04 March 2024
DEFINITION:
Procedure to follow when offloading a corpse at the mortuary after collection from home/hospital.
PROCEDURE:
1. Ensure to travel safely and with dignified speed back from the family home/hospital after collecting the deceased body (80 – 100 km/h).
2. Reverse vehicle to door of mortuary area.
3. Open the door and put on gloves, mask and protective coat (See SOP-MOR-9 - PPE).
4. Call Mortuary assistant to assist with offloading of the corpse.
5. Mortuary assistant must also wear gloves, mask and protective coat before assisting.
6. Remove trolley/stretcher with corpse from vehicle.
7. Move the trolley to the wash area and lower the trolley to the lowest setting.
8. Remove the stretcher cover and open the body bag/plastic sheet.
9. Place the corpse onto the washing area.
10. Wash the corpse thoroughly with a spray head in the washing area.
11. Stitch close the mouth to prevent it from falling open when in the fridge.
12. Place corpse onto new plastic cover, dry corpse with wash cloth provided and close the body bag properly with a piece of rope and toe tags at head and foot ends – ensure that body code and corpse name and surname correspond and is correct on both tags
13. Add the name, surname and body code of the deceased with permanent marker on the plastic cover.
14. Place it back on the trolley and push it to the fridge.
15. Place the corpse on a shelf in the fridge - use caution as to not cause damage to the corpse.
16. Ensure that body bag is properly closed with toe tag rope.
17. Close the fridge door.
18. Take the trolley back to the wash area and clean with antiseptic liquid and dry properly.
19. Clean wash area with antiseptic liquid.
20. Take the trolley back to the vehicle and put it into the back of the vehicle.
21. Remove gloves and mask and dispose in biohazard bin
22. Wash hands properly with antiseptic liquid soap.
23. Complete Fridge Register, Details of deceased, Body code and what else is documented in the register.
24. Take the vehicle back to base, complete electronic checklist, hand in a pick-up sheet and BI form at the control room/branch.
25. Ensure that vehicle is ready for next call out:
a. Vehicle clean and neat
b. Petrol filled up
c. Protective clothing
i. Gloves
ii. Masks
iii. Protective coat
d. Stretcher cover
e. Body bag (plastic cover)
__________________________
Marietha Hall
HR Department
Wisani & NLA
Download this SOP here:
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