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This is an archive article published on February 17, 2010
Blasting Myths
Prof T D Dogra,Prof and HOD,dept of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology and Lt Col Abhijit Rudra,associate professor...
4 min read
Blast injuries in general are different from normal injuries and need to be treated accordingly,say doctors
Prof T D Dogra,Prof and HOD,dept of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FM&T) and Lt Col Abhijit Rudra,associate professor,FMT,from the AFMC have authored a chapter on Blast injuries in the Lyon’s Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology XIth edition. Lt Col Rudra told The Indian Express that a Bomb is a mechanical device filled with a mixture of explosive substances and missiles and is fired by a detonator or a fuse. A bomb on explosion,releases energy. The characteristics of this process are the production of heat,large amount of gases and plenty of noise. The bomb may be planted in parked vehicles,crowded public places,buses,trains,cinema halls,hospitals or public offices.
Classification of bombs
1. Depending on the active ingredients.
2. Depending on manner of use.
3. According to the intention of use.
Forms in which commercial explosives are used by terrorists:
* Nail bomb
* Claymore mines
* Time bombs
* Letter bomb
* Car bomb.
Injury in bomb explosion
Primary blast injury
This is the result of sudden change in environmental pressure resulting from blast waves. The blast wave is a single pulse of increased pressure that rises to peak level within milliseconds.
Secondary injuries
Fragments and other missiles cause these injuries.
Tertiary injuries
These include acceleration and deceleration injuries caused by the victim impacting against stationary objects.
Thermal and chemical burns
Types of Injuries
Injuries of victims of explosion can be grouped into following categories:
Disruptive effect injuries:When a person is in the immediate vicinity of an explosion the body may be disrupted and literally blown to pieces with parts of the body being scattered over a wide area.
Blast Injuries:An explosion produces a shock wave,which spreads concentrically from the blast centre. It is a high-pressure sound wave and spreads at about the speed of sound in air (1120ft/sec).
Injury by flying missiles:Explosions can injure and kill by propelling solid materials in all directions. The fragments propelled by an explosion cause small bruises,abrasion and punctate lacerations intimately mixed on the skin.
Injury due to falling masonry:The fall of a buildings and structures caused by the blast can cause multiple injuries to those trapped inside and produce traumatic asphyxia.
Injuries due to smoke,dust and fume:Explosion inside a closed space produces toxic gases,especially carbon monoxide and cause death due to asphyxia.
Flame and radiant heat:When a bomb explodes,the temperature of the explosive gases can reach up to 30000C. Contact with the momentary flame can cause flash burn. The main characteristic of this burn is that it is extensive and affects the exposed area uniformly.
Identification of dead
Identification is usually done by visual inspection after the bodies have been cleaned of blood,dirt and oil etc. however mistakes can be made,when there are number of deaths in a single blast,or if there is severe mutilation especially of head and face. First priority is the determination of age,sex,and height. Clothing and personal effects within the remains are valuable aids in identification.
Cause of death
Most of the victims of the terrorist bomb die of multiple injuries. Other causes are burn due to fire started by the explosion,fall of masonry,and shock as a result cardiac arrest.
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Circumstances of the death
The distribution of injuries on the bodies of the victims help in determining the relationship of the victim to the explosion.
Crime scene investigation
* The basic rules for investigation of any scene of criminal activity also apply to the examination of the scene of an explosion.
* Scene must be photographed from several angles.
* Make a sketch of the scene showing various landmarks.
* Detailed interview of the local residents,passers by,workers of nearby shops and offices,doormen etc. regarding any unusual activities of strangers and movements of vehicles.
* Determine whether the explosion was dispersed or concentrated.
* After the completion of preliminary survey,physical search can begin for the collection of evidences that are usually scattered over a wide area.
* Collect various biological evidences such as fingerprints,blood and tissue typing and DNA for establishing the identity and number of casualties.
* Identification by collecting various samples of explosives present at the blast site,and their identification in the forensic laboratory.
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