Firefighter Autopsy Protocol - US Fire Administration - Federal ...

■ Firefighter Autopsy Protocol
■ 123 ■
I: Background ■
NIOSH
REP. #
F2003-38 Oct 07,
2003
F2003-37 Oct 27,
2003
F2003-36 Oct 29,
2003
F2003-35 Sep 27,
2003
F2003-34 Jul 10,
2003
DATE OF
INCIDENT Title CAUSE OF DEATH AUTOPSY AUTOPSY COMMENTS
Firefighter dies after
performing ventilation
at a fire in a two-story
dwelling—Pennsylvania
Volunteer assistant chief
is struck and killed at road
construction site—Minnesota
A career firefighter was
killed and a career captain
was severely injured during
a wildland/urban interface
operation—California
Firefighter suffers a heart
attack after responding to
a rubbish fire at a two-story
apartment building—New
York
Volunteer firefighter/fire
service products salesman
dies after being struck by
dislodged rescue airbag—
South Dakota
“Ischemic heart disease”
as the immediate
cause of death and
“smoke inhalation” as a
significant condition
Craniocerebral injuries
and closed head
trauma
Yes • Cardiomegaly (heart weighing 552 grams, with normal
less than 400 grams)
• Mild atherosclerotic coronary artery disease involving the
left main coronary artery
• Remote (old) myocardial infarction involving the apex and
left posterior ventricular wall
• Fibrosis within the apex and left posterior ventricular wall
(as determined by microscopic examination)
• Evidence of smoke inhalation (moderate amount of soot
in the trachea and large airways of both lungs)
• Carboxyhemoglobin (measure of carbon monoxide in the
blood) level negative
Yes None
Thermal injuries Yes Extensive burns over the entire body, no evidence of
underlying cardiovascular or pulmonary disease, and a
carboxyhemoglobin level of 27% (confirming significant
exposure to carbon monoxide prior to his death)
“Acute myocardial
infarction” as the
immediate cause of
death and “diabetes
mellitus” and “hypertension”
as other
significant conditions
No None
Closed head wound Not mentioned None
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