Ch. 12 Fire Deaths and Injuries (Final Exam) Flashcards
This term refers to the ability of humans to escape a fire that is measured by the timeframe for which their environment remains survivable.
Tenability
Toxic gases contained within smoke can have a narcotic effect that asphyxiated victims. What are 3 common types of these gases?
1) Non-irritant
2) Acidic irritant
3) Organic irritant
What temperature does the body have to reach before being considered hyperthermic?
109.4 degrees F
Edema, swelling caused by excessive fluid buildup, is a consequence of inhaling…
Hot gases
This fire injury/effect demonstrates subcutaneous bridging of underlying tissue where cut skin does not.
Heat-split skin
This phenomenon refers to the shrinkage of muscle and tendons that can cause the joints to flex when exposed to extreme heat.
Pugilistic posturing
What effect is mistaken for blunt-force trauma and should not be considered evidence of physical trauma?
Internal bleeding into the extra- and epidural space
Define perimortem.
Near the time of death
Define postmortem.
After death
Assume that a fire death occurred weeks to months after the incident due to infections/organ failure due to cell/tissue death. How would you record this on the death certificate?
Infection secondary to fire
Name 4 experts typically involved in the team effort for fire investigation.
1) Pathologist
2) Odontologist
3) Forensic scientist
4) Toxicologist
When questioning if remains are human, how should you assess them?
Assume they are human if you cannot tell
What 3 specialists are pertinent to obtaining a victim’s identity?
1) Forensic pathologist
2) Forensic odontologist
3) Radiologist
This term refers to the event, injury, or disease responsible for initiating
the sequence of events that ultimately produced the fatal result.
Cause of death
This term is the condition incompatible with life.
Mechanism of death
