For those who are interested - the procedure is called a needle decompression and it is the treatment for a tension pnumothorax (air build up in the chest cavity), it can be caused by numerous things including external trauma (broken rib penetrating the lung) an/or in individuals with chronic lung disease, who can experience a spontaneous rupture of the lung. Most EMS providers who are trained to perform this technique will use a finger from a latex or nitrile glove to create what is called a flutter valve (lets air out, blocks it from coming back in) and is used in conjunction with an I.V. catheter. Pete