Blast injuries
What is the second-most susceptible organ to primary blast injury?
Lungs
Accounts for 71% of the early deaths associated with explosions and 52% of later deaths.
Moderate to severe TBI
Injuries associated with tertiary blast injuries?
Penetrating Blunt Trauma Crush Injuries
Category of blast injury caused by direct blast effects (over- and under-pressurization)
Primary Blast Injuries
What types of waves create high potential for injuries, especially in gas filled organs such as the lungs, ears and intestines?
Stress waves (supersonic, longitudinal pressure waves)
Category of blast injury caused from the body being propelled onto hard surface?
Tertiary
What condition is caused by an often-fatal combination of acute respiratory distress (dyspnea/apnea), bradycardia, and hypotension post-blast exposure?
lung overpressure or "blast lung"
What injuries are associated with quaternary blast injuries?
Burns Inhalation Injuries Asphyxiation
At what psi are lung injuries universally fatal in open-air blasts?
Anything over 200psi
Category of blast injury caused by projectiles propelled by explosions such as fragments from the exploding weapon as well as from the environment (debris, vehicle metal, rocks etc)
Secondary
What types of waves cause tissue in the body to move back and forth.
Sheer waves (lower velocity transverse, long duration waves)
What are the wounding effects of blast over pressure? (What conditions can it cause?)
1. "Blast lung" 2. Intrapulmonary hemorrhage 3. pneumothorax, 4. hemothorax, and 5. subcutaneous mediastinal emphysema 6. Injuries to the auditory system such as perforated eardrums and tinnitus 7. TBI 8. Gastrointestinal injuries
The five categories of blast injury effects are known as:
1. Primary 2. Secondary, 3. Tertiary, 4. Quaternary 5. Quinary.
Symptoms of blast lung may be obvious immediately or may have a delayed onset of how many hours?
24-48 hrs
While the eyes are extremely resistant to _______________ blasts, they are susceptible to ________________ and __________________ blast effects
Eyes are extremely resistant to primary blast effects And susceptible to secondary and tertiary effects
What injuries are associated with secondary blast injuries?
Fragmentation Injuries Penetrating Trauma
Up to 70% of all mortalities involve ____________________.
Head injuries
What injuries are associated with primary blast injuries?
Pulmonary, Tympanic Membrane and Hollow-viscus Injuries
What category of blast injury is caused by heat and combustion leading to burns and toxicity?
Quaternary
What category of blast injuries is caused by additives such as Chemicals, Radiation etc that lead to contamination?
Quinary
What is the most commonly affected body area by fragmentation injuries - accounting for 70% of the injuries from explosive devices?
The limbs
All personnel involved in an explosive blast be referred to
The medical officer for documentation and evaluation
True or false: Most blast injury wounds are non-critical, soft tissue or skeletal injuries.
True.