Tags
Emerg. Med. Practice
Published
February 1, 2023
Author(s)
Tung-Lin Jesse Yuan, DO;
Navin Ariyaprakai, MD, FAEMS, FACEP
Action
Perform primary survey and initial stabilization and address any immediate life threats
Decision
Which type of blast injury do signs point to?
Background
Signs of blast injuries
Primary
- Tinnitus, diminished hearing
- Respiratory distress
- Abdominal pain
- External injury to ≥4 body areas
Secondary
- Penetrating trauma
- Blunt trauma from fragmentation or shrapnel
Tertiary
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Neurologic deficits
Quaternary
- Burns
- Smoke inhalation and/or toxic substance exposure
- Crush injury
- Underlying health condition
Quinary
- Radiation exposure/sickness
- Chemical burns
- Viral/bacterial infection
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Full Blast Injuries Pathway
Primary Blast Injury
Secondary Blast Injury
Tertiary Blast Injury
Quaternary Blast Injury
Quinary Blast Injury