Week One Embalming Notes PDF

# Embalming ## Etymology The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. ### em-balm **Origin** - OLD FRENCH *em-* - OLD FRENCH *in* - OLD FRENCH *embaumer* - ENGLISH *balm* - Middle English: from Old French embaumer, from *em-* ‘in’ + *bau...

# Embalming ## Etymology The study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. ### em-balm **Origin** - OLD FRENCH *em-* - OLD FRENCH *in* - OLD FRENCH *embaumer* - ENGLISH *balm* - Middle English: from Old French embaumer, from *em-* ‘in’ + *baume* ‘balm, variant of basme (see balm). ## Definitions **Legal Definition:** To treat a corpse with preservatives in order to prevent decay. **American Board of Funeral Service:** The chemical treatment of the dead human body to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms, to temporary inhibit organic decomposition, and to restore an acceptable physical appearance. ## Embalmer Preparedness - **Education:** history, chemistry, anatomy, microbiology, ethics, etc. - **Occupational Hazards:** regulatory compliance, pathology, business law, etc. - **Ethical Standards:** ethics, general psychology, thanatology ## Reasons for Embalming Here are **three** reasons why: - **Disinfection:** destruction and/or inhibition of most pathogenic organisms and their products in or on the body. - **Preservation:** a chemical that inactivates saprophytic bacteria and attempts to arrest decomposition by converting body tissue to a form less susceptible to decomposition. - **Restoration:** treatment of the deceased in the attempt to recreate natural form and color. ## Public Trust - Public trusts that the safety and welfare is in their best interest. - Public trusts that we perform our duties with complete reverence to the body and the family involved. - Public trusts that only qualified embalmers are doing the work. - Public trusts that the state codes control our practices. ## Social-Psychological-Universal Convictions Throughout history there has been a great variety of cultures and civilizations that believe in quite different deities, customs, and mores; however... All believe that care of the dead is an important virtue. ***William E. Gladstone*** Show me the manner in which a nation or a community cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender sympathies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land and their loyalty to high ideals. ## Consequences of Neglect Historically, the neglect for the dead contributes greatly to the downfall of a culture or community. ## Rituals and Ceremonies Release of body, funeral arrangements, religious ceremonies, personal preparation, travel time, transfer of the deceased, financial concerns, etc. ## Ethical Standards ### Ethical Practice Principles that govern conduct to establish harmony. ### Judicious Counsel - The experienced embalmer makes professional judgments regarding the deceased and can advise families of realistic expectations. ## Ethical Standards Continued - Body Donation - Organ Donation - Autopsy The funeral director/embalmer must remain neutral. ### Misrepresentation - Do not aid or abet anyone who says they are a licensed embalmer when you know they are not. - Do not claim to be a funeral director/embalmer until you have a license. ### Confidentiality - **Zero Tolerance** - The only thing you can divulge is what is placed in the obit. - This includes: - Cause and manner of death - Circumstances surrounding the death - Condition of the body - Information about the family dynamics or financial issues ### Defamation of Others - Use care, never attempt to harm another colleague or competitor. ### Enticement of Another Embalmer - From one firm to another that will cause harm to the first firm. ### Accommodation of the Family - Never deny the family the ability to see their loved one. ### Identification - Embalmer must take great care to assure the proper identification of the deceased. ### Observing all Laws, Rules and Regulations - Follow all requirements. - Let the owner know of needed resources and capital improvements to meet OSHA and EPA standards. ### Maintaining Competence - Keep up with CEU's and new innovations. ### Health, Sanitation and Protection - Must be responsible for protecting the health of anyone who enters the room. - Must be responsible for the sanitation of the room. - Must be responsible for safe sheltering of the remains while under their care. - No one is allowed in unless authorized. ### Proper Care of the Deceased and Documentation - Document and deliver quality care. - Document everything regarding the removal. - Document everything regarding the embalming. - Document every single step of the way. ### Chain of Custody - Who, what, where, when - every single step of the way. ## State Regulation Embalming is either regulated by two bodies: - The Board of Health (or Bureau of Vital Statistics) - The State Board of Funeral Directors or Embalmers They regulate the licensing of funeral homes and/or funeral directors and/or embalmers. ## Coroner or Medical Examiner - Need to form a close relationship with this governing body. - Funeral director needs to know who is certifying the death. - Embalmer needs to know that they are responsible to notify the coroner/medical examiner when they suspect a suspicious death. ## Cause of Death The condition or injury (or circumstances of the injury) that initiated the morbid events leading directly to death. ## Manner of Death - **Natural** - **Accident** - **Suicide** - **Homicide** - **Undetermined** - Undetermined can be termed as “Pending” while still under investigation. - Military can be termed as Fallen, Battle Casualty, Operational Casualty, Killed in Action, Supreme Sacrifice or Veergati (serve a purpose). ## Classifications of Embalming - **Vascular:** Injection of embalming chemicals in the arteries and drainage from the veins. - **Surface:** Direct contact of body tissues with embalming chemicals. - **Hypodermic:** Injection of embalming chemicals into the tissues through the use of a syringe needle or a trocar. - **Cavity:** Direct treatment of the contents of the body cavities and the lumina (hollow tube) of the hollow viscera; usually accomplished by aspiration and injection of chemical using a trocar. - **Anatomical Embalming:** This type of embalming is different than the standard vascular embalming. It is used for medical school dissection which can last several months or years. Usually, multiple gallons are injected into one vessel and no drainage is allowed, this expands all vessels with fluid. Also, no cavity aspiration is allowed so as to not harm the anatomy of the internal organs. ## Disinfection - Destruction and/or inhibition of most pathogenic organisms and their products and their products in or on the body. - The embalmer, through the embalming process, desires to make any food the microbes eat impossible to consume. - **The only good microbe is a dead microbe! Kill 'em or starve 'em!** ## Preservation A chemical that inactivates saprophytic bacteria and attempts to arrest decomposition by converting body tissue to a form less susceptible to decomposition. - **Formaldehyde fixates proteins so they can no longer retain water AND destroys enzymes so they cannot continue to break down the body. Both of these therefore help preserve the body.** ## Embalming Orientation ### Professional Conduct - **Privacy:** - Identify the areas for preparation (state requirements and company policy). - Ability to lock these areas for security. - Licensed professionals. - Those authorized by the family. - Those authorized by law. ### Respect - Maintain the highest standards at all times. - Reverence and respect of the body (this is somebody's loved one). - Keep body covered (respectful of vanity). - No recording technology without permission (pictures, video, audio). - No inappropriate comments (regarding the deceased or each other). - No confidential facts (age, condition, deformities, marks, manner or cause of death). ### Minimum Standards - Check with state laws. - Bathe every body (shave, shampoo, comb hair). - Set features on every body (clean orifices, close mouth, close eyes). - Remove all medical devices on every body (tubes, bandages, etc.). - Shelter remains in a safe place (authorized personnel only area, refrigeration). ### Legal Considerations - **Authorization to embalm:** - Verbal. - Written - **Authorization to perform procedures other than embalming:** - Restoration. - Removal of medical devices - Cremation - Handling of unembalmed remains - Shelter of remains - Release of liability ### Identification of the Deceased - ID confirmed before transfer. - ID confirmed before embalming. - ID confirmed before cremation. - ID confirmed before immediate burial. ### Embalming Report - Needs to be completed for every body that enters the funeral home. - Must be used for embalming and ID viewing. - There are no exceptions. ## Sanitation The process to promote and establish conditions which minimize or eliminate. ## Personal Protection - Gloves. - Face shield. - Gown. - Shoe covers. - Mask. - Second gown. ## Modes of Disinfection - **Primary Disinfection:** disinfection carried out prior to the embalming process. - **Concurrent Disinfection:** disinfection carried out during the embalming process. - **Terminal Disinfection:** disinfection carried out after the embalming process. ## Environmental Protection - Bathing and External disinfection of the body. - Disinfection and closure of all external orifices of the body. - Thorough Embalming ## Proper Disposal of Waste - All waste materials from the embalming procedure must be properly disposed of. - This includes: - Sharps. - Biohazardous waste. ## Strict Compliance with Laws and Regulations - Strict compliance with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations. - Federal Law - State Law - State Regulations - **OSHA:** Occupational Safety and Health Administration.