Pulsed chemical lasers may be used to produce plasma in front of a target. High pressure water sprays, used to knock down targets, may produce blunt trauma.4 Other non-lethal weapons systems utilise water, lasers or sound to produce blunt trauma effects. Large slow projectiles have a similar effect to stun bags at close range but only distract at long range.l Stun bag ammunition may cause serious skull injury, liver damage or death3 at less than 5 metres, produces contusions and broken bones at 5 – 10 metres and is ineffective over 20 metres. Plastic bullets cause fewer serious injuries to face and chest, although the laryngeal framework is particularly susceptible to injury because of its relatively unprotected position.2 Plastic bullets, however, produce more serious injuries to skull and brain, and therefore cause more deaths than rubber bullets.2 Wooden ‘Broomstick’ rounds may produce internal injury or death at close range and may leave splinters in the target at greater ranges.3 Neurogenic shock is due to a temporary partial or complete blockage of the nervous system from high frequency shock waves spreading from the point of contact.l It produces localised bruising and, depending on the range, may cause fractures and ruptures of internal organs. Impact shock is the mechanical effect of the blow and is caused by the elastic impact of the projectile. This shock consists of impact shock and neurogenic shock. There are two main groups: unconventional ammunition fired from conventional weapons (eg stun bags) and large slow projectiles fired from riot guns and grenade launchers.!These projectiles aim to produce the maximum release of blunt trauma to the body without killing.
Non lethal riot control ammunition uses rubber, timber or plastic projectiles to deliver a numbing blow and temporarily incapacitate the target. The medical effects of non-lethal weapons may be These collateral effects are not included in this review. These may include bums from high powered microwaves or supercaustics, or falls on areas coated with very low friction substances. Some non-lethal technologies aimed at weapon or communication systems may have peripheral effects on personnel. Any discussion of these effects needs to be based on the target organ system or the specific psychological effect. Defined as those weapons which ‘have a reversible effect on their human targets’, the term non-lethal weapons is a misnomer as there will always be an element of risk associated with the use of any weapon system.l Historically, these weapons have been classified by their effects, principally whether they disable, disorient, discourage, demobilise or deceive.1The medical effects of these weapons do not easily fall into this taxonomy. Non-lethal weapons have seen increasing use in the police forces and, more recently, the military forces of various countries around the world. With increased use in military operations in areas such as Panama and Somalia, there is an increasing likelihood of military health service officers coming in contact with the medical effects of these weapon systems. This review summarises the physiological and psychological effects of these weapons, weapons which will be of increasing interest in the future.
0 kommentar(er)
