3rs of explosives safety

Safety Information for Students

3Rs of Explosives Safety

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What Are MunitionsMunitions include:

• Artillery rounds

• Bombs• Grenades

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What Are UXOUXO stands for unexploded ordnance.Unexploded ordnance (UXO) are military munitions that failed to function properly upon use.

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Munitions

• May be hard to identify• Come in many shapes, sizes and types,

even small munitions can injure or kill• Include “simulators” and

“practice” munitions, which are also dangerous

• Can be dangerous regardless of age

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Which Are Most Likely UXO?

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54 6

32

75

New

Projectile

6Used

New

Rocket

7Used

Munitions can be encountered almost anywhere such as:

• Active military installations• Weapons and/or munitions test sites• Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS)• A home, as part of a souvenir collection

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Encountering Munitions

WWI training site that is now in a residential

development in Washington, DC.

UXO from live-fire using the same kind of weapon shown above. 9

Encountering Munitions

The DANGER is real!Souvenirs recently collected or purchased and brought home or even Civil War cannon balls and artillery projectiles can be: • Kept for years without incident, until they

detonate• Believed, incorrectly, to

be harmless, until they are proven otherwise• Deadly

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The 3Rs of Explosives Safety

Follow the 3Rs of Explosives Safety: • Recognize – that munitions are dangerous• Retreat – do not approach, touch, disturb or move it, but leave the area• Report – call 911 and report what you saw, and where you saw it

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Recognize• Munitions may:

− Not look like a projectile, rocket or bomb

− Look harmless, but they are dangerous

− Be shiny or rusty− Be clean or dirty

• Even though a munition may not have been moved for yearsor has been moved dozens oftimes, it may still explode.

Leave it alone! 12Grenade fuze

Retreat

• Do not go near, touch, move or disturb a munition or suspect munition.

• Carefully, leave the area, the same way you entered it.

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Report• Report what you saw and where you saw

it to:– The police or local law enforcement– A trusted adult, like your parent or a

teacher• Local authorities will clear the area.• Specially trained personnel will dispose of

the item.

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Be Safe• Remember, munitions can kill!

– Leave them alone– Get away from them– Report them to law enforcement

immediately• Keep yourself and others safe.

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Remember, if you encounter or suspect you have encountered a

munition:

www.denix.osd.mil/uxo

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