In an instant, an explosion or blast can wreck havoc; producing numerous casualties with complex, technically challenging injuries not commonly seen after natural disasters such as floods or hurricanes.

To address this issue, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with partners from the Terrorism Injuries Information, Dissemination and Exchange (TIIDE) Project, as well as other experts in the field, have developed fact sheets for health care providers that provide detailed information on the treatment of blast injuries.

Blast Injury Fact Sheets

• Blast Injuries: Essential Facts
• Injury Care: Prehospital
• Lung Injury: Prehospital Care
• Lung Injury
• Radiological Diagnosis
• Crush Injury and Crush Syndrome
• Post Exposure Prophylaxis for Bloodborne Pathogens
• Abdominal Injuries
• Extremity Injuries
• Ear Injuries
• Eye Injuries
• Thermal Injuries
• Pediatrics
• Older Adults
• Bombings and Mental Health
• Radiological Dispersal Devices and Radiation Injury

These fact sheets address background, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, management and disposition of blast injury topics. The fact sheets may be viewed and downloaded for use in the treatment of blast injury patients, in the training of clinical staff or to disseminate to others. These fact sheets are available in Spanish, Chinese, and French. Additional fact sheet topics will be posted as they are developed.

Health and Safety After a Bombing

• Information for Emergency Care Providers (100 KB, 2 pages)
• Information for the General Public (95 KB, 1 page)
• Coping With Stress(95 KB, 1 page)

For more information: Centers for Disease Control Email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov Phone: 800-232-4636