During missile and artillery shelling, the main danger to people is posed not by direct hits but by shrapnel that flies apart at great speed. It is precisely shrapnel that is the cause of most injuries among the civilian population, even at a significant distance from the epicenter of an explosion.
Why Shrapnel Is the Main Danger During Shelling
During the explosion of a munition, a large number of secondary damaging elements is formed – fragments of the shell casing, building materials, glass, and metal. Unlike the blast wave, shrapnel retains dangerous kinetic energy at a significant distance and is able to penetrate through light obstacles.
The feature of shrapnel during shelling lies in its unpredictable trajectory. A person can be in shelter from the explosion but receive an injury through a window, a doorway, or a thin wall. That is precisely why the question of correct sheltering and behavior is critically important.
Which Types of Shrapnel Pose the Greatest Threat
During shelling, a danger is posed not only by fragments of the munitions themselves but also by everything that the blast wave turns into secondary damaging elements. It is precisely such elements that most often become the cause of injuries among the civilian population.
The most dangerous are:
- Fragments of the casings of shells and missiles, which move at great speed and are able to pierce dense materials, including brick and concrete.
- Glass shards, which are formed en masse during explosions in urban development and easily penetrate into premises through windows and shop windows.
- Parts of destroyed structures, such as concrete, brick, elements of floor slabs, and rebar, which fly apart over significant distances.
- Interior and household objects, which under the action of an explosion turn into uncontrolled projectiles inside buildings.
Protection From Shrapnel Indoors
Being in a building does not always mean automatic safety. The effective protection of the civilian population indoors is based on the correct choice of place and behavior.
Recommendations for reducing the risk of injury:
- choose internal rooms without windows or with a minimal number of openings;
- avoid being near windows, balconies, and light partitions;
- use the «two walls» rule, but taking into account their thickness and material;
- lie down on the floor or sit, covering your head and neck;
- if possible, use heavy furniture as an additional barrier against shrapnel.
In many communities, during shelling additional support is provided by civil society initiatives; in particular, volunteers help with the arrangement of civil protection shelters, evacuation, and informing the population.
Protection From Shrapnel on the Street
In open space, the danger is significantly higher, so the key thing is to reduce the impact of the explosion as quickly as possible.
What is worth doing for protection:
- get down on the ground, using any natural irregularities of the terrain;
- protect your head and neck with your hands, a bag, or clothing;
- move away from glass structures, shop windows, and public transport stops;
- do not choose cars, billboards, or temporary structures as a place of shelter;
- stay in shelter for a few seconds after the explosion, taking into account the possibility of repeated dangerous factors.
The Protection of the Civilian Population as the Basis of Survival During Shelling
The protection of the civilian population from shrapnel is one of the key factors of preserving life and health during shelling. An awareness of how dangerous secondary factors arise, in particular shrapnel during shelling, and an understanding of the correct models of behavior indoors and in open terrain directly affect the level of injuries among civilians.