Clinical forensic evidence in burns: rescuer burns

In the literature no systematic study is available on rescuer burn for victims of burn injury. This is a retrospective study of nine patients (five admitted and four outpatients) were treated in this hospital as rescuer burns in 3.5 years. All nine patients were males. Average age of the patient treated on outpatient basis was 47 years (ranging between 44 and 52) and total burn area ranged for 1–4%. Average age of the five patients treated on inpatient basis was 32.6 years (ranging between 30 and 34). The total burn area ranged from 14.5 to 38%. During the period of study, in addition to nine rescuer burns, one patient sustained burn before the rescue attempt due to the victim hugging the rescuer.

Based on the study of patterns of burn, these patients were found to have three grades of burn injury: Grade 1—upper extremity involvement only. (A) only one upper extremity involvement, (B) both upper extremities involvement, Grade 2—upper extremity/extremities and face involvement, Grade 3—upper extremity/extremities, face–neck, adjacent chest and lower extremity involvement.