Secondary blast injuries are caused by:

• A. Overpressure wave
• B. Flying debris and shrapnel
• C. Ground impact
• D. Burns

Answer: (B)

In blast injuries, injuries come from different mechanisms. The secondary category specifically refers to injuries caused by projectiles—flying debris and shrapnel—propelled by the explosion. These high-velocity fragments can penetrate the body, causing penetrating wounds, lacerations, and associated complications. This is different from injuries caused by the blast’s pressure wave, which are primary injuries affecting air-filled organs; and from injuries achieved when the body is thrown and impacts the ground, which are tertiary injuries. Burns can occur from heat or fire after the blast, but they aren’t the mechanism behind secondary injuries. So the hallmark of secondary blast injuries is due to flying debris and shrapnel.