HOSA Forensics- Cause of Death

Drowning

• bloody froth from mouth + nose

• “washerwoman’s skin” (shriveled up)

Overdose of Opioids or Heroine

• white foam in mouth + nose from fluid build up (edema)

• cone of white foam forms under mouth

Strangulation

• petechial hemorrhage (red spots in the whites of the eyes) due to capillary rupture in blood vessels of the eye (strengulation prevents blood flow to return to the heart = burst)

• broken hyoid

• circular bruising and abrasions around neck

Hanging

• abrasions snd bruising forms in a c shape under chin

• protruding tongue

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• bright red in skin, lips, muscles

Alcoholism

• jaundice eyes + skin

• yellow liver

• bleeding in gastrointestinal area

Blunt Force Trauma

• blown pupil/ fully dilated pupil in the side of the head where the injury occurred

• bleeding under the membrane that surrounds the brains leading to pressure resulting in fully dilated pupil