My father died of bulbar polio in the epidemic in Boston in 1959. He was the last one to die of the dreaded disease in an iron-lung machine. I remember the large dome glass device placed over my dad’s casket. I was only 3 years old when he died. I don’t remember much about the funeral but I do remember that.
As a Critical Incident Thanatologist I know the impact a pandemic can heave on a community. It is so important to be mindful of safety practices that will not only protect you but your loved ones as well. As part of the health related profession we also need to be mindful of the elderly especially during a medical crisis such as swine flu.
With flu season just around the bend for North America, I’m wondering what sort of community outreach funeral homes are doing to help promote healthy living especially for the most risky of community members such as elderly, children and those with auto-immune disease.
I teach a number of courses on critical incident thanatology and prevention outreach is one of the two most important components in helping to reduce the risk of influenza infection. The other preventative precaution is washing your hands frequently.
I’d like to suggest to funeral homes and funeral directors that you consider having a flu shot event at your funeral home. Contact all the families you have served for the past 3 or even 5 years and invite them and the community at large to a flu shot and health fair screening where you serve some cookies and punch / coffee / tea as they wait their turn for their flu shot and hand out information cards that gives instruction on how to deal with seasonal and swine flu protection.
If you are interested I have authored a children’s activity and coloring book on influenza instruction that you could pass out to children as they wait for their flu shot. It’s very inexpensive and you can download the program and print copies from your computer.
I also have a half day family health awareness day program that helps families and the community at large prepare for medical emergencies such as an influenza pandemic. If you are interested please contact me at the TEAR Center (www.tearcenter.com) and we can discuss you offering one in your local community. You can either take the online distant learning training program and conduct the event yourself or you can arrange for the TEAR Center to offer it on your behalf at your funeral home location as well as offer a symposium on community outreach and the funeral director. I encourage everyone to ‘think outside the casket’ in serving the communities you live in.
The more places we can establish for people to get their influenza shots this fall the better. Your health department can help you with the dispensing of the flu shots. It should cost you very little (printing cost for flyers, info handout sheets for those on a very strict budget). Since the health department and health insurance companies (including Medicare in the US) cover much of the expense for the vaccination you would not be having to help offset the cost of the shots.
Since it is a community event that you do not economically profit directly from this event you could also ask to get a Pubic Service Announcement (PSA) made on the radio and TV. This provides a wellness opportunity for the public as well as great PR for your funeral home. Media coverage is expensive and this would be free for you.
Having a flu shot event can help many a family and also help you with a community outreach program. It’s unique to think that a funeral home is trying to prevent deaths and life threatening illnesses and encourage healthy living. The local media and even possibly the national media might very well be interested in covering this sort of event.
I know what its like to live my entire life not knowing my father because he received the polio vaccine incorrectly while in the Navy on ship. Please do all you can so other kids won’t have to grow up without a loved one due to not getting a vaccine that can help battle a pandemic.
Thank you!
Dr. Terrie Modesto
Chief Thanatologist
TEAR Center
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