Death by Ekkxplosion and Thermal Injhjkhkhjuries

7/21/2019 Death by Ekkxplosion and Thermal Injhjkhkhjuries

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Death or Physical Injuriescaused by Explosion

Dr. G. Villaret

Forensic MedicineCollege of Law

University of San Agustin

Feb 2005


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Classification of explosion as to the sourceof energy:

Mechanical (Hydraulic ) explosion

Spray canister, water tank, kerosene burner

Electrical explosion Arcing of electricity, lightning

Nuclear explosion

Atomic explosion

Chemical explosion

Brought about by chemical explosion


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Chemical explosion:

Diffused reactant explosion

Condensed reactant explosion

Low order explosives

High order explosives

Stable high order explosives

Unstable high order explosives


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Injuries are due to:

Close contact: complete disintegration orfragmentation of the body parts

Near the explosion: body in one piece but some

parts maybe dismembered. Triad of punctatebruises, abrasions and lacerations are found

At a distant: peppering

Blast wave:airway injury, rupture of tympanicmembrane

Burns: flame or heated gas

Asphyxia: lack of oxygen

Gas poisoning

Falling debris


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Investigation:

Presence of crater

Traces of detonation mechanism;

residues Collection of gas

Scrapings

Color spot tests


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Atomic bomb explosion:

Fission of uranium producingmillions of pounds of gas pressure.

Creates fireball with a diameter of7,200 feet in ten seconds and heightof 4 miles

Emits radiation: alpha, beta, gammaand neutron rays


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Effects of atomic explosion in thebody:

Local effects: chromosomalaberrations, radiation

dermatitis,endothelial necrosis andthrombosis, cataract and sterility

General effects: generalized

erythema, coma and death,vomiting and leukemia, leukopenia

Long term effects: cancer


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Other sources of radiation:

Natural source Cosmic

Terrestial origin Man-made source

Diagnostic x-ray equipment

Clinical nuclear pharmaceutical agent

Therapeutic radiation apparatus

Nuclear power plants


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Thermal Injuries and

Death


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Thermal Injuries:

Death or injury from cold Systemic: death due to cerebral anoxia and

cold stiffening

Local effects: frostbite, immersion foot, trenchfoot

Medico-legal implications

Death or injury from heat Systemic effects:heat cramps, heat

exhaustion, heat stroke

Local effects: Burns / scald

Medico-legal implications


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Burns:

Moist heat Scalding

geographical lesions

Clothings and hair are not burned Blisters are formed with redness around

Usually not fatal; death is due to sepsis

Dry heat

Thermal Chemical

Electrical

Radiation

Friction


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Burns:

Characteristics: From redness to carbonization of the body

Singeing of hair and carbon deposits

Areas involved are without demarcation line.

Classifications: 1stdegree: sunburn

2nddegree: vesicle formation; superficial skin

3rddegree:whole layer of the skin

4thdegree:whole layer of skin and thesubcutaneous tissues

5thdegree: muscles


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Purpose of intentional fire: To conceal identity and true cause and manner

of death.

To kill or with homicidal intent (torch murder).

The victims might have committed suicide byother means and try to hide the cause andmanner of death by setting fire on thesurroundings.

To perpetuate insurance fraud both property and

life. Victim might have been trapped in the building

set afire accidentally or intentionally

A person in pursuance of a cause may soakhimself with an inflammable substance and burnhimself to death.


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Burns:

Cause of death in burns: Immediate: shock, associated physical

injuries, suffocation

Delayed: shock, exhaustion, complications-sepsis, multi-organ failure

Time required to completely burn thebody:

Depends on: intensity of heat applied,duration, physical condition, and presence ofclothing

In incinerator: 4 hours to transform the bodyto ashes.


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Burns:

Proof that the victim was alive beforeburned to death:

Presence of smoke in the air passages.

Increase carboxy-hemoglobin blood level.

Dermal erythema, edema and vesicleformation.

Subendocardial left ventricular hemorrhage. Distinction between ante-mortem and

post-mortem burns


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Investigation:

Determine the following:

Establish the identity: clothing, size offootwear, properties in the pockets, physical

characteristics, scars Whether the person was alive in the fire.

Cause of death.

Information indicating a possible cause of fire

Medico-legal aspect of burns and scald Branding

Torture

Accidental

Spontaneous combustibility


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Others:

Chemical burns: Sulphuric acid

Nitric acid

Hydrochloric acid Caustic soda

Electrical burns: Contact burn

Spark burn

Flash burn

Radiation burns


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Physical Injuries or Deathby Lightning and

Electricity


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Lightning and electricity:

Electricity:

Domestic lines: 100-250 volts

Lightning: It is an electrical charge in the

atmosphere.

1,000 million volts and about 2,000amperes.


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Lightning:

A. Elements of lightning that produceinjury:

1. Direct effect from the electrical charge

2. Surface flash burns3. Mechanical effect

4. Compression effect

B. Points to consider:1. History of thunderstorm

2. Evidences in the surrounding

3. Absence of other wounds and other injuries


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Lightning:

Classes of burns:

Surface burns

Linear burns Arborescent or filigree burns

Medico-legal aspect:

Eliminate the possibility of a feloniousact of another person


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Electrical shock:

Mechanism of death: Ventricular fibrillation

Respiratory failure

Mechanical asphyxia

Factors that influence the effect of electricalshock:

Personal idiosyncracy

Disease (cardiac)

Sleep Electrical voltage, amperage, density of

current, nature of the current

Resistance of the body, duration of contact

Point of entry

Earthin


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Death by Ekkxplosion and Thermal Injhjkhkhjuries