Chapter 7: Drowning and Burning

Chapter 7: HWC How is drowning similar to asphyxia? (Q.1) Name ONE piece of evidence that suggests a victim struggled to avoid drowning. (Q.3) 3,4,5. Name THREE things a coroner might see when performing an autopsy on a drowning victim. (Q.5)

From a medical point of view, how is drowning similar to asphyxia or suffocation? In both situations, the victim dies because air can not reach the lungs and the body is starved of oxygen. How could the fact that the victim was heavily intoxicated have a bearing on the drowning process? The struggle to survive is not as intense, which has an affect on one’s ability to interpret the evidence.

3. What evidence might exist that suggests a struggle occurred to avoid drowning? Soil, stones, twigs or leaves may be found in the hands of the victim. These might remain, because muscle spasms during the final stage of drowning, cause the hands to clench together. 4. How can water that is fast moving, like river rapids, or where waves break on the rocks, make investigation difficult? Can cause severe injuries after death has occurred, which might blur evidence.

5. List the evidence that can be produced at the autopsy of a drowning victim? Lungs appear waterlogged, swollen, and soft to touch. Frothy mixture of water, air and mucus appears in nose, mouth, windpipe, and lungs. Water may be found in throat and stomach. Stomach may contain organism from the water. Hemorrhages in middle ear that are not present if someone died before entering the water.

6. What is “reflex cardiac arrest” and how can it be caused in a drowning type incident? Is a heart attack that is caused by the shock of entering very cold water. In this situation, normal signs of drowning are not found. 7. What is “vagal inhibition”? What is “Hypothermia”? Vagal inhibition occurs when water enters the nose, causes larynx to spasm, which presses on the vagus nerve, which is directly linked to the heart, and can cause the heart to stop. Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops, causing unconsciousness and death.

8. Why is time of drowning calculated differently than a body found on land? Process of decay is different. Cooling process is twice as quick in water. In cases of hypothermia, at time of death, body temperature is already much lower. Lividity (discolouring of skin) is less obvious. Skin goes white, rather than purplish-red colour, caused by heavy red blood cells moving to surface after death. Rigor Mortis takes longer to develop and disappear.

9. What might cause a victims body to float to the surface days after drowning? Chemical changes cause the abdomen to fill with gas. This increases the buoyancy of the body. 10. Describe two methods used to determine where the victim might have drowned. Blood tests can determine if victim died in fresh or salt water, if performed soon after death. Fresh water, as it enters blood stream dilutes the blood. Sea water, absorbs water, increasing the amount of chlorine present. Analyze body for tiny organisms called diatoms. Dissolve internal organs and check for diatoms.

11. In point form, list and describe the six degrees of burn injuries: First: cause skin to become inflamed, swollen, and scales of skin begin to shed. Second: blistering begins. Third: partial destruction of skin. Fourth: total destruction of skin. Fifth: destruction of muscle. Sixth: bone destruction.

12. What are the signs indicating the victim died of smoke suffocation or carbon monoxide poisoning? Signs of oxygen starvation Blood tests show high levels of carbon monoxide which suggests the victim was alive during the fire.