Arizona Funeral Continuing Education

Learning Objectives

• Explain what an opioid is and why opioid use is turning into an epidemic.
• Identify active steps that the medical community is incorporating to combat the epidemic.
• Identify the dangers embalmers face with opioids.
• Actively adapt personal protective procedures when dealing with the opiate dependent.
• Explain the proper procedures when removing the deceased and clothing before embalming.
• Identify how opioids affect the body and how this affects the embalming process.
• Discuss how opioids affect the brain, including how naloxone combats the drug.
• Formulate a plan for naloxone administration at the funeral home.
• Adapt techniques to ensure safety for funeral home staff and visitors.

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.

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. 

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.   

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. 

For those of us living as modern funeral directors and funeral establishment owners, it is critical to our success to stay ahead of the wave of trends and recognize that much of what was once considered “trendy” has become a mainstay in the business. This course will focus on industry changes and trends as result of rising demand of technology in funeral services.

Above Ground: Anatomical Embalming Roles in Society outlines the underexposed field of anatomical embalming in the mortuary industry. The course elaborates on its history, its comparison to traditional funeral home embalming, and educational and environmental benefits of anatomical embalming.