Blast injuries of the lungs.

Up until 1968 Northern Ireland was a relatively peaceful community. The outbreak of civil disturbance has resulted in many patients being admitted to hospital with severe injuries from bullets and bomb explosions. Initial resuscitation must not be unduly delayed to be effective and should be carried out by experienced personnel. Respiratory failure from bomb explosions is rare and invariably fatal. The mechanism is discussed and is thought to be due to direct compression.