Blast Injuries - A New Resource for First Responders

A group of academic, university-based emergency physicians with an interest in blast injuries has launched a comprehensive web-based resources for first responders. Because first responders (in particular emergency medical technicians and emergency room physicians) have only limited experience in the evaluation and treatement of blast related injuries, Blast Injury.org has created the website as a one-stop educational and training resource.

As an example, one of their webpages includes information on Blast Injury Basics:

• Bombs and explosions can cause unique patterns of injury seldom seen outside combat.
• The predominant post explosion injuries among survivors involve standard penetrating and blunt trauma. Blast lung is the most common fatal injury among initial survivors.
• Explosions in confined spaces (mines, buildings, or large vehicles) and/or structural collapse are associated with greater morbidity and mortality.
• Half of all initial casualties will seek medical care over a one-hour period. This can be useful to predict demand for care and resource needs.
• 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

Other resources on the site include historical perspectives, blast physics, selected injuries and a literature database. You can visit their website at www.blastinjury.org

About the Author

Lieutenant Raymond E. Foster retired from the Los Angeles Police Department after 24 years of service. He is the author of “Police Technology” (Prentice Hall, July 2004) and number articles on technology, leadership, terrorism and policing. Raymond is a part-time lecture at California State University, Fullerton and a part-time faculty advisor at the Union Institute and University. He has three current book projects. They are on terrorism, policing and leadership. Raymond’s complete CV can be viewed at Criminal Justice Profile and he can be reached by email at raymond@hitechcj.com or through the Criminal Justice Online Forum.