morgue unit (DPMU). The DPMU is used as a depository for equipment and supplies that can be deployed to sites in the event of MFIs. The DPMU is a complete, mobile morgue Recovery efforts Two of the most enduring American values are the respect for the deceased and compassion for the bereaved (Merrill, 2015). For families to begin to cope with the loss and start the healing process, many necessary steps must take place. The first is the recovery and identification of the victims from the scene of the MFI. This is, and should be, the stated primary mission for the teams involved in the recovery efforts. Though this is the primary mission in recovery of victims, the rescue of survivors should always be the most urgent concern. The recovery of the deceased must be done in a manner that ensures safety for the teams involved, as well as accuracy. There are potential factors that may delay the recovery efforts due to safety issues. Mass fatalities present many valid concerns to the health and safety of the teams involved, as well as to the general public. Many myths also exist, including the belief that bodies must be buried or incinerated as quickly as possible to avoid a supposed contamination risk. Beliefs such as this have created issues not previously considered, such as during the earthquakes of 2001 in India. The number of fatalities neared 100,000 with the recovered bodies quickly being cremated. The mass number of cremations quickly exhausted the Pandemic effects A 2011 study gauged the preparedness of the death care sector’s ability and willingness to report to duty for a hypothetical high fatality pandemic event. The respondents generally indicated their preparedness level as “suboptimal.” However, greater than 80 percent of the respondents indicated they would be willing to report to work during an event such as a pandemic. However, the study also indicated a high prevalence of those in the death care sector whose ability and/or willingness would be hindered by secondary obligations (Gershon, 2011). The professionals of the death care industry are no different than most other members of the society. Familiar obligations, safety, and risk are all factors that are and must be considered by anyone who volunteers to assist in the aftermath of an MFI. Considering the most recent historical events, many have preconceived notions of potential MFIs as weather-related events or terrorist attacks. There is certainly risk involved in the aftermaths of these types of MFIs and the consideration of obligations to one’s family. However, other potential events could also result in an MFI. For example, the United States was placed at a heightened state of readiness and fear of an MFI in 2009-2010, when the threat of the H1N1 (often referred to as swine flu) pandemic was widely reported and caused great concern to the public health. Fortunately, this pandemic did not lead to mass fatalities, as was feared. A pandemic such as this could greatly affect the country and other parts of the world (Gershon, 2011). The mass fatalities potentially resulting from a pandemic could overwhelm local jurisdiction response capabilities in numerous jurisdictions simultaneously. Multiple, simultaneous mass fatality incidents could strain those within the infrastructure prepared and willing to rapidly respond. This would place an even greater need and reliance on those qualified to assist in tracking, identifying, and documenting human remains. Funeral directors across the country are qualified and capable of performing these tasks. Other required components of dealing with situations such as this are likewise within the capabilities of most
with a designated workstation for each process element and with prepackaged equipment and supplies (Blakeney, 2002).
available supply of wood and left many survivors without adequate fuel for cooking and heating (PAHO/WHO, 2004). Expediting final disposition in manners such as this will often result in failure to properly identify and document the bodies recovered. As stated several times in this course, the survivors’ mental and physical health must always be considered. The resources needed to care for the living must be maintained and accounted for in the plans by officials. The ways in which the victims’ bodies are handled must be considered, including the social, cultural, legal, and psychological characteristics of the community. This can have a significant impact on the families’ mental health. The safety of the teams working in the recovery effort is likewise critical. First responders and rescue personnel will often risk harm to their own safety to save a victim’s life. The same level of risk is not warranted in the recovery of a confirmed deceased individual. Proper planning and following protocols must be observed to ensure the safety of the team members’ recovery. There is also potential risk to those working in the aftermath efforts, as well as the general public, when biological or radiological factors are present. funeral service professionals, such as establishing temporary morgue facilities. However, there are some considerations that the average funeral service professional is not trained for or knowledgeable of, such as MFIs that present hazards created by chemical, biological, or radiological exposure. The impact of a widely lethal pandemic will present challenges to the death care industry just as with the remainder of the population. Such a pandemic will place great demand upon industry members while also presenting challenges to the staff by the way of absenteeism due to illness and non-illness related causes. Additional strains will be placed upon the industry due to absenteeism in staffing of crematories, cemeteries, suppliers, and vendors. The strain upon the resources may render a shortage for supplies, equipment, and refrigerated storage (Gershon, 2011). A panel of national experts convened in 2006 as the Joint Task Force Civil Support Mass Fatality Working Group (Working Group). This group discussed the preparedness of the infrastructure for responding to high fatality pandemics. Among its findings, the group determined four key functions that must be maintained in the event of an MFI resulting from a pandemic. The first of these four key functions is death reporting and tracking, including identification of the victims. The second is the command and control of mass fatalities incidents to include all components of the aftermath efforts. The third is the provision of funeral services, including final disposition of remains by means of burial or cremation. The fourth key provision was that of family assistance and behavioral health. The safety and health risk to industry members could be serious when responding to a pandemic MFI. A study in 2011 explored the perception of industry members concerning their exposure to a pandemic flu. The study found that nearly 80 percent of respondents believed their infection risk was low to moderate. A great majority of the respondents believed that measures such as frequent hand washing, vaccination, and respiratory protection would
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