General Duties of the FD At Need Funeral Procedures

Notification of Death Use of the telephone: i) answering: Know your funeral homes policies!! ii) voice: Avoid sounding impatient or bored. Don’t interrupt!

Information Needed During Notification Name of Caller and Rel’p to Decedent Phone Number Name of Deceased Place of Death Next of Kin and Phone Number Attending Physician/M.E./Coroner Time of Death Authority to Remove Directions Permission to Embalm

Add’l Items For Arrangement Conference Photo and Clothing Social Security Number and Vet. D/C Biographical/Statistical Information Cemetery Information Time and Place for Arrangement is established

Add’l Info. for Institutional Removal Name, address and telephone number of spouse or next of kin. Name, address and telephone number of the person authorizing release to the FH Time of release. Availability of refrigeration. Entrance to utilize.

Closing Approximate time of arrival. Assurance of continued assistance. Permit the caller to close. Avoid saying “thank you”. Record information accurately. Leave a copy of information at FH while the transfer is being completed.

Types of Notification Immediate Family Institutional Relative/Close Friend Walk-in Trauma It is important that you remain calm, compassionate and professional.

Trauma Call 1) express condolences 2) gather necessary information 3) establish warm and caring relationship with the family 4) schedule arrangement conference 5) obtain permission to embalm 6) provide family with a phone number 7) obtain phone number and address from the family 8) be prepared to offer assistance 9) provide the family with the FH address Follow-up:

NJ Administrative Code 13:36-8.8 Authorization to embalm cadaver “No licensed practitioner of mortuary science shall take possession of or embalm a cadaver without first being directed and fully authorized to do by those charged with the duties of interment.”

PA Code 13.202 Unprofessional conduct 10) “Furnishing embalming, other services or merchandise without having obtained written permission from a family member or other person authorized by law to make funeral arrangements for the deceased. Oral permission to embalm, followed by a confirmatory fax, telex, telegram, mailgram or other written confirmation will be acceptable.”

Transfer of Remains Factors to consider before leaving the FH: 1) selection of appropriate vehicle 2) number of staff members required 3) transfer equipment and accessories 4) personal appearance of transfer personnel 5) transfer procedures

Transfer From a Residence Arrival at place of death: Transfer procedures: Transfer From an Institution Legal Requirements

NJ Administrative Code 13:36-5.17 “No person shall remove human remains from any residence or institution without first securing authorization consenting to the removal from the next of kin or a person legally entitled to grant said authorization.”

PA Code 13.213 Means of transportation. “Transportation of the deceased by a funeral director or the director’s agent shall be only in or on a stretcher or container specifically designed for containment of human remains. A body shall be trnsported in a horizontal, face-up position and covered so that it is shielded from public view.”