Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Whether by accident or by design, Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be a silent killer. Being aware of and being able to identify the appearance of a Carbon Monoxide poisoning victim is important. Typical lividity is marked by red and purple coloured hues whereas carbon monoxide related lividity often has a cherry red appearance. This cherry red appearance can manifest itself on any part of the body which is subject to lividity. Keep in mind that lividity is the settling of blood due to the actions of gravity on the body after death. Carbon monoxide, when inhaled, will invade the bloodstream and bond to hemoglobin. The CO will then reduce the chance for oxygen bonding and eventually take over. When carbon monoxide bonding reaches a 50 to 60% saturation fatal consequences are likely. The cherry red appearance of the skin does become visible before death and can often be used as an indication of carbon monoxide poisoning. I selected these two photos as they both show somewhat extreme examples of both typical lividity and lividity connected to carbon monoxide poisoning. In many cases it’s not quite as obvious. By: https://www.instagram.com/p/CgAxkDlJqvT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link