Russell® Chest Seal
A low-profile vented chest seal with a 4-aperture peripheral valve and hydrogel matrix on non-woven fabric — validated effective across an extreme temperature range.
What is the Russell® Chest Seal? A low-profile vented chest seal (SKU PDF-0680) with a 4-aperture peripheral valve and a hydrogel matrix mounted on non-woven fabric. It packages at 14 × 2.7 cm and deploys to 20.3 × 15.2 cm, weighing just 0.7 oz. Validated as 100% effective in an open chest wound model with active bleeding (Kheirabadi et al.), with demonstrated adhesion from -19.5°C to 71.5°C in the presence of hair, blood, and sand.
Key Specifications
| Manufacturer | Safeguard Medical |
| SKU | PDF-0680 |
| Type | Vented — four-aperture peripheral valve |
| Adhesive | Hydrogel matrix on non-woven fabric backing |
| Packaged Dimensions | 14 × 2.7 cm |
| Deployed Dimensions | 20.3 × 15.2 cm (approx. 8" × 6") |
| Weight | 0.7 oz |
| Temperature Range | -19.5°C (-3.1°F) to 71.5°C (160.7°F) |
| Release Liner | Silicone-coated — resists stretching/distortion during removal |
| Clinical Validation | 100% effective in open chest wound model with active bleeding (Kheirabadi et al.) |
| Origin | Made in USA |
What It Is
The Russell® Chest Seal combines three design decisions that distinguish it from many other vented seals. First, the four-aperture peripheral valve places its venting openings around the seal’s perimeter, allowing air and blood to drain while occlusion is maintained at the wound center — the peripheral placement reduces the chance that soft tissue or blood directly blocks the venting path. Second, the hydrogel matrix is mounted on a non-woven fabric base, creating a flexible, conformable adhesive surface that drapes over bony prominences and the curved chest wall without losing contact.
Third, the silicone-coated release liner resists stretching or distortion as the backing is removed — an important detail under stress, where a responder may pull the liner at an angle rather than parallel to the seal. Distorted seals can develop wrinkled adhesive edges that allow air tracking. Research by Kheirabadi et al. reported the Russell Chest Seal as one of only two seals that achieved 100% effectiveness in an open chest wound model with active bleeding, with adhesion demonstrated at temperature extremes in the presence of hair, blood, and sand.
The compact packaged format — 14 × 2.7 cm — is among the smallest footprints for a full-coverage chest seal, suiting plate-carrier pouches, ankle kits, and slim IFAK configurations. Despite the minimal packaging volume, the deployed seal expands to 20.3 × 15.2 cm. The large central hole in the base material aids wound-centered placement and allows visual monitoring of the wound after application.
Operating notes. Expose and clear the wound; the non-woven backing conforms to irregular surfaces. Peel the silicone liner evenly to avoid distorting the seal, center it over the wound using the central hole, and press from center outward. Apply a second seal to any exit wound and monitor for tension pneumothorax, burping the seal if tension develops. This summary is not a substitute for accredited training or local protocol.
See also: Chest & Thoracic Supplies and IFAK Kits & First Aid.
Related searches: Russell chest seal, vented chest seal, four-aperture chest seal, low-profile chest seal, open chest wound dressing.
All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Width | 8 Inches |
| Length | 6 Inches |
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