How to Survive a Grenade Blast, According to Science

Abdullah Cheema

22 Sep, 2024

When a grenade lands near you, panic might set in, but there are specific actions you can take to increase your chances of survival. Here’s how you can minimize the risk and protect yourself from the explosion and deadly shrapnel.

1. The Grenade’s Real Threat: Shrapnel

Grenades aren’t dangerous because of the explosion itself but because of the shrapnel they release. When a grenade explodes, metal fragments fly out in every direction like bullets. These fragments can cause serious injury or death, so the goal is to reduce your exposure to them.

2. If You’re on Solid Ground

The most important thing is to act quickly:

Run and jump away: You have just a couple of seconds to move. Get as far away from the grenade as possible. On average, you can run about 4-5 meters (around 15 feet) in that time.
Lie down and protect yourself: Once you’ve moved as far as possible, lie flat on the ground. The best position is to lie on your stomach, with your feet pointing toward the grenade. This reduces the surface area that the shrapnel can hit and makes it more likely that any fragments will hit your shoes rather than vital organs.
Protect your head: Turn your face away from the blast, cover your head with your arms, and shield your eyes and ears. The goal is to protect your head and brain from any direct impact.

3. If You’re in Water

Things are different if you’re in the water when a grenade lands nearby. Although water slows down shrapnel, making it less dangerous, the real threat is the pressure from the explosion.

Get out of the water fast: The pressure caused by a grenade blast underwater is powerful enough to severely damage your lungs or even kill you. Dive out of the water quickly—staying submerged won’t help and can be fatal.

4. Key Takeaways

Move quickly to put distance between you and the grenade.
Lie down with your feet facing the explosion to minimize your exposure.
Protect your head and vital organs by covering them and keeping low.
If you’re in water, get out immediately to avoid dangerous pressure injuries.

While surviving a grenade blast is a challenge, following these steps can dramatically improve your chances of walking away from such a deadly situation.

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