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Forensic Pathology for Police - Brainshare Public Online Library

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494 19 Burns and Fire-Related Deaths<br />

Fig. 19.15 The classic<br />

“pugilistic” appearance of a<br />

badly burnt body. Note that<br />

the hands have been totally<br />

consumed by thermal injury<br />

Fig. 19.16 Note that a portion of intestines is protruding from a thermally-induced defect in the<br />

abdomen<br />

Toxicology<br />

As with other deaths, toxicology tests are vitally important in fire deaths. Indeed,<br />

as detailed above, the identification of elevated and/or lethal levels of CO in<br />

postmortem blood samples allows pathologists to determine that the victim was<br />

breathing during the fire and died as a result of smoke and soot inhalation. Be<strong>for</strong>e<br />

sending blood samples <strong>for</strong> CO testing, it is advisable to check with the lab to be sure<br />

the samples are collected in the appropriate containers (laboratories sometimes differ<br />

in the instruments used to detect CO; different instruments may require different<br />

collection protocols). Occasionally, the blood is of insufficient quality to per<strong>for</strong>m

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