On 12 April 2023, we held a webinar on the topic of ‘Casualty recording and forensic investigations and identifications‘ – the fifth in our Casualty Recording in Practice series.
We were delighted to welcome two key speakers: Megan Bassendale, founder and Director of Forensic Guardians International (FGI), and Oran Finegan, former Head of Forensics and current Forensic Manager for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Proper casualty recording is crucial for successful forensic investigations and identifications, especially in cases where the casualties are unknown or unclaimed. During the webinar, Megan spoke about best practices for recording and preserving data related to casualties, including methods for collecting and storing biological and non-biological evidence. Attendees also learnt how to create comprehensive casualty records that can be used to support future forensic investigations and identifications, even years or decades after the event.
Oran’s presentation was focused on the role of first responders in emergencies, their impact and interface with forensic actors. The time window immediately following an event resulting in high casualty numbers is key in maximizing the opportunity to collect information to document those casualties and assist in their potential identification. Oran highlighted some key points around the role first responders can play and the potential risks to be considered.
More resources on this topic are available on both the FGI and ICRC websites. This webinar was exclusively for members of our Casualty Recorders Network. For more information, or if you are a CRN member and haven’t received a link to view the recording of the webinar, please email our Global Network Lead:
