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

■ Firefighter Autopsy Protocol
■ 158 ■
I: Background ■
NIOSH
REP. #
F2000-05 Dec 13,
1999
F2000-04 Dec 22,
1999
DATE OF
INCIDENT Title CAUSE OF DEATH AUTOPSY AUTOPSY COMMENTS
Firefighter dies at a barn
fire—Ohio
Structure fire claims the lives
of three career firefighters
and three children—Iowa
“Fatal cardiac arrhythmia”
as the immediate
cause of death due
to “acute thrombotic
occlusion of the right
coronary artery” (heart
attack), “80-90%
narrowing of the left
anterior descending
coronary artery, and
severe coronary
atherosclerosis.”
Victim #1: Smoke
inhalation and sudden
exposure to intense
heat
Yes • Coronary artery disease
– Severe coronary atherosclerosis
– Complete acute thrombotic occlusion of the right
coronary artery
– Narrowing of the left coronary artery
– Proximal and middle left anterior descending branch,
near complete occlusion
– Generalized moderate atherosclerosis
• Hypertrophy and dilatation of the heart
• Acute and chronic marked congestion of the lungs
• Splenomegaly
The victim’s blood was not tested for carbon monoxide
poisoning (carboxyhemoglobin levels) although the department
requested this be done
Not mentioned Victim #1: 15% Carboxyhemoglobin level
Victim #2: 25% Carboxyhemoglobin level
Victim #3: 1.0% Carboxyhemoglobin level
Victim #2: Smoke
inhalation and
sudden exposure
to an extremely hot
environment
F2000-03 Jul 04,
1999
Captain dies as a result of a
cardiac arrest at the scene of
a structure fire—Alabama
Victim #3: Sudden
exposure to intense
heat
Myocardial infarction No Note: No blood was sent for laboratory analysis during
resuscitative efforts. According to post-mortem toxicology
forensic specimen analysis, the victim’s carboxyhemoglobin
level was “negative.” An autopsy was not performed
Perform an autopsy on all onduty firefighter fatalities
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