Explosives blast injuries

One might note the striking similarity between Cases I and II. In both, a crucible failure allowed water to enter and mix with molten titanium. Steam (and hydrogen) formed and the pressure increased so as to bulge the crucible and rupture the safety discs. Tamping the water-metal mix by the fall of the electrode then caused a major explosion. No injuries resulted in the Case II incident because the vault walls provided protection. No data were available to allow an estimation of blast pressures, but as described, the vault construction maintained its integrity and the wave was forced to exit from the bottom. 

Table 3.5 summarizes the effects of explosion overpressure on structures. With respect to human casualties, heavy building damage usually is equated to a fatal effect, as the people inside the buildings probably would be crushed. People outside of buildings or structures are susceptible to direct blast injury (blast overpressure) and indirect blast injury (missiles or whole body translation). 

Source This information is compiled from Centers tor Disease Control and Prevention. (2005). Explosions and blast injuries A primer for clinicians. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved June 16, 2006, from http //www.bt.cdc.gov/masstrauma/explosions.asp and Linsky, R., Miller, A (2005). Types of explosions and explosive injuries defined. In D. C. Keyes, J. L Burstein, R. B. Schwartz, and R. E. Swienton (Eds.), Medical response to terrorism Preparedness and clinical practice (pp. 198-211). New York Lippincott, Williams Wilkins. 

All injuries that are the result of an explosion are categorized as primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary blast injuries. Casualties with primary blast injuries are a direct result of the blast wave from HEs. The... 

Penetrating and blunt traumatic injuries that occur as the result of an explosion are similar to those associated with other mechanisms of injury. Primary blast injuries present unique situations and affect selected body systems. Every body system may be affected following an explosion and subsequent blast wave, the associated injuries and their care are discussed in a head-to-toe manner. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2005c). Explosions and blast injuries A primer for clinicians. Retrieved June 16, 2006, from http //www.bt.cdc.gov/masstrauma/ explosions.asp... 

Leibovici, D., Gofrit, O. N., Shapira, S. C. (1999). Eardrum perforation in explosion survivors Is it a maker of pulmonary blast injury Annals of Emergency Medicine, 34, 168-172. 

Wightman, J. M., Gladish, S. L. (2001). Explosions and blast injuries. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 37, 664-678. 

Because of the high flexibility as an altemative to the lognormal distribution the Weibull distribution is tested using the high explosive consequence sample data of Table 6. We use an empirical dataset of dummies simulating lung blast injuries [43]. 

The principal aim of explosion/blast design is the safety of personnel and avoidance of damage to equipment by ensuring that the structure does not collapse. In particular cases, blast-resistance of buildings for example, an additional aim is actually to protect personnel and equipment from injury or blast damage, which would not be the case with an open platform and equipment support structure. 

Magnuson, J., Leonessa, F., ling, G.S., 2012. Neuropathology of explosive blast traumatic brain injury. Curr. Neurol. Neurosci. Rep. 12 (5), 570-579. 

In recent military conflicts, the incidence of explosive blast-induced traumatic brain injury (TBI) has substantially increased. BBB disruption associated with TBI results in brain edema and increased cerebrovascular permeability, both of which affect morbidity and mortality in patients with head injury (Ling et al., 2009 Shetty et al., 2014). Brain edema after TBI is thought to be initiated by BBB rupture, permitting the influx of... 

The attack involved five different underground trains, all of which were scheduled to arrive between 0800 and 0810 h on Kasumigaseki station, close to the Tokyo National Police Agency and the Japanese Finance Ministry. The city fire department, who have responsibility for toxic agent releases, was informed within 15 min of the attack which in the event involved 15 metro stations. The hospitals in the area were notified that there had been a gas explosion and were prepared to receive patients with bums, blast injury and carbon monoxide poisoning. The confusion about the nature of the event remained for nearly an hour during which... 

Secondary blast injury - injuries due to fragmentation Secondary blast injuries are those caused by fragments energised by the blast wind. A classification is given in Box 3.8. Primary fragments are those incorporated within the explosive device itself. Improvised... 

Tertiary blast injury - injuries due to the blast wind The blast wind (dynamic overpressure) results from the motion of the combustion products of the explosion. Resultant injuries vary from total disruption to amputation and devastating injuries from impact of the displaced body on the envirorunent. 

Clinical primary blast injury to the lungs ( blast lung ) appears to be rare in survivors of conventional explosions. There is considerable variation in the incidence of blast lung amongst survivors, depending on the site of the detonation (enclosed or open) and the presence or absence of fragments which themselves could result in fatal injury. 

Roised levels of carbon monoxide in the blood may also occur following blast Injury, both in confined and open field explosions. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, sickness and loss of consciousness. However, there is no evidence to suggest thot these levels are clinically significant in the majority of cases, although fotolltles hove occurred. It is probably appropriate, however, to maintain an oppropriote level of clinical suspicion in atypical blast cases, and high-flow oxygen should be administered as soon as possible... 

Some occupational hygiene aspects of man-made mineral fibres and new technology fibres Safe handling requirements dunng explosive, propellant and pyrotechnic manufacture Simplified calculations of blast induced injuries and damage Laboratory work with chemical carcinogens and oncogenes Rosin (colophony) a review... 

A. Tanuary 17, 1986 explosion at a Diamond Shamrock Chemical plant near Ashtabula, Ohio, killed two employees, critically injured another, and caused lesser injuries to at least a dozen other workers. The blast involved 2,000 lb of ammonium dichromate in the unit for its production at the plant,... 

The cause of the explosion, which also left four people seriously injured and 31 others with minor injuries, is unknown. A Hoechst Celanese spokesman says that the first blast occurred near a gas-fired boiler and the second blast at a nearby reactor in which butane is reacted with steam to produce acetic acid. The 35-year-old plant employs 600 persons, 150 as contract maintenance and construction workers, but the blasts on Saturday only involved a weekend crew of 60. 

The main direct, primary effect to humans from an explosion is the sudden increase in pressure that occurs as a blast wave passes. It can cause injury to pressure-sensitive human organs, such as ears and lungs. 

The explosion wind following a blast can carry persons away, causing injury as a result of their falling, tumbling over, or colliding with obstacles. This effect is referred to as a tertiary effect. 

---