Gas filled structures are most susceptible - lungs, GI tract, and middle ear. Unique to HE, results from the impact of the over-pressurization wave with body surfaces. Table 1: Mechanisms of Blast Injury Category The latter may be encountered with both HE and LE. The HE “blast wave” (over-pressure component) should be distinguished from “blast wind” (forced super-heated air flow). Blast injuries are characterized by anatomical and physiological changes from the direct or reflective over-pressurization force impacting the body’s surface. “Blast Wave” (primary) refers to the intense over-pressurization impulse created by a detonated HE. The four basic mechanisms of blast injury are termed as primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary (Table 1). Manufactured and improvised bombs cause markedly different injuries. Terrorists will use whatever is available – illegally obtained manufactured weapons or improvised explosive devices (also known as “IEDs”) that may be composed of HE, LE, or both. Manufactured (military) explosive weapons are exclusively HE-based. “Improvised” describes weapons produced in small quantities, or use of a device outside its intended purpose, such as converting a commercial aircraft into a guided missile. “Manufactured” implies standard military-issued, mass produced, and quality-tested weapons. HE and LE cause different injury patterns.Įxplosive and incendiary (fire) bombs are further characterized based on their source. Examples of LE include pipe bombs, gunpowder, and most pure petroleum-based bombs such as Molotov cocktails or aircraft improvised as guided missiles. LE create a subsonic explosion and lack HE’s over-pressurization wave. Examples of HE include TNT, C-4, Semtex, nitroglycerin, dynamite, and ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO). HE produce a defining supersonic over-pressurization shock wave. Classification of ExplosivesĮxplosives are categorized as high-order explosives (HE) or low-order explosives (LE). This primer introduces information relevant to the care of casualties from explosives and blast injuries. was largely spared of the scourge of mega-terrorist attacks. Vietnam-era physicians are retiring, other armed conflicts have been short-lived, and until this past decade, the U.S. health professionals have experience with explosive-related injuries. Because explosions are relatively infrequent, blast-related injuries can present unique triage, diagnostic, and management challenges to providers of emergency care.įew U.S. The injury patterns following such events are a product of the composition and amount of the materials involved, the surrounding environment, delivery method (if a bomb), the distance between the victim and the blast, and any intervening protective barriers or environmental hazards. When they do occur, they have the potential to inflict multi-system life-threatening injuries on many persons simultaneously. Expect an “upside-down” triage - the most severely injured arrive after the less injured, who bypass EMS triage and go directly to the closest hospitals.Įxplosions can produce unique patterns of injury seldom seen outside combat.This can be useful to predict demand for care and resource needs. Half of all initial casualties will seek medical care over a one-hour period. Explosions in confined spaces (mines, buildings, or large vehicles) and/or structural collapse are associated with greater morbidity and mortality.Blast lung is the most common fatal injury among initial survivors. The predominant post explosion injuries among survivors involve standard penetrating and blunt trauma.Bombs and explosions can cause unique patterns of injury seldom seen outside combat.As the risk of terrorist attacks increases in the US, disaster response personnel must understand the unique pathophysiology of injuries associated with explosions and must be prepared to assess and treat the people injured by them.
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