Non-Viewable Case Flashcards
Certain deaths that can make it nearly impossible to restore the features so that they appear exactly as they had in life.
Those caused by accident, violence, or some diseases
Should have knowledge for preparing the body that will not be viewed due to unusual circumstances.
Embalmer/ Restorative Artist
Those for which arterial injection is not considered a practical alternative for achieving preservation.
Non-Viewable Cases
If you have the supplies on hand, the total amount of time required from start to finish.
Less Than 30 Minutes
Most funeral homes have supplies needed, with the exception of:
Rubber Sheeting and Casket Webbing
- Disinfectant spray
- Liquid cauderant
- Cavity fluid
- Embalming powder
- Adhesive glue
- Gauze bandage (2” width)
- Utility cotton
- Cotton casket webbing
- Two large white sheets
- Heavyweight rubber sheeting (54” wide) or vinyl sheeting.
- White vinyl disposable pouch
Required Materials
Should never be attempted when there is really no possibility of restoring the subject to his or her natural appearance.
Major Restorations
- Gas Bacillus
- Third Degree Burns
- Drowning
- Mutilated and Crushed Cases
The 4 most common types of bodies that are beyond post-embalming restorative art treatment
Any body that is in the advanced stages of decomposition and is highly infected with tissue gas is just about impossible to return to a condition of natural appearance.
- Bodies in this condition probably have not been found for several days, particularly in a hot, humid climate.
Gas Bacillus
When the tissue of this case is actually charred, it presents perhaps the greatest difficulty in preservation and in dispelling the burned odor.
Third Degree Burns
Bodies that have been immersed in water over extended periods of time might usually be referred to as “floaters” and have advanced tissue gas present.
Drowning
These bodies are particularly difficult. Blood vessels are usually severed, complicating the arterial injection and making preservation difficult.
Mutilated and Crushed Cases
Treatment of non viewable bodies will remove all traces of _____ ______ and will throughly preserve the body.
Noxious Odors
- Non-viewable bodies are often received in a ______ ______. Dispose of this because it holds the odor of decomposition or burned flesh.
Disaster Pouch
- If the body has been _________, one starts with a through disinfection of the body’s exterior using a disinfectant spray.
Autopsied
- Leave all the viscera in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
- Take 5-6 16 ounce bottles of cavity fluid or embalming gel.
- Cut the viscera to expose more surface area.
- Pour the fluid or gel over the viscera.
- Mix the chemical throughly throughout the viscera.
- Autopsied Cases
- The ______ should be positioned into place.
Sternum
- The network of sutures should be such that the sutures area approximately two inches apart.
- Leave the edges of the incision slightly open.
- This will allow any pressure that forms to be dispelled.
- The autopsy incision is sutured closed
- Replace it with cotton
- Aspirate the cavities dry and apply an ample amount of embalming powder.
- Place the cotton into position and saturate it with cavity fluid.
- When there is no viscera returned with the body
- The brain tissues should be placed into the thoracic cavity along with the viscera.
- An ample amount of embalming powder should be sprinkled inside the brain cavity.
- Place an amount of cotton in the cavity similar in volume to the brain tissue which has been removed.
- Throughtly saturate this cotton with cavity fluid.
- Cranial Autopsy
- Do not secure the cranium yet; leave it loose.
- This will allow the escape of pressure that might form and will also aid in preserving the scalp.
- Apply a liberal amount of embalming powder inside the scalp and over the top of the cranium.
- Suture the head incision closed using the same sort of network of stitches that was recommended for closing the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
- Place the cranium into position
- Start by spraying the body with disinfectant spray.
- Aspirate the thoracic and abdominal cavities thoroughly.
- Trocar 5-6 bottles of fluid in the viscera.
- Do not close up the incision made by the trocar.
- This will allow possible pressure buildup to escape.
- Aspirate the brain through the cribiform plate.
- Trocar one 16oz bottle of cavity chemical into the cranial cavity and brain tissue.
- If The Body has Not Been Autopsied
- Should be 30 or 40 inches in length (use judgement according to the size of the body).
- Take three of the straps, leaving the other 6 aside for the moment.
- Spread the three pieces perpendicularly along the length of the table at the points where the neck, hips, and ankles of the body will be when the body is put on the table.
- Center the straps so that equal amounts hang down each side of the tabletop.
- Cut up For Yourself 9 Pieces of Casket Webbing
- Take a large white sheet and place it over the three straps that are lying on the table.
- Center it neatly.
- After Placing the First 3 Pieces of Casket Webbing
- Place on top of the first white sheet using the same pattern as you did for the first three straps.
- The second white sheet is now positioned similarly over the second set of straps.
- The remaining three pieces of webbing are now placed into position over the second sheet.
- Placing the remaining straps of casket webbing (and the second white sheet)
- Cut a 9 foot lenth of red butter or vinyl sheeting. (varies according to the size and height of the body).
- Center this sheet over the last layer of straps.
- Instead of red rubber sheeting, one can use heavy vinyl or plastic sheeting material.
- Rubber Sheeting
- Cover the red rubber sheeting with a layer of this.
- Roll it out over the sheeting moving from head to the foot of the table.
- Rows of this should be placed side by side.
- When you’re done, it should be positioned on the table over the vinyl or rubber sheet such that you have covered an area 24 inches wide and as long as the table.
- Utility Cotton
- _______ the utility cotton throughly with cavity fluid and cauterant. Next, cover the same area of saturated cotton with an ample amount of embalming powder.
Saturate
- Placed on the treated cotton.
The Body
- Apply more embalming powder liberally over the exposed area of the body.
- Take the saturated cotton that is extending out past the edges of the body and bring it up over the subject’s shoulders, along the sides of the body, around the sides of the legs, and up over the feet.
- After Placing the Body on The Saturated Cotton
- Start at the head
- Wrap a section of cotton around this, then around the arms and hands, over the chest and abdominal area, and around the legs and feet.
- Saturate with cavity fluid.
- Cover the remaining exposed surface of the body with still more cotton.
- Start at the head end of the table and fold the sheet up and over the head and onto the chest.
- Start at the foot end and fold the sheet up over the feet.
- Fold one side of the sheet over the body, pulling it tightly toward the opposite side.
- Fold the remaining side of the sheet up over the body as tightly as possible.
- Secure the sheeting into position by tying the casket webbing into place around the neck, lower abdominal area, and ankles.
- Tightly fold the rubber vinyl sheeting over the body
Securing each sheet into position with straps of casket webbing.
- Tightly wrap the body using the two white sheets
- The body is now ready for placement in a ____ _____ _____.
Lightweight Vinyl Burial Pouch
- Seal the entire length of the zipper with liquid adhesive.
Place the body in the pouch, and zip it up
As professionals, our primary desire is to ____ ___ ____.
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