Durability of Cling Film Plastic Wrap usage on Dead Body towards Human Decomposition Changes

Authors: Khoo LS* and Mahmood MS

DOI: 10.23880/ijfsc-16000174

Volume 4, Issue 4

Abstract

This study explores the practicability and usability of the cling film plastic wrap on the dead body with decomposition changes, whereby the feasibility of wrapping the remains to ensure the containment of the decomposition fluid within the cling film plastic wrap. 3 unknown and unclaimed dead bodies were used, where a fresh and decomposed body were cling-wrapped, and another fresh body was placed in a cadaver body bag. All the subjects were placed in the body freezers at 4°C and observed day-to-day. The effect of decomposition changes to the cling film plastic wrap was noted down according to 3 different categories; no leakage; slight leakage; and substantial leakage. The freezers were malfunctioned at the end of Day 5 where the temperature in the freezers were escalated to 20°C, thus accelerated the decomposition process and indeed facilitated the study. The authors have noted that the process of wrapping was slightly messier with the decomposition body fluid oozing out of the body. There was no body fluid leakage seen from both the subjects during the whole 14 days of observation. This study has shown that the elastic property of the cling film plastic wrap can withstand and able to accommodate the expansion of the dead bodies from decomposition changes. Wrapping and preservation of human remains using the cling film plastic wrap could be the best operational practices for first responders rather than leaving the body exposed on the disaster site, when the supplies of the cadaver body bags are inadequate. Thinking out of the box, the conventional way of using cadaver body bags to the cling film plastic wrap forms a new perspective in managing the dead and facilitating the human identification needs. The paradigm shift of adopting the cling film plastic wrap as means of protecting the dignity of the dead person, could be the way forward in humanitarian forensic action.

Keywords: Durability; Cling Film Plastic Wrap; First Responders; Large Scale Disaster; Cadaver Body Bag; Humanitarian Forensic Action

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