Explosive Events

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Explosive Events
Robert Feldman, MD FAAEM Cook County Bureau of
Health Services
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Topics

• Types of incidents devices
• Mechanisms of injury
• Special precautions

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Explosive Incidents

• Rapid expansion

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Explosive Incidents

• Rapid expansion
• Gasses
• Liquids
• Solids

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Explosive Incidents

• Rapid expansion
• Gasses
• Liquids
• Solids

• Confined space
• Sudden release
• Combustion

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Types of Explosive Incidents

• Materials
• Industrial chemicals
• Fuel-air mixtures
• Energetic materials

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Energetic Material

• A material that can undergo an exothermal (giving
  off heat) chemical reaction, rapidly releasing a
  large amount of energy.
• Can occur in fractions of a second
• Solids and liquids transformed into superheated
  gases almost instantaneously

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Forms of Energy Release
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Energetic Materials

• Pyrotechnics
• Propellants
• Explosives

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Explosive Classification

• Two classification criteria...
• The stimuli to which they respond
• Their degree of response, once initiated

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Stimuli (Insults)

• Can occur in five forms
• All create initiation through different
  mechanisms, but with the same final result
• All impart energy in the form of heat

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Categories of ExplosivesInitiation

• Primary
• Lead styphnate
• Lead azide
• Mercury fulminates
• Secondary
• Boosters
• Tertiary
• ANFO

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Classifications - Response
Under 1 km/s (3281 ft/sec)

• Low Explosive
• High Explosive

Over 1 km/s (3281 ft/sec)
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Classifications
How an explosive is classified dictates the
safety measures applied.

• Low Explosive
• High Explosive

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Low Explosives

• (Propellants)
• Black powder
• Smokeless powder

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High Explosives

• Primary
• Secondary
• Tertiary

• Military
• Commercial
• Improvised Devices

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Military Explosives
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Military Explosives

• TNT
• Det. Velocity 22,600 fps
• Light tan, buff, yellow green
• .25, .50, 1 LB. Blocks
• All other explosives measured against TNT

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Military Explosives

• PETN
• Detonation velocity 27,200 fps
• White crystalline powder
• Blasting caps, det cord, sheet explosives

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Military Explosives

• RDX
• Detonation velocity 26,800 fps
• White crystalline solid (may be pink)
• Blasting caps, det cord, mixed for base
• HMX
• Detonation velocity 29,900 fps
• White crystalline powder
• Used for explosive formulations
• SEMTEX
• Orange to red and other colors
• Used like C-4

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Military Explosives

• C-4
• Detonation velocity 26,400 fps
• White solid, malleable
• 1.25 and 2.50 pound blocks
• Shaped charges, Claymores, etc.

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Commercial Explosives

• Construction
• Demolition
• Mining

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Commercial Explosives

• Dynamite
• Detonation velocity 3,600 to 23,600 fps
• Appears red, tan, brown or white
• .5 to 25 pound bags and bulk
• Manufacturers ID

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Commercial Explosives

• Nitroglycerin
• Detonation velocity 4,900 to 25,300 fps
• Clear to amber or milky liquid
• Very dangerous to handle

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Commercial Explosives

• Slurries/Water Gels
• Developed 1940s
• Reintroduced 1960s
• Content ammonium nitrate 4 - 45
  water/thickener TNT sensitizer
• TOVEX is one trade name

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Commercial Explosives

• Detasheet/Flex-X
• Datasheet Commercial
• Flex-X Military
• Flexible sheet (RDX or PETN)
• Detonation velocity 22,300 to 25,200 fps
• Red to olive drab

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Commercial Explosives

• ANFO
• Developed in 1955
• Favored homemade explosive
• Content
• high content nitrogen fertilizer
• fuel oil
• dynamite booster

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ANFO Products
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Types of Explosive Incidents

• Explosive weapons
• Commercial explosives
• Letter bombs
• Pipe bombs
• Improvised stationary bombs
• Suicide bombs
• Vehicle bombs

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Types of Explosive Incidents

• Explosive weapons
• Commercial explosives
• Letter bombs
• Pipe bombs
• Improvised stationary bombs
• Suicide bombs
• Vehicle bombs

• Explosives as dispersants
• Shrapnel
• Toxins
• Radioactive materials
• Biological agents

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Improvised Explosive Devices(IED)

• Power Supply
• Initiator
• Explosives
• Switch

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Letter/Package Bombs

• Improvised
• Variety of agents
• Explosive force varies
• Psychological impact
• Maim
• Kill

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Pipe Bombs

• Rapid combustion
• Gunpowder
• Military explosive
• Fuel-air
• Loose sawdust
• Match heads

• Confining tube
• Plastic
• Metal
• Fragmentation

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Other Improvised Bombs

• Backpack

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Other Improvised Bombs

• Backpack
• Suitcase

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Other Improvised Bombs

• Backpack
• Suitcase

IDFSFTT.ORG
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Suicide Bombs

• Explosive agent
• Shrapnel
• Psychological impact
• Guided
• Cheap compared to high-tech alternatives

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Suicide Bomb Vest
IDFSFTT.ORG
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Suicide Bombing