Crepitus and tracheal deviation

A victim of a gunshot wound to the chest sustained a penetrating injury. The emergency medical response team applied a nonporous dressing over the victim’s sucking chest wound at the site of the accident. On arrival at the emergency department, the victim is cyanotic, and the nurse notes crepitus(subcutaneous emphysema) and tracheal deviation away from the affected side. What should the nurse do? Explain.