The death and_taxes_portion_of_mass_fatalities

The Death and The Death and Taxes Portion of Taxes Portion of Mass FatalitiesMass Fatalities

Or: The Deadly CellphoneOr: The Deadly Cellphone

Presidential DeclaredPresidential Declared Governor DeclaredGovernor Declared LocalLocal

Georgia County CoronerGeorgia County Coroner Empower Operations Level Personnel to Empower Operations Level Personnel to

Raise the AlarmRaise the Alarm The Supreme Court Pornography Test: The Supreme Court Pornography Test:

You Know It When You See It You Know It When You See It

How Do YOU Know When It’s How Do YOU Know When It’s

“Mass Fatality?”“Mass Fatality?”

This is a SINGLE Fatality/MASS This is a SINGLE Fatality/MASS SituationSituation

Your Cell Phone Is MORE Your Cell Phone Is MORE DEADLYDEADLY

Than a Deceased Human BeingThan a Deceased Human Being

The Myth of Infection The Myth of Infection ControlControl

Very few communicable diseases after Very few communicable diseases after 4 to 6 hours4 to 6 hours Timing depends on heat, environmental Timing depends on heat, environmental

surroundings (inside, outside, covered, etc.)surroundings (inside, outside, covered, etc.) Bubonic plague, cholera can linger but not Bubonic plague, cholera can linger but not

seen in USseen in US Even AIDS totally gone, all known instances, 4 Even AIDS totally gone, all known instances, 4

days longest due to NO HOSTdays longest due to NO HOST World Health Organization confirmed in HaitiWorld Health Organization confirmed in Haiti Universal precautions sufficient; in absence of Universal precautions sufficient; in absence of

gloves, masks, contaminant such as ricin, gloves, masks, contaminant such as ricin, sarin – responders can feel safesarin – responders can feel safe

If Not Infection: WHAT?If Not Infection: WHAT?

Odor—ExtremeOdor—Extreme Body FluidsBody Fluids Both dependent on heat, humidity, Both dependent on heat, humidity,

location of bodieslocation of bodies Psychological Well-Being of Family Psychological Well-Being of Family

and Responders: and Responders: Israeli Suicide Bombers; 9/11Israeli Suicide Bombers; 9/11

Religious and Cultural NOT Infection Religious and Cultural NOT Infection ControlControl

Practical Issues For Body Practical Issues For Body HandlingHandling

Bag and Tag f If AvailableBag and Tag f If Available Try to avoid paper tags OR secure paper in a Try to avoid paper tags OR secure paper in a

baggiebaggie Cover Body If Bags Not AvailableCover Body If Bags Not Available IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION

Any and EVERYTHING can be used to IDAny and EVERYTHING can be used to ID If in question, DON”T MOVE until secure all If in question, DON”T MOVE until secure all

artifactsartifacts If law enforcement involved, follow THEIR protocolIf law enforcement involved, follow THEIR protocol Religious considerations totally dependent on ID; Religious considerations totally dependent on ID;

otherwise, go with cultural norms of communityotherwise, go with cultural norms of community

Practical Issues For Body Practical Issues For Body HandlingHandling

TransportationTransportation However it is done—TRACK the personHowever it is done—TRACK the person

We Don’t Stack Bodies in AmericaWe Don’t Stack Bodies in America Flat, single layer in secure area (roped Flat, single layer in secure area (roped

off, marked off, doored off, whatever)off, marked off, doored off, whatever) Refrigerated TrucksRefrigerated Trucks

Not enough in the entire U.S. for Georgia Not enough in the entire U.S. for Georgia alone in pan flu situationalone in pan flu situation

Practical Issues For Body Practical Issues For Body HandlingHandling

Preserve the Dignity of Each Individual Preserve the Dignity of Each Individual to the Highest Degree Possible / to the Highest Degree Possible / Identify If PossibleIdentify If Possible

Protect Your Responders Protect Your Responders PsychologicallyPsychologically

Follow-UpFollow-Up Death CertificateDeath Certificate

Time of DeathTime of Death Cause of DeathCause of Death Affects the Living (Insurance, Inheritance, Affects the Living (Insurance, Inheritance,

Government Benefits, etc.)Government Benefits, etc.)

Georgia Project UnderwayGeorgia Project Underway Funeral ServiceFuneral Service Coroners/Medical ExaminersCoroners/Medical Examiners Hospital AssociationHospital Association GEMAGEMA GBIGBI GA’s 2 Mortuary SchoolsGA’s 2 Mortuary Schools

Inventory of All Body Refrigeration / Inventory of All Body Refrigeration / Cool Morgues / Holding Facilities In Cool Morgues / Holding Facilities In State State

Practical Issues For Body Practical Issues For Body HandlingHandling