Terrorist bombing experience during 1975-79. Casualties admitted to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center

During a period of 4 1/2 yr, 24 terrorist explosions occurred in Jerusalem. Of the 511 casualties, 340 were evacuated to the Department of Emergency in our hospital. A total of 272 admissions were graded by the "Injury Severity Score" (1), with a breakdown into light injuries (87%), medium (3%) and severe (10%). The high proportion of light injuries may be explained by the evacuation of all casualties to the nearest hospital without on-site triage. Injuries to the head and neck comprised 19.3%, and to the extremities 39% of all injuries.