July 2017

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Page A24 JULY 2017 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A
ON-L INE ASSOCIATE DEGREE
IN FUNERAL SERVICE
1616 Church Street | Nashville, TN 37203
615-327-3927 |
For information concerning cost and program
call 615-327-3927, go to our website at
or email .
If you are interested in becoming a
licensed funeral professional,
John A. Gupton College can help
you get there. The Associate Degree
in Funeral Service is an accredited
program. Our online program is
flexible, career-focused and may be
completed in 12 or 16 months.
Financial Aid is available.
By Matt Black
Embalming
Tips & Tools
The Importance
of Hands (Part 7)
In our last installment, we reviewed pre-embalming
treatments of traumatized laceration wounds and su-
tures in the areas of the hands.
As we continue looking at pre-embalming techniques
for the hands, we will focus on abrasions. As mentioned
in prior installments, along with age comes thinning of
epidermal layer of the hands, however, we see abrasions
in all ages because the tissue of that area of the body is
extremely delicate and very prone to abrasion.
By definition, an abrasion is a wound caused by su-
perficial damage to skin, no deeper than the epider-
mis. There are dry abrasions and wet abrasions. A dry
abrasion is an area of dehydrated tissue that is dark and
rough and resembles a scab. A moist abrasion is an area
leakage. The area will be wet to the touch and can have
some bruising present.
When treating any type of abrasion, cleaning and dis-
infection are normal protocol. This should be followed
by spraying the hands with humectant arterial injection
accessory chemicals or massage cream. This helps pro-
tect the entire hand area and will prevent any crusting
or dehydration. Most dry abrasions can be treated with
these topical treatments followed by embalming process.
If scabs are present, it is advised not to remove them.
Most abrasions are very superficial and normally only
affect the epidermis layer of the skin. Wet abrasions of-
ten have seepage, raw skin or a small amount of bruis-
ing present. Spray the hands and the wet abrasion with
humectant arterial injection accessory chemicals or
massage cream. This helps protect the entire hand area
and will prevent dehydration of the raw skin.
Once we have topically conditioned the area, em-
balming can proceed. Normally embalming fluid will
reach these abraded areas and it will preserve the tissue.
Small amounts of arterial leakage can be present dur-
ing the embalming procedure. Since we have topically
Many times a case analysis needs to be re-assessed
to see if arterial preservation will reach these areas. A
frequent complication with burn victims is difficulty
with circulation and high preservation demands. We
have to remember we need a preserved, firm and dry
tissue for restoration and cosmetic treatment.
We are generally speaking of a 2nd degree localized
burn of the hands. A popular treatment is painting
the burned area with a formaldehyde preservative gel.
This treatment should be planned as a multi-step ap-
proach and should be done prior, during and after
embalming. This technique is an effective option and
causes very little bleaching effect.
Another pre-embalming technique is using a phe-
nol/ non-phenol cauterant pack wrap or a non-phenol
cauterant gel on the burned areas. The areas should
then be covered. This technique will have a bleaching
effect.
A popular technique used for damaged tissue in vari-
ous cases, including 2nd and 3rd degree burns on the
hands and elsewhere, is painting the burned areas of
the hands with a super gel mixture. The phrase su-
per gel has become well known in our industry and
refers to a mixture of formaldehyde preservative gel
and a phenol liquid cauterant mixed in stainless bowl.
This mixture can be used as pack or painted over the
burned area and covered. These pre-embalming treat-
ments for abrasion and burns can help with preserva-
tion and cosmetic applications.
In our next installment, we will discuss pre-embalm-
ing treatments prior to embalming.
conditioned, the entire hands are protected from the small
amount of leakage. A post embalming treatment may be
necessary if leakage or preservation problems were not ful-
filled during embalming.
Burns to the hands caused by heat, chemicals, electric-
ity or radiation are classified into 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree
burns. Embalmer discretion and case analysis is impor-
tant.
• 1st degree burns only cause redness of the epidermis.
This type of a burn is very superficial.
• 2nd degree burns have blisters and swelling (edema) to
the area. There is destruction of the tissue of the epider-
mis and dermis.
• 3rd degree burns destroy layers of skin and tissue. A
charring effect and destruction of the skin is present.
Preservation is the primary concern when faced with 2nd
and 3rd degree burns. Since we are dealing with pre-em-
balming techniques for burns of the hands only, we will
only focus on generalized location of burn not the total
system effects a burn can have on the body. Pre-embalm-
ing treatments depend on the degree of the burn. Burn
victims frequently will survive the initial burn event and
live for some time. Initial concerns are, depending on the
severity: severe infection, localized edema, trauma, char-
ring and loss of tissue.
General guidelines for pre-embalming treatments for
2nd degree burns include:
• Thorough washing, cleaning and disinfection of the lo-
calized burns on the hands. This can be performed with
a topical embalming spray and a germicidal soap.
• Spray the entire hand area with humectant arterial in-
jection accessory chemicals or massage cream. This will
help condition skin that is not damaged from topical
preservation treatment and will condition and protect
the skin. Remove these conditioners from the burnt tis-
sue only. Re-spray with topical embalming spray.
• If blisters are present, puncture pouches of liquid and
allow to drain. This can be accomplished with a trans-
dermal needle injection into the blister in a fan like
manner. This will allow drainage of liquid during arte-
rial injection.
Matt Black has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer
in the State of Pennsylvania for over 20 years. He represents The
Dodge Company in Central and Western Pennsylvania. In addi-
tion to being a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortu-
ary Science, Matt also holds degrees in Bio-Medical Engineering
Technology and Industrial Management. Matt has also attended
the Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills,
Springfield, MO, and is licensed in eye and corneal enucleation. He
has presented at Dodge Embalming Seminars as well as numer-
ous local seminars in Pennsylvania. He can be reached by email at
Mission Park to be more environmental-
ly friendly and responsible so we can con-
tinue serving the San Antonio community
for many more generations to come.”
Annually, Mission Park’s solar arrays will
produce 778,735 kilowatt-hours of electric-
ity, which will offset more than 547 metric
tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. This is
comparable to eliminating the greenhouse
gas emissions from 116 passenger vehicles
driven for one year, recycling 174 tons of
waste instead of taking that amount to the
landfill, or powering 58 homes’ worth of
electricity for one year.
Besides being environmentally friendly,
Tips says the solar panels were a smart fi-
nancial investment, and that saving mon-
ey is especially important to him as he pre-
pares to eventually hand off his business to
his children.
“We’re innovating, we’re taking the en-
vironment into account, and we’re think-
ing of the long term of the company.”
Tips himself drives an electric vehicle, as
do many of his employees.
Because funeral homes operate 24 hours
a day seven days a week, electric bills are
a large portion of their operating costs.
Mission Park’s project features SunPower
327-watt solar panels, which are the most
efficient available today, with unmatched
reliability and an expected life of more
than 40 years. Freedom Solar Power is a
SunPower Master Dealer, the only com-
pany with that distinction in Texas.
Once the first phase (the initial seven lo-
cations) of Mission Park’s solar project has
paid for itself, Tips will begin phase two
and have Freedom Solar design and install
solar arrays on another set of its locations.
“Freedom Solar took care of everything.
They answered our questions, walked us
through the process, and handled all permit-
ting paperwork associated with our installa-
tion, including the utility interconnection
agreement and rebate incentive documents.
It was a complete turnkey solution. In the
end they under-promised and over-delivered,
making us very satisfied customers,”Tips says.
Kyle Frazier, Freedom Solar’s director of
sales, says: “We have an unmatched lev-
el of experience and proficiency when it
comes to helping businesses with multi-
ple locations transition to solar power. It’s
our mission to meet the specific needs of
every customer, and we understand that
no two businesses are alike. We discuss the
business owner’s financial goals, budget,
and unique circumstances; and work with
them to create a customized plan that al-
lows their business to transition to solar at
a pace beneficial to their bottom line.”
“More and more business owners like
DickTips are looking at their energy needs
from a long-term perspective,” says Bret
Biggart, CEO of Freedom Solar. “Mission
Park is a great example of how any com-
pany can slash energy use and boost their
bottom line with solar through innovative
thinking and careful planning.”
Historic Funeral Business leaps into
21st Century with Rooftop Solar
Arrays on Seven Locations