Spontaneous Human Combustion, (also known as SHC) is the idea that the human body is able to spontaneously combust, although the specific cause is unknown. Theories include the Wick Effect, large alcohol consumption, and chemical reactions, along with accidental ignition. There are many though, who are skeptic of the possibility SHC itself. Even though there are numerous reported cases that have occurred over past centuries. According to L.A Parry, in The British Medical Journal (1938), the common themes of SHC includes: • [Victims} Chronic Alcoholics • Elderly Females • Body burned spontaneously; although possibility of lighted substance making contact • Hands & feet usually fell off • Fire caused little damage to other flammable things Clothing of the victims plays the part of the wick, conducting the flame, while the fatty tissue portrays itself as the wax. As the flame melts the ‘wax’ or the tissue, it seeps into the clothing, which is what is thought to be the factor that prolongs the burning, while also presenting little damage to surrounding objects. Alcohol consumption is also thought to be a potential factor in SHC. Which is a result of how alcohol seems to most commonly be present in the victims when it occurs. Although a question that often presents itself is: why doesn’t this happen more often? Globally, misuse of alcohol is the fifth leading factor of premature death and disability. From the skeptics point, SHC is merely a tall tale. They argue that there is not a lot of material that readily burns in the body. The only available materials would be methane gas along with the fat tissue. For total cremation of a body, it must stay at the temperature of 1600°F for at least 2 hours. While some cases claim that the incineration of the victim was instantaneous. How does that work? They may In some even dating back to 1663, when a Parisian women went up in “ashes and smoke” while sleeping, her straw mattress unaffected by the fire; a peculiar occurrence. 52 year old Allen Small (1943) was found burned to death in Deer Isle, Maine home. The carpet under which he lay had been charred, but there was no extensive sign of damage in the rest of the house. Further investigation showed that there was no other fire enabling factors in the house that could result in Small’s
One of the deadliest nightclub fires in United States history occurred on May 28, 1977, a busy Memorial Day weekend in the suburbs of Cincinnati. The Beverly Hills Supper Club was a popular nightclub located in Southgate, Campbell County, Kentucky in the greater Cincinnati area. It was located on a hill less than 1000 ft. from the highway on seventeen acres of land just three miles from downtown Cincinnati (Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire D-1). It has since become a case study for its numerous code violations and the behavior of the fire from ignition to building collapse. While there is no one contributing factor to the significant loss of life at this facility, a study of the building’s history, the sequence of the fire’s progression, and an analysis of the fire’s chemistry can provide some valuable lessons to the future firefighter.
On the fateful and unforgettable afternoon of June 17, 1972 Hotel Vendome experienced yet another fire. Actually it experienced several fires in different locations on this date. Electricians working on the first floor reported smoke coming from the upper floors, and a bartender reported smoke in the basement. All occupants in the basement café were safely escorted out, and 3 engine companies, 2 ladder companies, and 1 District Chief arrived on scene noticing ...
'Is it true that long ago firemen put fires out instead of going to start them?’ ‘No. Houses. have always been fireproof, take my word for it.’ ‘Strange. I heard once that a long time ago houses used to burn by accident and they needed firemen to stop the flames.’ He laughed.
In conclusion, on the night of September 25th, two beautiful churches burned and many other buildings were scorched by the flames. The fire brought fear to some residents who thought they would lose everything and exhaustion to the fire fighters. No deaths were reported, and only a few people were severely burned. It was a night that would not be forgotten easily by those who lived in the “Burning District.”
There are many causes of accidental death in the United States, one of the most commonly seen are burn injuries. Burn injuries can effect a victim both internally (lungs) and externally (skin), they are so serious that many major hospitals have a burn unit area solely for the treatment of burn victims. In this research paper we will discuss the important issues dealing with the injuries of a burn victim such as the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, complications and treatment.
Alcohol is causing too many deaths. Each year, excessive drinking is responsible for the deaths of 80,000 people in the United States, 4,700 of which are young Americans (6). Alcohol by itself is dangerous; this danger is (made greater) when individuals consuming it are allowed to drive a vehicle. Research has shown that a pedestrian struck by a vehicle moving at 40 miles an hour has a fifty percent chance of getting killed as a result of the impact (9). A distracted or impaired driver will not be able to react as fast as a non-impaired driver, meaning a drunk driver is a more dangerous driver than a sober one.
Some may believe the SHC phenomenon has only been around for the past few decades but "...spontaneous human combustion (SHC) began to appear in medical reports as far back as t...
me to several accounts of SHC in the popular press (e.g., an account by a
I have thought it useful, in the interest of science,’ he wrote, ‘to make known the effects of charcoal upon man. I place a lamp, a candle, and a watch on my table, and commence the ceremony. It is a quarter past 10; I have just lighted the stove; the charcoal burns feebly’. (Lewes, 1859, pp.347‑8)
Although fire is linked to human life, as it is essential for survival, not only its use for food, security and warmth, particularly in the extreme cold weather
drinking alcoholic is very harmful for the people bodies. Furthermore, the number of overall motor vehicle deaths is decreasing – a trend that alcohol – related fatalities are sure to follow, regardless of the drinking age. For example, significant improvements in high way systems and vehicle safety have helped to decrease the overall number of motor vehicle deaths.
But what is the argument for the existence of Spontaneous Human Combustion? Frank Baker has been a victim of Spontaneous Human Combustion several times. How can someone be so irresponsible enough to let that happen to themselves more than once or twice. Spontaneous Human Combustion cannot be made-up either, as usually these people are secluded. The coal event from before also makes it seem like it could chemically happen. Yes, there is indeed a lot of evidence.
Burns are caused by many different factors. Heat burns are caused by fire, steam, hot objects, electricity, ultraviolet rays and hot liquids (Living With Burn Trauma). According to “Prevention,” an online article, the “Leading causes of fire and burn death and injury for older adults are smoking, cooking, scalds, electrical, and heating.” When one is burned, a instinct called “fight or flight” catalyzes. “Fight or Flight” causes one’s breathing and pulse to increase. When this happens, their adrenal glands release a hormone that causes pain to diminish causing some to vaguely remember their accident (Living With Burn Trauma). Many times because a victim begins to breathe rapidly, they can experience respiratory complications from the burns often resulting in respiratory failure (“First Aid and Emergencies”).
The Cleveland Clinic fire of 1929 was a major structure fire at the Cleveland Clinic hospital on May 15, 1929. The fire was caused by nitrocellulose x-ray film that was too close to an exposed light bulb which ignited the film. This caused two different explosions to occur and also caused poisonous gases to spread throughout the area. The fire caused 123 people to lose their lives, among them was one of the founders of the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. John Phillips. Eighty of the victims of the fire were patients or visitors, the rest were employees. It was found that the majority of the deaths came from the poisonous gas that was emitted from the film. The Cleveland Clinic fire influenced major changes in local and federal levels of fire protection and hospital safety.
> Sjogren H., Eriksson .A., Ahlm .K. 2000 Role of Alcohol in Unnatural Deaths: A study of All Deaths in Sweden. Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, 24 (7): 1051-1054.