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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Identify the deceased person.
   • Confirm identity of deceased on name tag.
   • Check and confirm details are accurate against documentation.
2. Prepare mortuary areas and equipment.
   • Prepare and use personal protective equipment.
   • Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment.
3. Prepare for a pre-embalming case analysis.
   • Transfer the deceased person from mortuary refrigerator to mortuary room.
   • Confirm death using appropriate non-invasive observation techniques.
   • Advise team members of the extent of the procedure to be performed and associated precautions that may need to be taken.
   • Discuss emotional issues likely to be encountered with a particular case.
4. Analyse embalming requirements.
   • Identify physical and chemical changes of the body.
   • Inspect the body for a range of body conditions using appropriate instruments, apparatus and materials.
   • Identify and evaluate effects and treatments required for any identified body conditions.
   • Determine appropriate embalming techniques and required solution quantity, strength, pressures and rates of flow, taking into account identified body conditions and effects of different treatments.
5. Identify the deceased person.
   • Confirm identity of deceased on name tag.
   • Check and confirm details are accurate against documentation.
6. Prepare mortuary areas and equipment.
   • Prepare and use personal protective equipment.
   • Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment.
7. Prepare for a pre-embalming case analysis.
   • Transfer the deceased person from mortuary refrigerator to mortuary room.
   • Confirm death using appropriate non-invasive observation techniques.
   • Advise team members of the extent of the procedure to be performed and associated precautions that may need to be taken.
   • Discuss emotional issues likely to be encountered with a particular case.
8. Analyse embalming requirements.
   • Identify physical and chemical changes of the body.
   • Inspect the body for a range of body conditions using appropriate instruments, apparatus and materials.
   • Identify and evaluate effects and treatments required for any identified body conditions.
   • Determine appropriate embalming techniques and required solution quantity, strength, pressures and rates of flow, taking into account identified body conditions and effects of different treatments.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

identify the deceased and confirm details against documentation

analyse the embalming requirements by examination and evaluate the treatments and effects for specified body conditions and problems

calculate fluid dilutions for specific conditions using appropriate formulas

determine the appropriate embalming techniques to be used and communicate these to mortuary staff advising of potential emotional issues.

Evidence of performance of determining embalming requirements of different cases on two or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

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Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge of:

documentation for determining embalming requirements, including:

Medical Certificate or Certificate of Life Extinct

coroner’s warrant

medical report

transfer instructions

waterproof identification tag fixed securely to body

list of personal property, including clothing and shoes for dressing the deceased

receipts for jewellery and other valuables

mortuary occupancy register

embalming form

requirements for preparing the mortuary facility

mortuary equipment, instruments and materials and their associated uses

process for body examination using non-invasive observation techniques, including:

checking for no pulse

looking for fixed and dilated pupils

structures and functions of the systems of the body and the physical and chemical changes following death and their possible impact on the embalming process, including:

body moisture content

vascular problems

delayed embalming

discolouration

exposure to drug therapies

trauma

effects of embalming on various causes of death, medical treatments and procedures

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased, including social, cultural and religious considerations

federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations in relevant to work health and safety/occupational health and safety, infection control and handling human remains

workplace policies and procedures in relation to determining embalming requirements.

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