Use of Facial Recognition Software to Identify Disaster Victims With Facial Injuries.

Objective: After large-scale disasters, victim identification frequently presents a challenge and a priority for responders attempting to reunite families and ensure proper identification of deceased persons. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether currently commercially available facial recognition software can successfully identify disaster victims with facial injuries.

Methods: Photos of 106 people were taken before and after application of moulage designed to simulate traumatic facial injuries.