Comments on: “Bringing out the Dead”

By: Kate

Kate — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 07:19:52 +0000

Thanks for the tip on using the sheets. DUH! I should have thought of that myself. We’ve been double-bagging the messy ones with a light weight bag then a heavier bag on the outside. A sheet is cheaper and easier as well.
Do you generally take photos from all angles when picking up a body, or just a few? I’ve often found them to be very useful, though they don’t always seem so right at first.
Love your blog!

By: Brooke

Brooke — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 22:04:51 +0000

‘He’s already met the “250 Pound Rule�? which states that “Anyone who dies in an apartment building above the first floor is guaranteed to weigh at least 250 pounds.�?’

LOL! As a critical care RN this reminds me of one of our rules called the “Tooth to Tattoo Ratio”.

“If a patient has more tattoos than teeth, there’s no way to kill him.”

To clarify, (just in case), no one in the ER is actually trying to ‘kill’ the patient - it’s just seems that no matter what shape s/he comes into the ER; the survival of said person is guaranteed. ;0)

Brooke:
Your comment sounds very familiar.

We too use the word “kill.” It’s really just a conversational “shortcut.” If I ask a pathologist “Did you kill him?” it’s just a much shorter way of asking “We’re you able to find an obvious cause of death during the autopsy?”

There’s also seems to be an unwritten rule that if a person has more tattoos than teeth, they are guaranteed to become a Medical Examiner/Coroner case someday.

A Douglas

By: heidi

heidi — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 04:46:26 +0000

Wow…fascinating.
Thank you for sharing, but mostly, thank you for doing what you do.
I’d be interested in hearing why you chose this line of work and how long it took you to get used to it. After all, many end up in banks, sales, or sanitation because it’s “a job.” But a line of work like yours requires extensive training and forethought. I’d love to hear more.

By: sapere aude

sapere aude — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 02:20:55 +0000

wow. i could write a whoe story around your information. very interesting. thanks for sharing.

By: Fidget

Fidget — Mon, 14 Feb 2005 20:14:33 +0000

interesting niche in cyberspace. Surprising that no one has to help you with 350 lbs of juicy dead weight

By: A Douglas

A Douglas — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 22:12:29 +0000

Douglas:

As I reread my post, I can see where my description sounds like a scene from “Weekend at Bernie’s” with a body sliding uncontrollably down the stairs like a runaway toboggan. It’s more of a controlled slide as we ease the bag down with the help of gravity. It still requires some straining, but considerably less than carrying it the whole way down.

As such, there is minimal impact to the body. I have seen a head strike a concrete surface as a gurney fell over. There was a slight mark to the scalp but no underlying fracture present at autopsy and there was no swelling because there was no blood pumping.

About the only trauma that might occur would be an abrasion to the body from rubbing against the inside of the bag. In this case there would be very little “reaction” in the skin tissue–that is to say the abraded area of the skin would have a parchment-like appearance as opposed to the typical appearance of aggravated tissue that has started to heal itself.

As for obscuring the wounds, they should have already been documented before removing the body.

Couches are easier to move down stairs. They may be bulkier, but they are much more rigid and the weight is even distributed. Even a body in full rigor will sag in the middle making the body seem much heavier. I wouldn’t be surprised if an undertaker was the first person to coin the phrase “dead weight.”

Hope that answers your question…

By: Mike Mither

Mike Mither — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 10:33:40 +0000

Just wanted to say I’m really enjoying this blog. It’s unusual, and funny in a strictly gallows humour way! Good luck with it.

By: dotbar

dotbar — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 18:09:22 +0000

Now that is just nasty!! So glad that’s your job(hope you get paid very well)…I’ll stick with accounting thank you.

By: Douglas

Douglas — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 05:14:13 +0000

You mention using the floor to do most of your work. And specifically describe a trip down the stairs.

Is there not much concern that a bouncy trip down the stairs would produce new damage or obscure existing wounds making pronouncement that much more difficult?

By: panthergirl

panthergirl — Sat, 12 Feb 2005 01:10:25 +0000

Just wanted to take a moment to say how fascinating I find your blog. A true departure from your average “diary”.