Alabama Funeral Continuing Education

The funeral profession is rapidly changing and needs to stay current with its marketing strategy. Listen to local needs and focus on growth in your community, you know what solutions would work best in your neighborhood.

Funeral directors and embalmers often play an active role in the aftermath of mass fatality incidents (MFIs). This course will define MFIs and their classification levels, as well as the preparation, consideration, coordination, and communication required to best serve the victims and families affected. 

When a member of the Military is killed in action, the death can be a tragic and devastating loss for the family, the comrades, the friends, and the country. When a member of law enforcement, fire service, or emergency medical service is killed in the line of duty, the tragic loss is felt by the family, the professional family, and the community who was served. The funeral service for a person killed in action or in the line of duty can be more detailed and complex than other funeral arrangements. This course is designed to aid funeral directors in understanding many of the honors and traditions used in these types of service. The content of this course will include the origin and symbolism of many funeral honors observed, discuss the detailed planning required to properly arrange these types of services, and serve in preparing directors to serve the ones affected by Military and Line of Duty Deaths.   

Restorative art has been unchanged for more than 100 years, but there are now new trends in the industry. The OSHA standards along with new and changing embalming and restorative practices will be explored in this course.

There are many health hazards working with or near human remains. By using common sense, OSHA’s bloodborne pathogen standards and universal precautions these risks can be greatly reduced.

Opioids are pain relievers administered through prescriptions. When someone takes too many opioids or reaches a tolerance threshold, an overdose occurs. With the increase of opioid deaths in the United States, it is imperative that the death-care industry recognizes and respects the hidden dangers. The funeral arrangements, visitation, and funeral can be complicated because of the circumstances surrounding the death. Opioids can affect the vessels and tissues of the body and cause embalming issues for embalmers. Funeral directors and embalmers need to be aware of safety procedures before embalming and to incorporate strict personal protective equipment. There are different embalming techniques for embalming an individual who was on opioids at the time of death as well as those who have overdosed on opioids. This course will also describe strategies to help combat overdoses in the funeral home.

Funeral professionals today must not only be aware and comply with their state and local rules and regulations, but with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Funeral Rule and Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) rules. These implied rules and regulations may directly affect the religious preferences and beliefs of some less common, yet growing, customs in the United States. 

Funeral service professionals serve surviving family members who have experienced a loss with compassionate care. When the loss of a loved one is due to suicide, the grief response of survivors can be more complex and complicated than that of an accident, homicide, or natural death. Funeral directors can better serve suicide survivors by recognizing the complex emotions and feelings that may be experienced. Preparing and providing resources for survivors can be dramatically beneficial in their journey to healing and finding a new normal in their life.

Death is one of life’s certainties and yet it is also its greatest uncertainty, and children, at a young age, become cognizant of mortality. Some children face significant losses such as the death of a parent or sibling that are dramatic and life-changing.  Children experience and work through the same broad range of emotions that an adult does. Conversely, children are still developing both emotionally and cognitively and therefore are unable to express grief in the same way an adult does. For this reason, coping skills are limited and the need for education and guidance is necessary to support a child in identifying and moving through their own complex feelings. 

Review the ADA compliance responsibilities for state and local government agencies, employers and places of public accommodation and what the specific obligations are.

Death itself is complicated. However, awareness of the impact grief has on elder individuals can occur and has the potential for complicated grief. Learn how to understand and provide suggestions for help.

It is the responsibility and duty of funeral home owners, managers, and experienced professionals to properly train and equip those new to the industry in the most complete way possible. Additionally, it is the responsibility of these same professionals to properly equip and prepare those who are new to a firm. This proper training and preparation will provide immeasurable success to the new embalmer, the existing staff and management, and the families that will be served.