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Disaster preparedness isn’t an exact science; you can’t look into the future and see what’s coming. You can only utilize the information you have and make predictions based on it. You’ll have to make decisions based on data to refine your disaster response. What’s the size of your municipality or jurisdiction? Is it a dense urban environment, suburban, or a sparsely populated rural community? Is it located on or near a coast or large body of water? Is it prone to flooding, earthquakes, and other natural disasters? Is the population younger or older? Are there industrial facilities or power plants nearby? The answers to all of these questions will determine your area’s specific needs for disaster response and mass fatality trailers.
Disaster Response
A Look at Mobile Morgue Units: What are They?
A mobile morgue unit is simply a morgue that can be quickly deployed and set up in place of an official morgue facility. They are used when the influx of decedents is so great that regular morgue facilities are filled to capacity. A mobile morgue unit is fully equipped to perform all the necessary functions of any morgue system, including autopsies and various forms of data collection on human remains to help medical examiners determine the identity and/or cause of death. So, what are the capabilities of a mobile morgue unit and how can they help prepare for disaster?
Disaster Response: Mass Casualty vs. Mass Fatality Incidents
When the unthinkable occurs, it is crucial to have plans in place to minimize the effects of both mass casualty and mass fatality events. While these events may take place simultaneously, there are different considerations when addressing both situations. In short, the priority for mass casualty events includes tending to the wounded survivors, whereas the priority for mass fatality events focuses on respectfully handling decedents. However, the differences do not stop there in emergency preparedness. It’s imperative that those planning and handling standard operating procedures for emergency response know the difference in services needed.
The Crucial Role of Portable Morgues in Mass Fatality Events
A mass fatality event occurs when the number of dead overwhelms the local healthcare system and morgue facilities. Whether the event is natural or man-made, a jurisdiction’s disaster preparedness plans should involve portable mobile morgues and refrigerated trailers as part of a proper and comprehensive disaster response, whatever the death toll may be.
What are the Biggest Challenges for First Responders in a Mass Fatality Incident?
No specific manner of death or number of fatalities defines a mass fatality incident. According to the National Association of Medical Examiners, a mass fatality incident is defined as “any incident resulting in more decedents to be recovered than can be managed in the local Medical Examiner/Coroner jurisdiction.” This broad definition can cover anything from a mass shooting or a weather event like Hurricane Katrina to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Keep in mind that mass fatality and mass casualty are two different things. But what is the difference between a mass fatality incident and a mass casualty incident?
Preparing For Disaster Response With Portable Morgue Trailers
Preparation for a disaster or a mass fatality event doesn’t just involve administering health care or distributing food and water to people in need. It also means being ready to handle the influx of deceased victims that are the result of such an incident, and doing so in a way that is dignified and sanitary.
Not every local health department is equipped to accommodate such a surge, and as the recent novel coronavirus pandemic has demonstrated, disasters really can happen anywhere and at any time. Unfortunately, most local health departments in America are still underprepared for mass casualty.
When a tragedy overwhelms a local facility’s ability to handle the bodies, a portable morgue trailer from Penn Care is necessary to provide adequate and respectful housing for the victims.
Harris County Texas Obtains Portable Morgue
Harris County Texas recently acquired a portable morgue unit to help them manage victims in a mass casualty incident. It’s the first of its kind in the state, and allows a fully functioning morgue to be … Read More
Top Products That Other Emergency Preparedness Directors Utilize
Have you ever wondered about which disaster response products other emergency preparedness directors are ordering in order to ensure that their community is well-prepared in the event of a disaster? Here at Penn Care, we deal … Read More
Educational Disaster Response Training in Ohio
In mid April, 2012 several train cars began leaking chemicals in the rainy Village of Lordstown, Ohio. Luckily for the citizens of Lordstown, this was only part of a disaster response training exercise for local first … Read More
Considerations for Disaster Mortuary Response
Whether you’ve ever thought about it or not, properly caring for and identifying remains is a critical element of emergency preparedness. Penn Care Vice President, Don Bloom, specializes in developing mass fatality plans. Don is the … Read More
