NCJ Number
214150
Date Published
2006
Length
36 pages
Annotation
After categorizing the severity of burns to the human body, this chapter notes the variables that influence burn damage to the body and discusses determination of the cause of death and victim identification.
Abstract
Burn severity is commonly classified according to the depth of tissue destruction. A fourth-degree burn ("charring") is the most severe, as it involves the complete destruction of skin and underlying tissues, often including bone. Third-degree, second-degree, and first-degree burns are progressively less destructive to tissue. Among the variables that affect the severity of burn damage to the body are temperature of the thermal source contacting the body, duration of exposure, body size, obesity, and clothes. Examination of a body found at a fire site focuses on victim identification and determination of the cause of death. Since the uterus and prostate are protected by their locations in the body and their fibrous structure, determination of the victim's sex can be made even for a severely charred body. Racial identification can usually be made from patches of skin that have had less exposure to high temperatures. A complete body x-ray can help in locating distinguishing fractures and dental characteristics. Ample tissue, including bone, is usually available for DNA analysis. Determination of cause of death focuses first on whether the fire caused death. The vast majority of all fire-related deaths result from inhalation of toxic fumes. Signs that the victim breathed in various types of toxic fumes produced by the burning material in the fire indicate that the fire caused death. Absent such signs, the search then begins for what caused death prior to the fire. Also discussed are injury due to scalding and the postmortem examination of an explosion victim. Extensive photographic exhibits and 19 references