Overview"
A common misconception is that a blank cartridge fired from a gun is not dangerous and will not cause serious injury. In fact serious injury and even death can occur if a blank cartridge is fired at someone.
Risk factors for serious injury:
(1) very young or very old
(2) discharged close to the person
(3) discharged into a vulnerable area (head, neck, thorax, major artery, liver or spleen)
(4) failure to take the wound seriously
(5) moderate to heavy load
Mechanism of injury:
(1) energy imparted by the gas jet
(2) thermal injury from the gas jet
(3) pieces of plastic or other debris in the cartridge
Types of injury:
(1) burn
(2) hematoma
(3) foreign body
(4) blast injury to soft tissue
(5) subarachnoid hemorrhage
(6) ocular trauma
(7) vascular injury with hemorrhage or thrombosis
