Standardization model for describing the extent of burn injury to human remains

Abstract

This paper provides a model for standardizing descriptions of the extent of burn injury to human bodies consumed in fire. Its intent is to simplify and make comparable case reports and legal descriptions by medical examiners, pathologists, crime scene investigators, forensic odontologists, forensic anthropologists, fire fighters, paramedics, and others responsible for recovery, analysis, or identification of burn victims. The Crow-Glassman scale (CGS) 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 on the recovery procedure, analysis strategy for identification, and choice of personnel most suited for making identifications.