Lung Injury by Impact with a Water Surface

Abstract

MEDICAL findings during the inquiry into the recent Comet disasters have suggested that the possibility of lung damage by impact with a water surface at the terminal velocity of fall (about 160 ft./sec.) should be investigated. It is known from observations on the effects of explosive blast that severe lung damage occurs when the impulse communicated to the chest wall exceeds a certain limit. Penney and Bickley (unpublished report, Min. of Home Security, 1943), after a study of the work of Zuckerman and his collaborators¹ on blast injury, suggested that the lungs of man or any animal would be severely injured by transmission of the shock wave set up if the chest wall were flung inwards with a velocity of 20 m./sec. (66 ft./sec.) acquired in 0.5 m.sec. or less.