Injuries and Deaths from Collecting War Souvenirs in Operation Desert Storm

Abstract

Data were collected on 22 patients who sustained injuries or death from collecting war souvenirs during Operation Desert Storm from December 1990 to May 1991. Nine of 16 patients injured and 3 of 6 patients killed were non-combat arms personnel. Non-combat personnel closely followed combat units, and subsequently were exposed to unexploded ordnance. Combat and non-combat personnel should be warned that innocent-appearing material on or near a battlefield may be an explosive device. They should be instructed concerning the types of ordnance used, as well as the dangers of unexploded ordnance.

The St Marys fragmentation grenade explosion

“…Patient A Patient A was a 44-year-old woman sitting 0.25 m from the grenade burst point. On arrival of the HEMS, she had a Glasgow coma score of [12][13] and no recordable blood pressure. Only carotid pulses were palpable after an infusion of 1.5 L of polygeline by ambulance personnel; an additional 500 mL polygeline and 500 mL normal saline were infused.…”