NCJ Number
193730
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 47 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2002 Pages: 117-120
Date Published
2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this article is to determine the demographic distribution of forensic dentists currently engaged in the provision of identification services in mass casualty incidents. The article also determines what features mock exercises should replicate by analyzing the types of disasters that dentists have previously attended.
Abstract
Using a questionnaire, data was solicited from 39 odontologists. The average number of disasters attended by the respondents was 8, with an average casualty number of 94. The majority of individuals questioned in this survey were 50 to 64 years of age. If this is representative of the dental personnel involved in disaster identifications, then there is a need to train younger odontologists. Aircraft crashes were the most frequent cause of the disasters that were attended by the odontologists. This has important consequences for the designers of mock exercises. It is important that the features and circumstances of an aircraft crash be replicated if the objective is to train people for the most likely event. While there are many causes for mass casualty, it appears wise to use the aircraft model for disaster training. Mock disasters should therefore include the following components: a realistic number of casualties presented; postmortem remains representative of disaster type; and a variety of ante mortem record, including those in foreign languages and employing alternative tooth notation systems. The identification of disaster victims by their dental features is likely to remain a primary technique despite increased used of DNA. It is essential that members of the identification program are prepared as much as possible. 4 Figures, 13 references