Different Ways
Funeral Directors and Rescue Workers Help During a Multi-Death Disaster.When
people think of a disaster worker, they usually think of a brave firefighter like
one of the many who ushered people in the World Trade Center to safety during
9-11. But there are many examples of survival workers, and one not-so-obvious
example is a funeral director. The
Definition A ‘disaster’
is defined as “a calamity; a great or sudden misfortune.” The United States government
qualifies something as a disaster when it is a catastrophic accident in which
more than four people are killed. But the most important factor is how society
reacts to the event. A true disaster gets a response from the whole community.
Not only that, disastrous events require assistance from other social units outside
the one directly involved. Disaster
Jobs for a Funeral Director Because
funeral directors know so much about the care of the dead already, they can help
out in a multi-death disaster in an important capacity. Assigned tasks by
the coroner, funeral directors and other professionals such as policemen, firemen,
paramedics, and members of the National Guard can work on the rescue team together.
Search and Recovery
The dead human remains must be found
as soon as possible. If the disaster was a flood or plane crash over a body
of water, the bodies that are in the water must be recovered immediately before
they decompose. Identification
The person in charge of identification
must preserve all the evidence surrounding the remains. Identity of a corpse
can be found by looking at fingerprints. Medical professionals are sometimes
needed. In Charge
of Personal Effects The
importance of keeping track of personal effects cannot be underestimated, because
personal effects found on a body can lead to the body’s identification.
Transport A
funeral director, or other rescue individual, can be given the job of transporting
recovered bodies to the morgue site. They should be carried to the transportation
vehicle by a stretcher, with the body covered by a sheet. It should be done
discreetly. The vehicle should be driven to the morgue site at a moderate
pace. Help to Set
Up a Morgue A
temporary morgue is needed to accommodate many dead bodies. Airline hangers
and schools are often good for such a morgue. If
ordered by the coroner, the funeral director will embalm the body, and afterward
the identified bodies could be released to the funeral home of their family’s
choice, or if unidentified, the bodies could be buried. Care
for the Living Jobs
involving a disaster do not only pertain to the recovery and disposition of the
dead, but to giving support to the survivors and the families of the victims.
They can be assisted by being given food, telephone access, information, counseling,
and most of all, privacy from the media and curiosity seekers. A whole center
can be created for this purpose.
Disasters
can bring out the good in people, and people usually help each other. Ironically,
Winston Churchill described the time that England was bombed during World War
II as “England’s finest hour.” After a disaster strikes, neighborhoods can be
in total chaos, but with the help of a highly organized, cooperative rescue team,
the community can begin the road to recovery. By
Ann Rowe | 
