Body Recovery
Awareness and training
There is a need to raise awareness among communities on the risk of infection from practices such as the washing and shrouding of a dead body (an obligatory duty for Muslims), as well as large gatherings during funerals. According to the PAHO/WHO guidelines, the empowerment and training of local communities is a major part of the management of cadavers, as local residents are typically the first to arrive to help rescuers.
The psychological aspect is extremely important. Proper and dignified management of the dead can help ease the trauma of losing loved ones. Rapid retrieval of corpses should be a priority: it aids identification and reduces the stress on survivors. Another challenge is that the sight and smell of dead bodies can often distress survivors.
Immediately following the onset of a disaster, it is essential for national, regional, or local authorities to concentrate their actions and resources on three basic activities: first, the rescue and treatment of survivors; second, the repair and maintenance of basic services; and, finally, the recovery and management of bodies.
Controversy has always surrounded the handling of mass fatalities. Myths about treatment of the dead are strongly rooted in culture. Contemplating massive measles vaccination campaigns after an earthquake because of the fear that corpses could transmit this disease, or burying or incinerating corpses without completing required identification processes because of the supposed contamination risk they pose, are just two examples of the myths that form part of the popular culture. Despite efforts
by experts to dispel these and other beliefs, certain fallacies have led and continue to lead to unacceptable practices in managing dead bodies. For example, after the earthquake in India in 2001, in which the number of fatalities approached 100,000, the
bodies recovered were cremated. The wood supply was quickly exhausted, leaving the survivors without enough fuel for cooking or heating.
Disposal of human corpses
Disposal of human corpses is the practice and process of dealing with the remains of a deceased human being. Human corpses present both sanitation and public health risk. Like most animals, when humans die, their bodies start to decompose, emitting a foul odor and attracting scavengers and decomposers. For these reasons, corpses must be disposed of properly. The problem of body disposal consists of two parts: disposal of the soft tissues, which will rapidly decompose, and of the skeleton, which will remain intact for thousands of years under certain conditions.
Several methods for disposal are practiced. In many cases, the manner of disposal is dominated by spiritual concerns and a desire to show respect for the dead, and may be highly ritualized. This event may be part of a larger funeral ritual. In other circumstances, such as war or natural disaster, practical concerns may be forefront. Many religions as well as legal jurisdictions have set rules regarding the disposal of corpses. Since the experience of death is universal to all humans, practices regarding corpse disposal are a part of every culture. Ancient methods of disposing of dead bodies include cremation practised by the Romans, Greeks and Hindus; burial practised by the Jews, Christians and Muslims; mummification practised by the Ancient Egyptians; and the sky burial and a similar method of disposal called Towers of Silence practised by Tibetan Buddhists and Zoroastrians.
