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Classifications of thermal wounds
Law of Evidence
Course
Law of Evidence (LCEV 302)
59 Documents
Students shared 59 documents in this course
University
University of Zululand
Academic year: 2023/2024
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FORENSIC MEDICINE
Notes compiled by PJ Louw for LLB from the UNISA Study Guide & other material. Whilst care has been taken to ensure accuracy you
are advised to also verify facts independently.
FIRE / BURN VICTIMS / HEAT
(20) Discuss PATHOLOGY of DEATHS due to BURNING (heat)
» Deaths due to thermal injuries can be
almost immediate if severe
can occur later due to complications (infection)
CLASSIFICATION of THERMAL WOUNDS
According to DEPTH
According to % of skin surface involved
1st degree
» only epidermis is involved » Heal without scar tissue
formation
2nd degree
» epidermis & part of dermis involved » Heal without scar tissue
formation
3rd degree
» epidermis & full thickness of dermis involved » Heal with scar tissue formation
4th degree
» charring of part of the body
Discuss post-mortem findings in burn victim, incl. problems which may arise during
identification.
Identification difficult in charred bodies
1) DNA analysis
2) Dental records
3) Identification by comparison may be of value
2
Post-mortem examination
MUST NOTE degree of burn wounds + % of body surface involved
IMPORTANT (6) - to establishing whether person was alive when fire occurred-
(concealment)
a) Carbon monoxide level in body
» level of < 5% in non-smoker & <10% in smoker indicates that person was
alive when fire started
b) Soot & ash in airways / stomach / oesophagus
c) Also mentioned is the presence of fat embolism in pulmonary vessels
FAT EMBOLISM
» When fat cells / bone-marrow tissue enter into blood circulation
» Conditions where fat cells enter VENOUS circulation & trapped in capillary vessels
of lung
» A fat embolism is a type of embolism that is often caused by physical trauma such
as fracture of long bones, soft tissue trauma, and burns.
» Inhalation of smoke & toxic substances found in smoke
can also cause death by damaging airways
» Old people & children
especially susceptible to thermal injuries
» Deaths due to burns may be
1) an accident 2) a homicide 3) a suicide
» In certain areas (face & genital region)
there is high risk of complications
COMPLICATIONS of BURNS
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Classifications of thermal wounds
Course: Law of Evidence (LCEV 302)
59 Documents
Students shared 59 documents in this course
University: University of Zululand
Was this document helpful?
1
FORENSIC MEDICINE
Notes compiled by PJ Louw for LLB from the UNISA Study Guide & other material. Whilst care has been taken to ensure accuracy you
are advised to also verify facts independently.
FIRE / BURN VICTIMS / HEAT
(20) Discuss PATHOLOGY of DEATHS due to BURNING (heat)
» Deaths due to thermal injuries can be
almost immediate if severe
can occur later due to complications (infection)
CLASSIFICATION of THERMAL WOUNDS
According to DEPTH
According to % of skin surface involved
1st degree
» only epidermis is involved » Heal without scar tissue
formation
2nd degree
» epidermis & part of dermis involved » Heal without scar tissue
formation
3rd degree
» epidermis & full thickness of dermis involved » Heal with scar tissue formation
4th degree
» charring of part of the body
Discuss post-mortem findings in burn victim, incl. problems which may arise during
identification.
Identification difficult in charred bodies
1) DNA analysis
2) Dental records
3) Identification by comparison may be of value
