med* 2013**	Animal · comparative	HyFin, Sentinel and SAM vented seals, communicating pneumothorax, 24 swine	All three evacuated air and blood; no tension physiology developed with a seal in place
*Arnaud et al., Injury* 2016**	Animal · adhesion	Vented seals on soiled live swine skin, at room temperature and after extreme cold and heat storage	Russell, FastBreathe, HyFin and SAM adhered similarly; Bolin adhesion fell after temperature extremes
*Schachner et al., Ann Thorac Surg* 2022**	Bench · ex vivo	Improvised seals on a pig chest wall with a simulated open pneumothorax	Wet rescue-blanket squares sealed 5 of 5; plastic foil from a gauze wrapper sealed 0 of 5
*Schauer et al., J Spec Oper Med* 2017**	Human · combat registry	62 U.S. casualties with gunshot or puncture wounds to the chest, Afghanistan	74.2% received a chest seal; most seals placed were not vented
*Butler et al., J Spec Oper Med* 2013**	Expert review · TCCC change 13-02	evidence-based review of open pneumothorax care after the 2013 swine data	Vented chest seal first; non-vented if no vented seal; monitor, burp or remove, decompress
*Margolis et al., J Spec Oper Med* 2014**	Expert consensus · C-TECC	Committee for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care review of vented vs non-vented seals	Vented seals likely add benefit; non-vented users reassess, burp and decompress; no clear outcome superiority proven
*Paquette et al., J Spec Oper Med* 2021**	Systematic review	Six quantitative chest seal studies, 1990–2020	HyFin Vent and Russell best supported; evidence on individual devices is limited
*Lyng et al. (NAEMSP), Prehosp Emerg Care* 2024**	Expert review · position statement	Structured review of EMS traumatic pneumothorax care	EMS may consider a vented seal in a spontaneously breathing patient; seals may be harmful during positive-pressure ventilation

Strongest to weakest: human data, then animal studies, then bench work. Every brand-to-brand comparison is in pigs or on pig skin, and the Lightning X CSV6 was not among the brands compared.

How it compares

The vented seals a buyer most often weighs against the Lightning X CSV6.

	Lightning X CSV6 (twin pack)	HALO Vent (2-pack)	HyFin Vent (twin pack)	Russell Chest Seal
Maker	Lightning X Products	Medical Devices, Inc.	North American Rescue	Safeguard Medical
Vent	Channeled flap vent	Four vents around a hydrogel-free center	Channel vent	Four-aperture valve
Seals per pack	2	2	2	1
Published swine data	Not among the brands compared	Not among the brands compared	Held in 4 of 6 with a bleeding chest wound;⁷ no tension pneumothorax in a communicating model⁸	Held in 6 of 6 with a bleeding chest wound⁷
evidence-based standard	No	No	No	No

The Evidence-Based Standard Devices & Adjuncts list (15 December 2021) names no chest seal of any brand;² absence from the list does not by itself mean a product was tested and failed. Lightning X figures are from its product specifications.³

Build the system

Other vented seals, a trainer, an IFAK to carry it in, and the other three jobs in the kit.

HALO™ Vent IFAK Two Pack

Two vented seals in one pouch

HyFin® Vent Twin Pack

North American Rescue vented seal

Russell Chest Seal

Vented seal with a four-aperture valve

Chest Seal Trainer (CSAT)

Practice placement and burping

C-A-T® Gen 7 Tourniquet

evidence-based standard limb tourniquet

QuikClot® Combat Gauze®

Packing gauze for junctional bleeding

Emergency Trauma Dressing

Flat-packed pressure dressing

MED-TAC Premium Gunshot IFAK

An IFAK to carry it all

Free from MED-TAC

The Trauma Brief

MED-TAC's free trauma field guide, written by a physician and medical educator — what to do in the first minutes of a severe bleed, step by step.

Get the Brief ›

Questions buyers ask

▾Is the Lightning X CSV6 evidence-based standard?

No. The Evidence-Based Standard Devices & Adjuncts list dated 15 December 2021 names no chest seal of any brand.² Absence from the list does not by itself mean a product was tested and failed. What the TCCC Guidelines specify is the type: a vented chest seal first.¹

▾Vented or non-vented — which should I carry?

Vented, when you have the choice: the TCCC Guidelines call for a vented seal first and a non-vented seal when no vented seal is available.¹ The civilian-focused C-TECC reached a similar view in 2014 — vented seals likely add benefit — while noting that a non-vented seal used with reassessment, burping and decompression has not been shown to do worse in people.¹³

▾Does a vent prevent tension pneumothorax?

It is designed to let air out, which makes pressure less likely to build — but no vent is a guarantee. In testing, blood clogged some vents and lifted some seals off the skin.⁷ Every casualty with a chest seal is watched for worsening breathing, and the seal is burped or removed if breathing gets worse.¹

▾How do I burp it?

Lift one edge with the red pull tab so trapped air and blood can escape, then press the edge back down — or remove the seal.³ If breathing does not improve, trained providers follow the TCCC Guidelines' decompression direction.¹

▾What is the gauze pad for?

Cleaning the wound area before the seal goes on — the hydrogel needs skin, not blood or sweat, to grip.³ It is not for packing: never pack anything into the chest or abdomen.

▾Will it stick to a sweaty, hairy or bloody chest?

Lightning X specifies a high-tack hydrogel that bonds through blood, sweat, hair, sand and water.³ Seals lifting off the skin is still a documented failure in testing,^7,9 so wipe the skin and press the edges down firmly.

▾Why two seals?

A bullet or blade that goes in often comes out. Roll the casualty or run your hands down the back and sides — the back is where exit wounds hide — and seal every hole you find.

▾What if I don't have a chest seal?

Most bystanders won't. Have the casualty press their own hand over the hole, or cover it the best way you can, and keep watching their breathing. Improvising a seal is hard unless you have tape and something airtight: in a pig chest-wall model, wet rescue-blanket squares sealed every test wound while foil from a gauze wrapper sealed none.¹⁴ Unconscious and breathing: recovery position. Conscious: let them sit up or find the position that eases their breathing.¹

▾Should EMS use a chest seal on a patient being bagged?

The NAEMSP 2024 position statement advises that EMS clinicians may consider a vented seal for a spontaneously breathing patient with an open pneumothorax, but that chest seals may be harmful and are not recommended during positive-pressure ventilation.¹² Follow your agency's protocol.

Package & specifications

▾In the package — two vented seals

2× Lightning X CSV6 vented chest seal, 6.6 in. round with 1.25 in. side tabs — channeled flap vent, high-tack medical-grade hydrogel, transparent backing, large red pull tab
2× 4-ply 4 × 4 in. sterile gauze pad — one per seal, for cleaning the skin before application
Flat, low-profile packaging, 5.75 × 4 in. Single use. Gloves sold separately.

▾Full specifications

Specification	Detail
Brand	Lightning X Products, Inc. — Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Product	Lightning X CSV6 Vented Chest Seal — Twin Pack
Manufacturer item	LX-CSVX2
Contents	2 vented chest seals + 2 sterile 4 × 4 in. gauze pads
Seal size	6.6 in. round, with 1.25 in. side tabs
Vent	Channeled flap vent — releases air and fluid, blocks re-entry of air and debris
Adhesive	High-tack, medical-grade hydrogel
Backing	Transparent; large red pull tab; two-tab design
Packaging	Flat, low-profile, 5.75 × 4 in.
FDA	Occlusive wound dressing, product code NAD, 21 CFR 878.4020 — FDA-registered, Class I (510(k)-exempt)
TCCC status	Vented chest seal — the device type the TCCC Guidelines call for first; not evidence-based standard (the evidence-based list names no chest seal)

▾References — 14 sources

Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Guidelines, 1 May 2026.
Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Evidence-Based Standard Devices & Adjuncts, 15 December 2021.
Lightning X Products. Vented Chest Seal Twin Pack, LX-CSVX2 (Lightning X CSV6) — product description and key features. gearbags.com.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Establishment Registration & Device Listing — Lightning X Products, Inc., Charlotte, NC: Lightning X Vented Chest Seal; product code NAD (Dressing, Wound, Occlusive), 21 CFR 878.4020, Class I, 510(k)-exempt.
Butler FK Jr, DuBose JJ, Otten EJ, et al. Management of open pneumothorax in Tactical Combat Casualty Care: TCCC Guidelines Change 13-02. J Spec Oper Med. 2013;13(3):81–86.
Kheirabadi BS, Terrazas IB, Koller A, et al. Vented versus unvented chest seals for treatment of pneumothorax and prevention of tension pneumothorax in a swine model. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013;75(1):150–156.
Kheirabadi BS, Terrazas IB, Miranda N, et al. Do vented chest seals differ in efficacy? An experimental evaluation using a swine hemopneumothorax model. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017;83(1):182–189.
Kotora JG Jr, Henao J, Littlejohn LF, Kircher S. Vented chest seals for prevention of tension pneumothorax in a communicating pneumothorax. J Emerg Med. 2013;45(5):686–694.
Arnaud F, Maudlin-Jeronimo E, Higgins A, et al. Adherence evaluation of vented chest seals in a swine skin model. Injury. 2016;47(10):2097–2104.
Paquette R, Quinene M, Blackbourne LH, Allen PB. Efficacy of commercial chest seal adherence and tension pneumothorax prevention: a systematic review of quantitative studies. J Spec Oper Med. 2021;21(3):78–85.
Schauer SG, April MD, Naylor JF, et al. Chest seal placement for penetrating chest wounds by prehospital ground forces in Afghanistan. J Spec Oper Med. 2017;17(3):85–89.
Lyng JW, Ward C, Angelidis M, et al. Prehospital Trauma Compendium: traumatic pneumothorax care — position statement and resource document of NAEMSP. Prehosp Emerg Care. Published online 4 December 2024.
Margolis AM, Tang N, Levy MJ, Callaway DW. Management of open chest wounds in tactical emergency casualty care: application of vented versus nonvented chest seals. J Spec Oper Med. 2014;14(4):136–138.
Schachner T, Isser M, Haselbacher M, et al. Rescue blanket as a provisional seal for penetrating chest wounds in a new ex vivo porcine model. Ann Thorac Surg. 2022;114(1):280–285.

Genuine Lightning X

Sourced direct from the manufacturer or an authorized master distributor. Ships from MED-TAC International, South Florida, US of A — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.

Built around MARCH. Every kit we sell maps to the MARCH protocol — Massive hemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia. Learn the sequence in our complete MARCH guide.

SPECS & MEASUREMENTS

Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.

CLINICAL RATIONALE

Chest Seals in Thoracic Trauma

Chest seals are critical life-saving tools for treating open chest wounds (sucking chest wounds) that disrupt the negative pressure needed for normal breathing.
When air enters the pleural space through a penetrating injury, it prevents the lung from fully expanding and may lead to a tension pneumothorax — a life-threatening condition if not addressed promptly.
Properly applied chest seals restore intrathoracic pressure balance and allow the injured lung to re-expand, buying vital time until definitive care or decompression is available.

1. Vented Chest Seals

Clinical Rationale (Vented):

Vented chest seals feature one-way valves or channels that allow trapped air and fluids to escape from the chest cavity while preventing further air entry.
This controlled venting mechanism reduces the risk of developing a tension pneumothorax and is recommended by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC) for most open thoracic injuries when the vent remains unobstructed.
In tactical and emergency medical settings, vented seals maintain proper intrathoracic pressure dynamics and help stabilize respiration during evacuation.

Allows air and blood to escape while blocking additional air entry
Recommended by CoTCCC for most penetrating chest wounds
Prevents progression to tension pneumothorax
Effective during movement and transport phases

2. Non-Vented Chest Seals

Clinical Rationale (Non-Vented):

Non-vented chest seals provide a fully occlusive barrier that prevents any external air from entering the pleural cavity.
These are preferred when environmental factors — such as dust, debris, heavy clothing, or complex wound locations — could obstruct a vent or prevent it from functioning properly.
Non-vented models are especially effective when there are multiple wounds or when both sides of the chest are compromised.

Creates an airtight seal to stop further air intrusion
Ideal for contaminated or complex wound environments
Preferred for posterior or multiple thoracic injuries
Simple and reliable under stress conditions

3. Twin Pack / Dual Application

Clinical Rationale (Twin Pack):

Twin chest seal packs are designed for simultaneous coverage of entry and exit wounds or multiple penetrating thoracic injuries.
Applying seals to both anterior and posterior wounds prevents air intrusion from either side and ensures consistent intrathoracic pressure stabilization.
This configuration allows medics and responders to treat through-and-through injuries quickly and efficiently without improvisation.

Enables rapid treatment of entry and exit wounds
Maintains consistent chest pressure across both sides
Optimized for tactical and prehospital trauma management
Reduces need for multiple packages or improvised seals

4. Training Chest Seals

Clinical Rationale (Training):

Training chest seals replicate the adhesive strength and venting design of operational models using non-sterile materials.
They are intended for classroom, simulation, and scenario-based instruction, allowing responders to practice correct placement, adhesion, and vent inspection without wasting live medical gear.
Consistent repetition with realistic trainers develops muscle memory and speed during actual trauma incidents.

Simulates vented or occlusive seal behavior for realistic training
Promotes correct placement and adhesion technique
Preserves sterile operational supplies
Ideal for EMT, tactical, and civilian responder courses

Clinical Summary

Chest seals play a pivotal role in preventing death from tension pneumothorax, one of the leading causes of preventable trauma mortality.
Both vented and non-vented designs serve distinct operational needs, while twin and training packs ensure preparedness across all care phases — from education to battlefield or civilian emergencies.

Vented: Allows controlled egress of trapped air; standard CoTCCC-recommended choice.
Non-Vented: Fully occlusive; best for debris-rich or posterior wound sites.
Twin Pack: Provides coverage for through-and-through injuries.
Training: Non-sterile practice tool for skill retention and readiness.

By re-establishing chest wall integrity and controlling air movement, chest seals restore lung expansion and stabilize respiratory mechanics until advanced medical care is available.

SHIPPING & RETURNS

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Export Compliance

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the Lightning X Chest Seal vented?

Yes. The Lightning X Vented Chest Seal uses a channeled flap vent design with 4 vent positions. The channeled flaps self-regulate: they open during exhalation to allow air and fluid egress from the pleural space, and close during inhalation to prevent atmospheric air from entering. The 4-vent configuration provides redundancy — if one or two vents become obstructed with blood or debris, the remaining vents continue to function. This vented design is consistent with the CoTCCC-preferred approach for treating open and sucking chest wounds per the 2024 TCCC Guidelines.

What does the Lightning X Chest Seal package include?

Each Lightning X Vented Chest Seal single pack includes two items: (1) one 6.6" round vented chest seal with 1.25" side tabs and medical-grade hydrogel adhesive; and (2) one 4-ply 4" × 4" sterile gauze pad. The gauze pad is intended for wound site preparation before seal application — clearing blood, sweat, and moisture from the skin surface to improve adhesion. Including a preparation gauze pad in the same package eliminates the need to source a separate wound-cleaning material before seal application.

How does the Lightning X Vented Chest Seal compare to more expensive options like HyFin or HALO?

The Lightning X Vented Chest Seal provides the core capabilities of more expensive chest seals — vented design, medical-grade hydrogel adhesive, transparent backing, and IFAK-compatible packaging — at a lower price point. The key technical differences are in the venting mechanism (channeled flap versus 3-channel relief system in HyFin, or 4-position peripheral vents in HALO), adhesive chemistry and redundancy, and the depth of independent clinical validation. For organizations equipping large numbers of personnel (law enforcement, civilian programs), the Lightning X provides meaningful chest trauma capability at scale. For personnel where the highest validated performance is the priority, NAR's HyFin or HALO products offer additional validated data.

Will the Lightning X Chest Seal fit in a standard IFAK pouch?

Yes. The Lightning X Vented Chest Seal packages at 5.75" × 4" — a deliberately compact footprint designed to fit directly into standard IFAK pouches and personal trauma kits. This is smaller than some competitive products and allows two individual packs (for entry and exit wound treatment) to fit alongside other IFAK components without requiring a larger pouch. The 6.6" round seal with 1.25" tabs deploys to full coverage despite the compact packaging.

What is the two-tab design and why does it matter?

The Lightning X Vented Chest Seal features a two-tab design: a large primary red pull tab and a secondary tab. The primary tab provides the gripping surface for initial application — peeling and placing the seal — and for burping the wound if tension develops (lifting the seal edge to release pressure). The secondary tab provides an additional handling point for re-applying or repositioning the seal. Having two tabs improves the ability to manage the seal with gloved hands under stress, and provides a secondary grip point if the primary tab becomes contaminated or slippery with blood.