In addition to ensuring dignity for the deceased, mortuary bags are an essential element of infection and disease control. Below are the types of cadaver bag that you should stock in your hospital, why it matters, and what your legal responsibilities are.
Hospital body bags are divided into three primary categories:
1. Adult mortuary bags
2. Child body bags
3. Bariatric cadaver bags (these are heavy duty body bags, made from robust PEVA or HDPE with reinforced zips and seams, designed to accommodate larger and heavier bodies).
These are the essential bags that are used daily within the hospital setting. As such, it is crucial that these three types of cadaver bag are well-stocked. Standard adult and child bags will fit bodies of most sizes and weights within their respective age ranges, although many adolescent bodies will require an adult rather than a child bag. In addition, hospital mortuaries should hold a range of specialist bags. For example, heavy-duty bariatric bags should be available for trauma victims, where fragment protection is imperative.
When stocking hospital body bags, or choosing body bag suppliers, the dignity of the deceased must always be paramount. A deceased body represents an individual at their most vulnerable, so the choice of cadaver bag must be thoughtful. For this reason, size is particularly important. The bag should be discrete, and loose enough to conceal the general shape and gender of the body. Additionally, body bags should be designed with a C-shape opening for easy body positioning. Further considerations such as the colour of the hospital body bag can add a sensitive touch.
In tandem with the dignity of the deceased, the health and safety of mortuary staff is crucial. The manufacturing quality of the bag is central to this. For instance, seams and eyelets should be entirely fluid retentive to reduce the risk of contamination. The size of the bag also plays an important role in the health and safety of mortuary staff, as hospital body bags that do not fit properly can lead to breakages leaks. To ensure that infection control is guaranteed, body bag suppliers should be an ISO 9001 Quality Management System registered company.
According to NHS regulations, it is essential to have an ample supply of cadaver bags. Procurement managers can use various statistical modelling systems to help to predict events such as seasonal mortality surges. However, it is never possible to predict with absolute precision the number of hospital body bags that each mortuary will require. As such, it is essential to work with body bag suppliers who offer rapid fulfilment and same-day dispatch. Ideally, partner with dead body bag manufacturers who have the experience to support you in predicting how many bags of each category you are likely to require. This is the most efficient way to avoid stockouts while reducing wastage.
When ensuring that your hospital is properly stocked with hospital body bags, the quality of your body bag suppliers is as important as the quality of the bags themselves. To learn more, talk to an expert today.
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