(2) TB 100 - Determination of Death

Question 1

Obviously dead patients are defined as persons who, in addition to the absence of respirations, cardiac activity, and neurological reflexes, have suffered one or more of the following conditions:

Answer 1

-Post-Mortem Lividity

-Rigor Mortis

-Massive crush and/or penetrating injury with evisceration of the heart, lung or brain

-Decapitation

-Decomposition

-Incineration

Question 2

Post-mortem lividity generally appears with a gradual onset, but not less than ____ minutes.

Postmortem lividity is very noticeable after ____ hours and becomes prominent after 8 to 12 hours.

Answer 2

30 mins

4 hours

Question 3

While post-mortem rigor has a gradual onset, it generally occurs within ____ hours after death.

Answer 3

2 hours

(Post- mortem rigor affects the entire body within 10 to 12 hours and dissipates generally after 48 hours.)

Question 4

Decomposition starts with SKIN DISCOLORATION (greenish tinge).

It appears on the _______, spreads to the chest and thighs, and then over the ENTIRE BODY after approximately _______.

Answer 4

-abdominal wall over the iliac fossae

-one Week.

Question 5

Crime Scene involving dead bodies:

If the law enforcement agency continues to restrict access to a dead body an _______ shall be requested to respond to the scene.

Answer 5

EMS Captain

Question 6

When members are evaluating a patient with post mortem rigor or lividity to determine life status, they must ensure that a proper patient assessment is completed.

A proper assessment includes:

Answer 6

-Checking for respirations with open airway. Auscultate lungs for minimum of 30 seconds

-Palpate carotid pulse for minimum of 60 seconds

-Auscultate apical pulse for minimum of 60 seconds

-Asses neurological status by checking pupil response with light and check response to painful stimuli

Question 7

As per instruction from the Los Angeles County _______, in those cases where resuscitative measures have been discontinued, all medical implements (i.e., endotracheal tube, intravenous line(s), and EKG patches, etc.) used to treat the patient, SHALL BE LEFT IN PLACE.

Answer 7

Coroner

Question 8

In normal circumstances, dead bodies shall not be moved.

If a dead body must be moved in emergency or dangerous situations, Department members may either move the body to a safe location or?

Answer 8

-transport the body to the most accessible receiving facility. (Outdated, Members can now transport to LA County morgue)

(Anytime Department members move a dead body, it is essential that the EMS Report include specific details and notations regarding the exact location that the body was found in and why the body was moved.)