World

Autopsies of Fallen soldiers provide life saving information

by albertacowpoke | July 12, 2009 at 04:01 am

85 views | 12 Recommendations | 3 comments

Three fallen soldiers, this week, made the trip along the Highway of Heroes to the Ontario Chief Coroners office in Toronto from Canadian Forces Base Trenton.

The Ontario Chief Coroner has conducted autopsies on all 124 of Canada's fallen soldiers from the Afghanistan conflict. The autopsies provide important information to National Defence scientiests. This information is used to redesign armoured vehicles, personal armoured protection (flak vests) and even seating arrangements within the vehicles that soldiers travel.

The information can also stem rumours on how a soldier died and reassure loved ones that a soldier died quickly.

Most of Canada's Fallen Soldiers have died in bomb related incidents.

Twice this week alone, the sombre procession made its way down Highway 401, winding up at the offices of Ontario's chief coroner. The bodies of three Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan were delivered to the downtown Toronto facility for post-mortems in one of the most unusual, and surprisingly important, aspects of the war effort.

Having already made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan, the soldiers have one more contribution to make upon returning home.

A team of specially trained pathologists at the office has autopsied almost all 124 Canadians fatally wounded in Afghanistan, examining the deceased for secrets they hope will one day make other soldiers safer. Even in death, the fallen troops are offering up information that has helped in the redesign of equipment and vehicles and, officials insist, saved lives on the front lines.