2D Pixel-Particle Effect

[JBabz]

Hello beloved 2DTK community!

I wish to achieve a particle or pseudo-particle effect where, when the player is hit, a portion of the red in his health bar "explodes" and falls of the map in a barrage of small-to-medium sized pixels.

What would you advise as being the best way to achieve such effect?
Particles? Pseudo-particles? Physics? My own written system?

Thanks in advance!

-Joe