FOREWORD
CJNG cartel which will necessitate careful I/W monitoring of this cartel and its allies. In their article Dr Aris Makris, Dr Ming Cheng, Dr Jean-Philippe Dionne, and Jeffrey Levine of Med-Eng, Ottawa, Canada, examine the critical necessity for full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for those undertaking EOD operations. Unfortunately, in some perceived lower risk EOD situations or missions involving higher speed tactical support, it has been noted that some EOD personnel chose not to wear full PPE for the purposes of enhanced comfort, reduced heat stress and faster response time. With the aim of addressing this false feeling of safety, the authors of this article demonstrate the benefits and injury reduction capabilities of a bomb suit even in smaller blast scenarios by focusing on head injury potential from blast overpressure. A pioneering study in 2010 using an advanced model human head investigated blast wave interaction, initially with a military helmet and then with a helmet and face shield combined. The results of this study showed no mitigation of blast effects on the brain when using just a combat helmet. However, the addition of a face shield resulted in a significant reduction of stress on the brain and potential for injury. These results were echoed in subsequent Med-Eng computer simulations which investigated the blast effects of varying amounts of explosives on a model human head including the eyes and ears in various configurations- unprotected, wearing a combat helmet, wearing a combat helmet and shield, and finally wearing a full PPE suit. The results demonstrated the key role in minimising the risk of injury that a full PPE suit provides to the wearer in EOD operations. The trials also produced evidence that repetitive exposure to relatively low- level blasts can result in long term accumulative brain injuries, some of which may not manifest themselves until long afterwards. The recommendation is thus for EOD operators to always wear the full PPE suit in all EOD situations. In their article Ian Robb and Lt Col Robert Friedel of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining highlight the devastating effects caused by IEDs in countries affected by past or present conflict
and the challenges that they pose to Humanitarian Mine Action. In Afghanistan for example, IEDs – in particular sub-surface improvised mines cause three time as many casualties as conventional landmines and UXO combined. The scale of this problem has necessitated a rapid and comprehensive response to address this acute humanitarian need. The authors identify the significant differences between military IEDD operations and humanitarian mine action. To address this issue, in 2020 GICHD developed the “IED Clearance Good Practice Guide”. Currently the Guide comprises four chapters – more are planned. Chapter 1 introduces IEDs in Humanitarian Mine Action. Chapter 2 covers Search Procedures, Chapter 3 deals with IEDD and Chapter 4 is an IED Indicators and Ground Sign Awareness Handbook. Further sections will be added including Chapter 5 on the basic chemistry of explosives and hazards from HME and chemical precursors. This Guide is yet another example of the excellent support provided by GICHD to HMA. ■
Rob Hyde-Bales biography During his career in the UK Royal Engineers, Rob Hyde-Bales was responsible for landmine clearance in Libya and, more latterly, Afghanistan in the running of the first United Nations humanitarian landmine clearance training programme – Operation Salam. The programme trained Afghan male refugees in landmine clearance techniques, and Afghan women and children in mine awareness and avoidance training. More recently he set up the Caribbean Search Centre in Kingston, Jamaica. The Centre is designed to train security forces across the Caribbean in modern search techniques. After retiring from the army he joined Cranfield University at Shrivenham, near Oxford, and undertook a research project on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence that examined ways to improve the sharing of IED threat information between the military and civilian organisations in hazardous areas.
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