of. As an example, the primary and most urgent concern of all officials must be rescuing survivors. Saving lives must always take precedence over all other concerns. The cause of an MFI may dictate special considerations during the aftermath efforts. An event is caused by natural forces, such as the storms mentioned previously, does not require the same legal and investigative issues as an event that was, or may have been, caused committing crimes. For example, in the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) was actively involved in the aftermath efforts. Since the bombing was a criminal event, certain protocols were instituted and followed that would not be required nor necessary for a natural event. One protocol included a mandatory evidence collection process, in which each personal item recovered from the victims was transported to the medical examiner’s office along with the victims. The FBI stationed agents at the medical examiner’s office with the pathologists. These agents were in place to package and document the identified and collected evidence (Blakeney, 2002). It is ingrained in the DNA of many Americans, and most all human beings, to want to help their fellow man in tragic times. In the aftermath of an MFI, there will often be many groups and individuals who volunteer and desire to help in the efforts. It is important to follow prescribed protocols for many reasons, including safety, privacy, and the obligation to provide the best care possible to the victims and their loved ones. Though it is admirable of anyone who volunteers at a time of need, protocols must be followed to ensure that only qualified and known individuals are permitted in the most appropriate areas. Among many other potential conflicts and inappropriate admittance could be volunteers who simply to gain access to information or access to the loved ones of victims. The access could provide information that a person could use for inappropriate, disrespectful, or sinister purposes. Funeral service professionals are qualified to serve in many capacities and have verifiable credentials that can allow their assistance. Funeral industry professionals are among the first volunteer groups from which assistance will be requested and allowed. As previously stated, volunteer coordination requires officials to carefully consider the safety and best interest of the victims and their families. It is unfortunate, but there will be those who attempt to volunteer and insert themselves into these situations for inappropriate, and even dishonest, reasons. Funeral directors can be a valuable asset in many capacities following an MFI. Funeral directors who volunteer must serve at the direction of the agencies in charge. Many funeral service professionals are qualified and willing to serve in more than one capacity. One who is volunteering their talent, knowledge, and skills must consider the capacity which is most needed of their service. This may result in one being required to serve in a capacity that differs from his or her first choice. Volunteers of the death care industry must keep in mind that those coordinating the efforts have experience and training in these situations. For the greatest benefit of victims and families, these trained professionals will strive to properly staff each needed capacity. There is absolutely no place in the aftermath efforts for personal egos or selfish agendas. Everyone involved should be concerned only with serving those in need in the best capacity. Working in synergy with all volunteers, groups, and agencies provides the most benefit to those being served.
needed in these centers, and local ministers, church groups, and other spiritual organizations can be instrumental in aiding professionals specifically trained for these situations. Such trained groups can include the American Red Cross and similar organizations. Accurate, timely, and regular information is one of the most important aspects of care that must be provided to surviving loved ones. Not providing information in these ways will cause more distress on the families. In most cases, the foremost question that is being asked by loved ones is regarding the condition of their loved one. Especially in the immediate aftermath of an MFI, these family members may not yet know if their loved one is a survivor or a victim. Even in cases when there is very little hope of anyone surviving the event, human nature is for one to hold out for any hope they can grasp. There may also be cases in which it is unclear whether their family member was even present at the time of the event or in the location of the event. Therefore, all agencies and groups involved in the MFI must strive to rapidly search and rescue survivors while also making every possible effort to search, recover, and identify the victims in the most reasonably expeditious fashion. This coordinated effort will ensure that the families are officially notified of the death as soon as possible. This will allow the family to begin the healing and recovery process in allowing for memorialization and final disposition in the timeliest manner possible. These efforts cannot be effectively focused without the communication and cooperation of all elements involved in the efforts. Most jurisdictions have pre-determined plans in place for when an MFI occurs. The plan may be in place on a municipal, county, or state level. The plans may also be in place of organizations such as the regional DMORTs. There will be individual plans in place for multiple organizations that may ultimately be involved. This is yet another reason that it is so important for the various organizations involved to effectively coordinate their efforts in a unified mission. The sectors involved within the MFI infrastructure may have some independent roles, but most all sectors have interdependent responsibilities which all must be cognizant Death care industry cooperation The death care industry has a crucial and important position within all communities, both urban and rural. The need for these professionals is no different in times of crisis resulting in mass fatalities. The Death Care Industry is more than just local funeral directors, embalmers, and funeral home personnel. Coordination and cooperation is required from various sectors within the death care industry to properly serve victims and families after an MFI. These sectors include personnel of the funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, vault companies, casket companies, funeral industry suppliers, and others involved in the death care industry. When mass fatalities occur in a community or area, it is not only the ME/Cs who will be working outside of their normal capabilities; it is also local funeral homes and all others involved in the funeral industry. There are three primary ways in which members of the death care industry of a local jurisdiction can contribute to the aftermath efforts of an MFI. The first is by responding to the local community’s needs. The second is mobilization by the ME/Cs in which members can assist in the mass fatality response. The third is through the coordinated participation in disaster mortuary response teams (Gershon, 2011). These teams could include DMORT or teams associated with local or state associations. All aspects of involvement by funeral service professionals is important to the contribution of efforts.
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Book Code: FNJ0524
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