The relationship of blast loading to death and injury from explosion.

Death and injury from explosion are becoming ever more frequent. In this study an attempt is made to relate the blast loading suffered by individual victims of explosions to the injuries sustained. It includes 828 servicemen killed or injured by explosions in Northern Ireland. Two hundred sixteen servicemen were killed, most of them before any assistance could be rendered. In those exposed to a higher blast loading, blast lung was common. Those exposed to lower blast loading died primarily of head injuries. Body armour was worn by 90% of the servicemen and probably reduced the number of fatal secondary missile injuries.