Understanding Home Deaths During COVID-19 Response: Important Insights
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, typical natural deaths continue alongside the novel virus, necessitating stringent protective measures and thorough investigations. With many asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, vigilance is crucial to curb spread. Recognizing symptoms and appropriate responses are key to managing potential cases. Practical decision-making and resource considerations are vital in handling scenarios such as body storage challenges in the community.
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Presentation Transcript
Home Deaths During Covid-19
Typical Natural Deaths are still happening at about the same rate during COVID-19 Response = protecting yourself, and investigations Every scene every time, becomes asking COVID-19 questions every time Every question, every time
Many individuals infected with COVID-19 (and potentially contagious) have no symptoms 18%-25% to as many as 59% PPE Do not be lulled
Who is sick? Who has been tested? What symptoms are present? The Big three
Shortness of Breath Fever Dry Cough Runny Nose, cough Diarrhea Nausea Dizziness Fatigue Loss of appetite Joint or muscle aches Loss of taste or smell Any new complaints/recent symptoms Covid-19 Symptoms
If the Covid-19 questions are negative, treat as any natural disease at home If the COVID-19 questions are positive, in an ideal world, NP swab
Just like always, false negatives. We miss cases at scenes Just like always, we can t autopsy everyone Just like always, and especially with limited resources, we make practical decisions Use your judgement and experience
When Body Storage is Exhausted Community Body Storage considerations
Refrigerated trucks Refrigerated pods Closed warehouses with refrigeration
Fire or paramedics Just-in-time workers, ?county vehicles Will families self-transport the dead If storage is exhausted, tranportation is also overwhelmed
Electrical hook-up Security How will your staff access Body acceptance and release Who s where in the storage area? Off-site body storage
The importance of body identification Personal property Intake form for family transport? Directions for untrained workers Decomposed bodies Fear of disease transmission Unidentified bodies For bodies transported by families, how will you document COVID-19 symptoms
Instructions for Body Transport during pandemic Pandemic Community Storage Center entrance paperwork Guidelines for Community Body Storage Center
