Getting Prepared: A Mass Fatality Response
Date: March 14-16, 2012
Location: VCU Student Commons, Richmond, Virginia
Overview
Schedule
Target Audience
Goals and Objectives
Outcomes
Lodging Options
Map/Directions
Brochure: Click here for PDF Workshop Brochure
Registration: Click here for PDF Mail In Form
Overview
Emergency incidents that cause property destruction and a medical surge can also result in an overwhelming number of deaths. This type of incident is known as a mass fatality. Effectively handling deaths is critical to a successful emergency response, and communities and responders need to know how to properly handle and respond to such situations.
This workshop will introduce participants to the many different, difficult and complex facets surrounding mass fatality events and help prepare the participants for a successful mass fatality response – one that builds public satisfaction and confidence.
Date: March 14-16, 2012
Location: VCU Student Commons
Richmond Salons
907 Floyd Ave.
Richmond, VA 23220
Cost: $475 before March 1, 2012
$495 after March 1, 2012
Registration includes workshop materials, breakfast and lunch each day, and a reception on Thursday night.
VCU Continuing Education Credits: 2.4
Schedule
Wednesday March 14, 2012
Building the Foundation:
- Lessons Learned from Virginia Tech
- Mass Fatality Background and Impact Factors
- Body Recovery
- Morgue Operations
- Family Assistance Center
- Identification of Human Remains
- Managing a Mass Fatality Response: Transforming from Daily Operations
- SWGDVI (Mass Fatality) Guidelines
- Accessing Resources
- Mass Fatality Responses: The Harsh Reality
Thursday March 15, 2012
Break Out Sessions:
- Family Assistance Center (FAC) Operations
- Forensic Examination of Human Remains
- Morgue Operations
- Storage/Release of Remains
- Making the Identification
- DNA Operations
- Personal Effects
- Data Collection and Management
- Missing Persons
- Collecting Ante-Mortem Information
- Collecting Post-Mortem Information
- Maintaining Quality
- The Identification Process
- Body Recovery
- Site Security
- Site Assessment
- Site Remediation/Decontamination
- Body Recovery
- Transfer Sites
Friday March 16, 2012
Tabletop Exercise:
Identifying the Victims of the Virginia Commonwealth University Siegel Center Explosion
The tabletop exercise will allow the participants to respond to a hypothetical mass fatality. The resulting interactive discussions led by experts with years of mass fatality response experience will provide participants with additional insight on mass fatality response operations.
Target Audience
This program is designed for all individuals who may be involved in a mass fatality response including first responders, forensic scientists, public health professionals, and emergency response staff.
Goals & Objectives
A mass fatality event will quickly overwhelm an unprepared community. This workshop will:
- Introduce the participants to mass fatality response operations including:
- The challenges of a mass fatality event
- Body recovery, mortuary operations, family assistance, identification of human remains, body release, and public information
- The importance of identifying the potential victims
- Roles and responsibilities of government (local, state and federal) and non-governmental agencies
- Provide breakout sessions on:
- Family Assistance Operations
- Forensic Identification of Human Remains
- Data Management
- Body Recovery
- Introduce participants to a mass fatality response through an interactive tabletop exercise, further facilitating participants' understanding of a mass fatality response.
Outcomes
After completing the course the participants will be able to:
- Understand how to overcome the challenges associated with a mass fatality response
- Explain the major components of a mass fatality response and understand the key roles and responsibilities
- Identify the major tasks involved in the recovery, identification, and release of victims
- Be aware of the workings of a Family Assistance Center
- Comprehend how a mass fatality response differs from daily mortuary operations
- Appreciate the variables that impact a mass fatality response operation
- Be familiar with the importance of managing data and maintaining quality during the mass fatality response
Lodging Options
Organized by proximity to VCU Monroe Park Campus. All are within 1.5 miles from the Student Commons.
Doubletree Hotel, Downtown Richmond (0.8 mile)
301 W. Franklin St.
Richmond, VA 23220
Tel: 1-804-644-9871 Fax: 1-804-344-4380
Click here for hotel website.
The Jefferson Hotel (0.9 mile)
101 W. Franklin St.
Richmond, VA 23220
Tel: 804-788-8000
Click here for hotel website.
Linden Row Inn (1.2 miles)
100 E. Franklin St.
Richmond, VA 23220
Tel: 804-783-8000
Click here for hotel website.
Holiday Inn Express, Downtown (1.2 miles)
201 E. Cary St.
Richmond, VA 23220
Tel: 804-788-1600 Fax: 804-788-1661
Click here for hotel website.
Hilton Garden Inn (1.5 miles)
501 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220
Tel: 804-344-4300 Fax: 1-804-344-4375
Click here for hotel website.
Richmond Marriott (1.5 miles)
500 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23220
Tel: 804-343-6921
Click here for hotel website.
Maps/Directions
Workshop Location:
VCU Student Commons
Richmond Salons
907 Floyd Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220
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