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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)

Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)

Welcome Notes:

WELCOME CRIMINOLOGY STUDENTS

I. INTRODUCTION:
This module further discusses injuries and wounds relating to crimes. Few of which are self-inflicted
wounds, firearm injuries, burns and others.
II. OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Describe self-inflicted wounds and other related terms
2. Determine the different types of weapon wounds/injuries
3. Distinguish the different types of burns

III. PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES:

Before you proceed to the main lesson, test yourself in this activity/ies.

These are different firearms you will be encountering in your Ballistics class. Let’s have a quick
quiz on how familiar are you with these images. Set the letter of the correct word on the corresponding
boxes. Good luck!
A. Riffle B. bazooka C. handgun D. Shotgun
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)

GREAT!!!
You may now proceed to the main lesson.

IV. LESSON PROPER

LET’S BEGIN!

Based on the preliminary activities, what did you notice about it?
__________________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the lesson.

SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS
 Self-infliction of shallow cuts as a form of which falls sort of attempted
suicide are parallel, shallowly incised wounds that heal and leave
multiple, fine, horizontal and linear white scars. They are often located
in reasonably accessible areas such as forearms, upper thighs,
abdomen, and the front of the chest; they are most prominent on
the non-dominant arm. They do not usually involve sensitive
areas like eyelids, nipples and genetalia.
 Due to the risk of suicide, it is important to carefully assess
injuries that may indicate self-harm. The items listed below are
possible indicators that may assist in the recognition or
suspicion that injuries are self-inflicted. These are not diagnostic
but some may give an indication of self-infliction (Payne-James,
Crane & Hinchliffe,2005, p.143). Fig. 1
https://www.slideshare.net/farhanali91
 Must be on the area of the body accessible to the 1/mechanical-injury-3-58517566
person to injure themselves.
Fig 2
 Maybe superficial or minor https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fil
 Regular with an equal depth at the beginning and end (for cuts) e:Self-
 Multiple inflicted_cuts_(differend_states_of_wo
und_healing).jpg
 Parallel of group together
 In right-handed persons, the injuries are predominantly in left side (and the converse with the
left-handed individuals)
 There may be lesser injuries where initial attempts at self-harm are made (tentative scars)
 There may be old scars of previous self-harm
 There may be a psychiatric history
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)

FIREARM INJURIES
 Firearm injuries refer to those caused by projectiles (missiles or bullets) fired from guns. When a
bullet or projectile has entered but not exited the body, it is termed as penetrating; if the projectile
has passed completely through the body, it is called as perforating. Wound characteristics are
influenced by the caliber of the weapon and the distance from the gun to the victim
(Prahlow&Bryard,2012)

WEAPONS AND AMMUNITIONS

 Knowledge of the construction and mechanism of guns and the ammunition from which they were
fired is also important. The basic structure of firearm consists of the following parts
(Prahlow&Bryard,2012).
o The grip – appendage design to be held in order to use the gun.
o The barrel – the tube through which a bullet travels when the gun is fired
o The trigger – the lever that activates the firing mechanisms of the gun
o The internal mechanisms that transfer the trigger pull into the firing of the bullet usually
including the firing pin)
o The firing chamber or the part that holds the cartridge containing the bullet or projectiles to
be fired.
o A mechanism that allow for quickly supplying another round to be fired.
The three basic types of firearms are handguns, rifles, and shotguns.
Handguns are weapons with short barrel that can generally be held and
controlled by one hand. Riffles are long barreled firearms that are
available in different models with a variety of ammunition. Shotguns are
long guns with smooth non-rifled barrels; these are designed to fire a shell
containing a single large lead slug or lead pellets that, on exiting barrel,
spread out in a cone-like distribution to cover a large surface area.
Ammunitions include tiny lead pellet called
“birdshot”, large pellets called “buckshot”,
and a single large lead projectile called
“slug”.

WOUND BALLISTICS
 Basic knowledge of ballistics is
essential for an examiner to have a
proper understanding of woods caused by firearms.
 Wound ballistics refers to the study of the effects of
penetrating projectiles of the body.
Fig. 4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handgun
Fig. 5 https://theprint.in/india/all-you-want-
to-know-about
Fig 6. https://www.specshop.pl/product-eng-
6827-ASG-Franchi-SAS-12-Shotgun-3-
burst-Sportline-16061.html
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
Bullets disrupt tissues by two principal mechanisms.
1. Direct lacerations of the tissues occur when the bullet penetrates just as with any penetrating
object. This is the main mechanism of tissue damage in low-velocity gunshots wounds from such
weapons as pistols. The permanent cavity visible in the body accurately reflects the tissue damage
produced by the bullet.
2. A temporary cavity is formed in high-velocity rifle wounds. There is transfer of kinetic energy from
the bullets and it so great that it creates a temporary cavity up to 30 times the diameter of the bullet
at a pressure of 100-200 atmosphere over the time span of 5-10 milliseconds.
GUNSHOT WOUNDS
 A gunshot wounds is penetrating wounds that leave a skin defect where the projectile passes through
the skin. As a general rule, a gunshot exit wound is larger and irregular than the gunshot entry wound
to the effect of the bullet tumbling and bullet deformation.
 Gunshot wounds are typically categorized by examining characteristics of wound and looking for the
presence of gunshot residues. The presence of gunshot residue is used to determine approximate
muzzle to garment/target distance.
1. GUNSHOT ENTRY WOUND
 A typical entrance of wound has a round and oval-shaped skin defect, surrounded by a rim abrasion
called abrasion collar or circumferential marginal abrasion. It is a result of the forward motion of the
bullet indenting the skin and grazing it at a time of its entry. Bullet caliber cannot be determined by
looking at the wound because the skin stretches on the impact.

 Close gunshot wounds often have a

dense pattern of gunshot residue around
the wound.
 Intermediate gunshots entrance
wounds, wherein the weapon is greater
than 12 inches but less than about 3 feet
from the skin will have gunpowder
stripling, but no soot surrounding the
entrance defect. If the range of fire is
more than 3 feet from the targets
surface, gunpowder particles do not Fig 7 http://eknygos.lsmuni.lt/springer/47/091-
typically have enough energy to actually 121.pdf
produce stipple energy. Intermediate
gunshots will have a pattern of burned and unburned gunpowder around the wound.
 Distant gunshot entrance wound with a range of fire over 3 feet has no associated soot or gun
powder stippling.
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
The gunpowder stippling and gunpowder tattooing are often used interchangeably, but they are two
different things. Stippling refers to a small bruise or punctuate wounds on the skin, whereas tattooing occurs
when particles of burned or unburned gunpowder are embedded into the skin.
 tattooing occurs when particles of burned or unburned gunpowder are embedded into the skin.

Fig. 8 http://www.brainkart.com/article/Pathophysiology-of-gunshot-wounds-and-wound-ballistics_30756/

GUNSHOT EXIT WOUND

Fig. 9
https://www.slideshare.net/Sciblack/firear  Exit wounds from the low-velocity
m-injuriesforensics firearms tend to be relatively small. Edges of gunshot exit
wound are everted (turned inside out), with no burning or
tattooing on the
skin. As the bullet exits the cranial cavity, the inner table
appears punch-out, accompanied by the distinct
beveling on the outer table.
 Exit bullet wounds tend to be larger than the
corresponding entrance wounds and usually consist of
lacerations with unbruised and unabraded margins.
However, the forensic physician or forensic pathologist
must not be too quick to interpret firearm injuries,
especially in cases of multiple wounds on the body Fig. 10
(Crane, 2009) https://www.accessmedicinenetwork.com/post
s/40950-entrance-vs-exit-gunshot-wounds

SHOTGUN WOUNDS
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
- The lead pellets of the discharged shotgun emerged together and gradually diverge into a cone
shape as the distance from the weapon increases. These pellets are accompanied by particles of
unburnt powder, flame, smoke, gases, wads and cards.
- The appearance of the entry wound usually depends on the range of fire. Contact wounds are usually
circular or oval depending whether the muzzle is perpendicular to the skin surface when the gun has
been shot. The wound margins are usually clean-cut, sometimes with contusions and abrasions
BURNS
- A burn is an injury caused by the application of the heat or by a chemical or physical agent having
an effect similar to heat. Most burns produced by dry heat, and result from contact from flames or a
heated solid object, or from exposure to radiant heat. Burns caused by moist heat are described as
scalds. Chemical burns are produced by acid and alkalis, or by vesicants for chemical warfare.
Microwaves and electricity also produce burns.
- The natures of burns are affected by certain condition, such as the intensity of heat, the duration of
exposure, the extent area involved, the site of injury in the body, the age and the sex classification
of the victim. Burns would be more severe if the intensity of heat applied is high and the exposure is
for a greater duration. Burns on the trunk, especially over the abdomen and the genital area, carry
high fatality compared to burns in limbs.

CLASSIFICATION OF BURNS
Burns in the skin can also be classified in degrees, depending on the depth of injury or the severity of
tissue destruction

1. First Degree Burns

- These injuries involve only the epidermis and are
characterized by erythema, edema, and pain.
They are produced by prolonged exposure to
low intensity heat or very brief exposure to high
intensity heat (e.g., mild sunburn), and manifest
as red discoloration and superficial inflammation.
When it heals, skin peeling typically occurs
wound healing is completed in approximately 5
Fig. 11
to 10 days with no residual scarring. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/burns/

2. Second Degree Burns

- Second degree burns are also called partial thickness burns. The most superficial second degree
burns totally affect the epidermis as well as the upper third of the epidermis. Such burns involve
blister formation and are extremely painful. It heals the approximately 7 to 14 days with minimal
scarring.

3. Third Degree Burns

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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
- Third degree burns or full thickness burns destroy the full thickness of the epidermis and dermis.
Heat coagulation of dermal blood vessel leaves a tissue avascular with a characteristic’s waxy white
appearance. In a prolonged contact between subcutaneous fat and flame, the burn has a leathery
brown or black charred appearance. There is lack of pain because all the nerves endings are
destroyed. These burns require skin grafting because skin regeneration is not possible.
4. Fourth Degree Burns
- These burns are described as charring injury due to incineration of tissues. This is complete
destruction of skin and subcutaneous tissues, as well as complete or partial charring of the bone.

Fig. 12 and 13
https://hhklawfirm.com/types-of-
burn-injuries/

4th degree Burn

TYPES OF BURNS
There are several types of burns, depending on the causing the application of heat.
 DRY BRUNS
- Dry heat sources result in dry burns. Examples of such resources are ovens, stove tops, hot
engines, mufflers, radiator grills, clothes irons, hair dryers, heating pads and furnaces.
 SCALDS
- Scalds are produced by moist heat or steam, or any hot liquid, such as water, oil, or even molten
rubber or metal. They are typically less severe than burns produced by heat. The scalded area
appears erythematous (abnormal redness of the skin resulting from dilation of blood vessels) with
desquamation (loss of bits of outer skin) and blistering and usually sharply demarcated area of injury.
 CHEMICAL BURNS
- Chemical burns are produced through contact with corrosive acids and alkalis. Most of these injuries
involve direct tissue damage, which causes drying and blistering, destruction of proteins or fat or
interference with cellular metabolic processes. It may take several hours before the burn manifests
(Prahlow&Bryard,2012).

 FIRE BURNS
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
- Burns that occur from building or home fire are most common types of thermal injuries encountered
in death investigation.
- To assess whether the decedent was breathing during the fire, the following indications in autopsy
can be observed.
o Bright pink red discoloration of tissues that indicate elevated levels of carbon monoxide;
o Soot within the airways including nose mouth, larynx, trachea and main stem bronchi
indicating the smoke had been inhaled; and
o Elevated level of carbon monoxide in the blood shown on the toxicology report.

 RADIANT BURNS
- Radiant burns are caused by heat source close to the victim or electromagnetic energy radiating out
from an energy source. They may produce skin blisters and erythema, and charring may result from
prolonged exposure.

 EXPLOSION AND BLAST INJURIES

- Explosions and blast injuries can be encountered in military environments, in industrial, or in civilian
situations. A blast is greater than the speed of sound, and its primary effect due to compression
waves that cause burns, lacerations and hemorrhages.

 LIGHTNING INJURIES
- A lightning bolt is produced when the charged under-surface of the thunder cloud discharges its
electricity to the ground. A lightning may directly strike the victim or strike a nearby object and then
jump from the object to the victim through a side slash.
- The injuries sustained may be electrical burns, or blast from the wave of heated air created by
lightning strike. The physical examination findings may range from a completely unmarked body to
bizarre and extreme trauma on the body hit by the lightning.

CAUSE OF DEATH DUE TO BURNS

When the significant area of the skin is destroyed by burning, it is possible for the victim to die rapidly
or to survive the initial injury only to die later due to metabolic complications, electrolyte disturbances, shock
and infection (Prahlow&Bryard,2012).

 HEAD INJURIES
The effects of an injury may vary depending on the exact amount area of the body that sustained
such injury. For example, a blow in the head will be more catastrophic than similar blow to the chest.
Injuries to the head are particularly important because of the brains vital role in sustaining the life of
an individual.

 COUP AND CONTRA COUP INJURIES

When the objects strike a stationary head, it produces it produces damage located beneath the
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
impact site and this is called coup injury, whereas when the object strikes a moving head, there may
be a coup injury on the site of the impact but the cortical damaged can be seen on the opposite side
of the brain, that is called contra coup injury.

Fig. 14 https://sites.uni.edu/walsh/HeadInjury.pdf

For further discussion of Gunshot Entry and exit Wound,

visit the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzB2gNGa-2g

We had just finished the discussion on Injuries and Wounds

(Self-Inflicted Wounds). Let’s move on to the next higher level of
activity/ies or exercise/s that demonstrate your potential
skills/knowledge of what you have learned.

V. ANALYSIS, APPLICATION AND EXPLORATION

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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
ACTIVITY 1
Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________
DIRECTION: Identify where the following words/concepts belong and write it to their respective groups.
Choices are provided.
Abrasions
Head Injuries
Chemical
Dry
Scalds
Coup and Contra Coup
First Degree
Fire
Second Degree
Incised
Radiant
Fourth Degree
Explosion and blast
Third Degree

Four (4) Classification Two (2) Causes of

Death due to Burns Six (6) Types of burns
of burns
• ______________ • ________________ • ________________
• ______________ • ________________ • ________________
• ______________ • ________________
• ______________ • ________________
• ________________
• ________________
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
ACTIVITY 2
DIRECTION: Arrange the shuffled letters to form important concepts from the lessons. Read the hints for
reference.

1. OPUC NDA ONACRT CUPO INUERISJ

HINT: Damage located on the impact side or in the opposite side of the brain.
ANSWER: ______________________
2. SEFL LCITEIDFN NDOUSW
HINT: Self-harm
ANSWER: ______________________

3. OSNACACTFIISL OF UBSRN

HINT: Burns in various ways

ANSWER: _______________________

Finally, let us summarize the lesson of what we had discussed

today.

VI. GENERALIZATION
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)

Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: _________________

DIRECTION: Describe Self-Inflicted words in 100 words.

______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________

Content = 5 Organization = 3 Grammar = 2 = 10 points in total

KUDOS!
You have come to an end of Module 7.
OOPS! Don’t forget that you have still an assignment
to do.
Here it is….
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)

VII. ASSIGNMENT

Name: _____________________________ Year & Section: __________________

DIRECTION: Match Column A to its correct description in Column B

COLUMN A COLUMN B

____ 1. Riffles A. Produced by moist heat or steam, or any hot liquid, such as water,
oil, or even molten rubber or metal.
____ 2. Scalds B. Caused by heat source close to the victim or electromagnetic
energy radiating out from an energy source.
____ 3. Stippling C. Long barreled firearms that are available in different models with a
variety of ammunition.
____ 4. Radiant Burns D. An injury caused by the application of the heat or by a chemical or
physical agent having an effect similar to heat.
____ 5. Burn E. Refers to a small bruise or punctuate wounds on the skin.

After your long journey of reading and accomplishing

the module, let us now challenge your mind by answering the
evaluation part of this module.
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)

VIII. EVALUATION

Name: ______________________________ Year & Section: __________________

Direction: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

These are long barreled firearms that are available in different models with a variety of ammunition.
A. Barrel
B. Riffle
C. Shotguns
D. Handguns
ANSWER:
When a bullet or projectile has entered but not exited the body, it is termed as _____________?
A. Projectiles
B. Penetrating
C. Perforating
D. None of the above
ANSWER:
This includes tiny lead pellet called “birdshot”, large pellets called “buckshot”, and a single large
lead projectile called “slug”.
A. Self-inflicted injury
B. Firearms
C. Ammunition
D. Projectile
ANSWER:
It refers to the study of the effects of penetrating projectiles of the body.
A. Gunshot Wounds
B. Shotgun Wounds
C. Wound Ballistics
D. All of the above
ANSWER:
________________ wounds often have a dense pattern of gunshot residue around the wound.
A. Intermediate Gunshots
B. Close Gunshots
C. Distant Gunshot
D. Wound Ballistics
ANSWER:
______________________________ are typically categorized by examining characteristics of
wound and looking for the presence of gunshot residues.
A. Gunshot Wounds
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Module 7: Injuries and Wounds (Self-Inflicted Wounds)
B. Close Gunshots
C. Distant Gunshot
D. Wound Ballistics
ANSWER:
It refers to a small bruise or punctuate wounds on the skin.
A. Gunpowder
B. Stippling
C. Tattooing
D. None of these
ANSWER:
It is described as charring injury due to incineration of tissues.
A. First degree Burn
B. Second Degree Burn
C. Third Degree Burn
D. Fourth Degree Burn
ANSWER:
It is produced by moist heat or steam, or any hot liquid, such as water, oil, or even molten rubber or
metal.
A. Dry Burns
B. Burns
C. Scalds
D. Chemical Burns
ANSWER:
It is the damage located beneath the impact site.
A. Coup Injury
B. Contra Coup Injury
C. Injury
D. Head injury
ANSWER:
CONGRATULATIONS on reaching the end of this module!
You may now proceed to the next module.
Don’t forget to submit all the exercises, activities and portfolio
on ___________________.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
Well Done!!!