What happens to the body when bomb explodes? 2021

What happens to the body when bomb explodes?

A bomb is a container filled with an explosive mixture and missiles, which .is fired either by detonator or a fuse. Termite bombs often involve only 2 to 10 kg. of explosives. When an explosion occurs, the explosive material produces a large volume of gas and releases a large amount of energy. The pressure of up to 1,000 tons per sq. inch. can be generated. A minimum pressure of about 700 kilopascals (100 lb/ sq inch) is necessary for tissue damage in humans. A person can be injured by an explosion in a number of ways. (1) Disruptive Effects: If the victim is almost in contact with a large bomb he may be blown to pieces, e.g., when the victim is carrying it. The pieces can be scattered over an area of 200 metres radius. Many parts of the body are never found, having been disrupted into tiny fragments and mixed with the masonry and other debris of the bomb site. A bomb exploding on the ground may cause severe damage or traumatic amputation of the lower legs. A bomb that explodes when the victim is bending over it, may cause severe damage to arms, face and front of the chest. When the victim is a few metres away or with a smaller explosion, disruption is usually limited to mutilation of a localised area. (2) Burns: The temperature of the explosive gases can exceed 2000°C., and the radiated heat can cause flash burns. It burns nearby objects and clothing. The flame causes extensive bums, which involve an irregular area of skin to a different degree. Tight clothing protects, so that beneath collars, bras, waistbands, socks and shoes. The skin may be quite normal. (3) Air Blast: An explosion produces a 'shock wave' which spreads concentrically from the site of Mechanicallnjuries 239 explosion at about the speed of sound (ll20ft/sec). This wave of very high pressure is followed by a weak wave of negative pressure (below atmosphere). a suction that lasts about five times as long. A shock wave exceeding 700 kilopascals (100 lb/sq. inch) pressure is necessary to cause serious damage to the body. The shock wave can throw the victim against a wall or toss him through the air causing blunt force injuries. The clothes may be blown off by the blast. The clothing should be retained for chemical analysis. The shock wave passes through the body. The homogeneous tissues like the liver and muscle are not damaged. Blast injury of lungs is seen if the victim is within a few metres of the explosion, and at such range, the victim usually dies from other injuries. Lungs show subpleural patchy haemorrhages, scattered at random, often in the line of ribs. Sectioning of lungs shows more discrete scattered areas of haemorrhage, often with a tendency to be more central than the periphery. Microscopically, alveolar ruptures, thinning of alveolar septae, enlargement of alveolar spaces and circumscribed subpleural, intra-alveolar and perivascular haemorrhages are the main findings. Desquamated alveolar and the bronchial epithelium are seen lying free. This causes reactive pulmonary oedema and blood-stained froth is found in the air passages, and later bronchopneumonia. This specific pulmonary injury of air blast is called 'blast lung'. The tympanic membrane most commonly ruptures with a haemorrhage in the ear. Damage to the cochlea is more frequent. Subperitoneal haemorrhage and haemorrhages in mesentery and omentum vary in size. and laceration of abdominal organs may occur. Intracranial haemorrhage, contusion of the brain, injuries of heart and aorta, pneumothorax, ruptured stomach and bowel may occur. Death may occur from systemic air embolism, from the air that enters the pulmonary veins after blast damage to the lungs. When the explosion is in the water, the pressure changes are called underwater blast. The physical changes are similar to those of explosion in the air. Injuries occur mostly in the gastrointestinal tract and less commonly in the lungs. Most of the lung injury is due to pressure transmitted from the abdomen through the diaphragm. Solid blast refers to a wave of energy that spreads through a rigid structure when an explosi\·e is detonated near it and people in contact with its structure can be injured. Steel construction of tanks

and warships conduct shock wave well and cause

solid blast injury. The injuries are mostly skeletal.

The fractures depend on the position of the person.

Fractures of the legs and vertebral column are more

common. Gastrointestinal damage is more common

than lung damage. In some cases, death may occur

without any external injury.

(4) Flying Missiles: The blast may drive multiple

fragments of bomb or pieces of nearby objects, e.g.,

gravel, glass, wood, brick, plaster, etc. through the

the air into the skin and cause bruises, abrasions and

puncture lacerations intimately mixed on the

skin. This triad of injury is diagnostic. Most of

the bruises and abrasions are Jess than one em. in

diameter, although they tend to unite (fig. 8-57). The

puncture-lacerations are also usually of this size. They

are ragged, sometimes with soiled margins, and may

contain foreign material, such as scraps of clothing,

wood or metal. The skin can be darkened by an

the explosion which drives dust into the skin and causes

fairly uniform tattooing.

The force of the bomb explosion is extremely

directional and the pattern of injury might indicate that

the person was carrying the bomb or bending over it

or sitting to one side of it.

(5) Falling Masonry: When a building is

destroyed by a bomb blast, the persons inside sustain

multiple injuries and die of traumatic asphyxia.

Death may be caused due to burns, blunt force

injuries, failing debris and rarely from systemic

embolism.

(6) Fumes: If a bomb explodes in a confined

space, enough CO is produced to cause asphyxia. In

a victim of bomb death, X-rays of tissues should be

taken, as pieces of metal especially the detonating

the mechanism may be seen.

Incendiary bombs, e.g., napalm bombs primarily

cause burns. A temperature of about 1000° C is

produced. In incendiary bombs, usually, phosphorus

and magnesium are added. The Molotov cocktail is

an incendiary bomb that is thrown by the hand. In a

crude type of this bomb, a bottle is filled with gasoline

and a rag to serve as a wick. The wick is lighted and

thrown at the target. Various acids and chemicals are

sometimes added to increase the destructive effects.