NCJ Number
162866
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 41 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1996) Pages: 152-154
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper provides a model for standardizing descriptions of the extent of burn injury to human bodies consumed in fire.
Abstract
This paper attempts to simplify and make comparable case reports and legal descriptions by medical examiners, pathologists, crime scene investigators, forensic odontologists, forensic anthropologists, fire fighters, paramedics, rescue personnel, National Board of Transportation investigators, and others responsible for recovery, analysis, or identification of burn victims. The Crow-Glassman scale is divided into five levels depicting increasing destruction to the body relative to burn injury. Each level relates to a unique set of circumstances that may affect the recovery procedure, analysis strategy for identification, and choice of personnel most suited for making identification. The authors believe that acceptance of their model by personnel involved in fire deaths would standardize the long, detailed descriptions of burn victims down to simplified codings meaningful in interagency dialogue. Figures