AVIS A LA PROFESSION : ORIENTATIONS 2 SUR LE COVID-19 POUR LES PROFESSIONNELS DES POMPES FUNERAIRES
17 mars 2020
Il ne fait aucun doute que nous vivons une époque nouvelle et incertaine. C'est une bonne occasion de réfléchir à la raison pour laquelle la profession funéraire est appelée « une profession » et les personnes qui y travaillent « des professionnels ». Les professionnels du secteur funéraire ont un ensemble unique de valeurs, de comportements et de relations qui sous-tendent la confiance des familles qu'ils servent et des communautés dont ils font partie.
La plupart d'entre vous savent que je n'appartiens pas à votre profession, mais j'ai toujours admiré les professionnels du secteur funéraire en raison de ces valeurs et parce que vous êtes chargés d'une tâche profondément spéciale : celle de soulager l'anxiété, d'apporter du réconfort aux familles en deuil et, plus important encore, de préserver la dignité et la sécurité des personnes qui vous sont confiées. Vous favorisez le calme et le réconfort. Plus que jamais, il est temps de montrer que le titre de professionnel est mérité. Il est temps de vous appuyer sur votre formation et votre expérience. Vous avez tout ce qu'il faut.
Ce qui suit répond à certaines des questions que nous avons reçues récemment à l'Office du deuil de l'Ontario (OOSFC). Il est important de suivre les messages des autorités sanitaires car la situation peut changer rapidement.
This morning the Province of Ontario declared a state of emergency and announced funding for increased healthcare services. Premier Doug Ford also announced that all gatherings are now restricted to 50 people, the closing of churches and other faith settings, plus closing all recreational programs, libraries, private schools, daycares, bars and restaurants, except for takeout or delivery. These restrictions, aimed at slowing the spread of the virus, are to be in place until March 31. This could change as well, of course.
I recommend that you discuss concerns and options with the families you serve. You may find that consumers will make the choice for you and opt for lower risk alternatives, such as direct cremation and celebration, deferring the funeral, staggering or splitting the visitation, video conferencing. Remember, guests attending your funeral home should practice:
Social distancing – put a distance between others
Hand hygiene: Keep soap dispensers filled in all washrooms. Have hand sanitizer readily available at all entrance points.
Cough/sneeze etiquette: cover coughs and sneeze into your elbow. Have extra tissues readily available
Post reminders of how to prevent being infected: clean hands often, put a distance between others, stay home if sick, cover coughs and sneezes
Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently and meticulously: tabletops, mobile phones, keyboards, landlines, nametags, commonly touched surfaces such as light switches, countertops, chair arms, railings, doorknobs, and handles.
The OOSFC monitors information from various health sources. There is no known evidence of postmortem spread of the virus. There is no known risk associated with being in the same room with the body of someone who has died of COVID-19. That said, it is important to take precautions.
Perhaps the biggest risk of infection occurs in the arrangements office, due to the close proximity of people. Use a spacious area to meet with the family; have guests keep a spare chair between them; use phone, email or video as alternatives to a physical meeting, and e-signature applications, such as DocuSign, to sign paperwork.
There is no reason not to prepare a COVID-19 decedent as long as you follow your routine precautions. COVID-19 is spread by droplet and contact. It is not principally an airborne virus. Therefore, ensuring routine droplet barrier precautions, environmental hygiene, and overall sound infection prevention is the best way to prevent infection.
Remember, there are many infectious things that can stay alive on a surface and hurt you (such as hepatitis.) You should always take precautions as if every person is a carrier of something and be diligent about wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). You should be wearing N95 masks when embalming, otherwise that type of mask isn't required.
Similar to a healthcare worker, there should be no reason to self-isolate if you have followed the precautions that you've been trained to do.
Class 1 Funeral Directors have been trained to take extra measures in embalming that should be taken if the deceased needs to be stored and refrigeration isn't available.
Bodies can be interred in a cemetery or mausoleum, cremated or hydrolyzed. (Per the Funeral Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA) regulations, a crematorium can refuse to accept a body for cremation.)
Vous êtes des professionnels. Appuyez-vous sur votre formation et votre expérience. Je sais que vous avez ce qu'il faut.
