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

■ Firefighter Autopsy Protocol
■ 148 ■
I: Background ■
NIOSH
REP. #
F2001-11 Nov 16,
2000
F2001-10;
Purchase Order
0000136411
DATE OF
INCIDENT Title CAUSE OF DEATH AUTOPSY AUTOPSY COMMENTS
Dec 23,
2000
F2001-09 Feb 25,
2001
F2001-08 Feb 17,
2001
F2001-07 Jan 09,
2001
Driver/Operator suffers a cardiac
arrest during a wildland
fire exercise—Georgia
Firefighter dies at house
fire—New Hampshire
Volunteer firefighter dies and
another firefighter is injured
during wall collapse at fire at
local business—Wisconsin
Two volunteer firefighters
die fighting a basement
fire—Illinois
A volunteer firefighter died
after being struck by a
motor vehicle while directing
traffic—New York
Per death certificate:
atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease
Per autopsy:
“heart rhythm disturbance
(arrhythmia)”
as the cause of death
and atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease
as the contributing
factor.
Atherosclerotic and
hypertensive cardiovascular
disease with
cardiac arrhythmia
following stress
and exertion during
firefighting
Anoxic encephalopathy
and chest compression
asphyxia
Asphyxiation caused
by inhalation of products
of combustion
Multiple injuries
consisting of a massive
closed head injury,
pulmonary contusion,
and chest injury
Yes • Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with 70% stenosis,
left main coronary artery; 70-90% stenosis, multifocal, left
anterior descending coronary artery; complete occlusion,
circumflex coronary artery
• Vascular congestion, all internal organs
Yes • A nontoxic carbon monoxide level
• Detectable blood ethyl alcohol
• Pulmonary emphysema
• Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Specifically, the
artery supplying the anterior wall of the heart was focally
occluded, and two other major arteries were 40-50%
occluded
– Acute thrombi (blood clots) were noted
Not mentioned None
Yes None
Not mentioned None
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