December 2020

Page B8 DECEMBER 2020 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS Se c t i on B THE DATES HAVE CHANGED THE PURPOSE REMAINS THE SAME CFSA’s Annual Conference & Trade Show will now be held APRIL 12-13, 2021 at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis REGISTER TODAY AT CFSAA.org/AnnualConference It’s happening again. As the coronavirus gains steam and barrels into former- ly barely-impacted areas like Arizona, Texas and Florida, it threatens to leave in its wake another macabre legacy– bodies piling up like they did in New York in April. Hos- pital morgues are filling up, and refrigerated trucks are being parked in hospital lots throughout the country to handle the excess remains. Refrigerated trucks have their drawbacks: They’re ex- pensive to run. There’s a finite number of them, and their capacity is limited. Can this be avoided? A New York company may have the solution with their innovative body bags that can be hermetically sealed. “In these extraordinary times, our specialized body bags can moderate the impact of this horrendous scenario and don’t require the remains to be refrigerated. This can save hospitals many thousands of dollars and space” said Irwin Maltz, spokesperson for BodySealer of Merrick, NY. BodySealer, manufactured in the United States, is an innova- tive biocontainment system rated Bio-Safety Level 4 (BSL-4) by the CDC and made of a heavy-duty, flexible 3-ply material. It’s lined with metal foil that cannot be torn. Closed along the edges with a heat sealer, nothing can enter, leak or odors escape. “Our hermetically sealed bags are the best choice in sit- uations like the COVID-19 pandemic,” explained Maltz. “They are used typically when infectious diseases are in- volved but can be used for all types of remains. Because they’re sealed, there’s no need for refrigeration.” He noted that an airtight biohazard containment bag like BodySealer (40” wide) is far superior to conventional body bags and offers the utmost protection to frontline workers. Conventional body bags in conventional situations are usually fine. However, the most common ones are made of lightweight plastic that can tear and allow odors to es- cape. Most have zippers that can break and leak. This makes them potentially hazardous to the people carrying them and unsuited for a non-refrigerated environment. “COVID-19 is causing all of the world to think differently about how to handle this health crisis of unprecedented pro- portions,” continuedMaltz. “BodySealer is a way to simplify one aspect of it, reduce costs and ensure everyone stays safe.” They are sold on a roll or in a Pandemic Pac. Irwin Maltz co-owner of ShivaShade Funeral Supplies manufacturers of BodySealer . They also manufacture hand sanitizers and disinfectants, all made in the United States. For more information, visit Bodysealer.com, Shivashade.com or call 516-665-8323. Innovative Body Bag Eases Storage Woes for Covid-19 By Irwin Maltz BodySealer vertical rolling stand with locking casters BodySealer Bio Containment Pouch BodySealer Body Bags LoadAlone System Ideal for Women NEWARK,NY— Although according to the 2016 US Census Bureau data only 26% of funeral directors are female, the latest studies show that closer to eighty percent of mortuary students today are women. LoadAlone™ developer and owner David Murphy feels certain that as the workforce changes, these women will benefit from his automated mortuary cargo loading system. The LoadAlone™ continues to gain wide- spread use throughout the industry. Funeral directors are aware that transporting bodies can lead to personal injury, including back strain, pain in knees and shoulders, and her- nias. The industry is rife with decreased pro- ductivity and disability claims due to injury from lifting. Now, women, as well as those with previous injuries, can benefit from the freedom to perform removals without help. A demo of the LoadAlone™ solution can be seen at www.loadalone.com. The load- ing system fits most standard SUVs, vans, and hearses, is easily installed and removed whenever necessary Developed to safely load and unload weight up to 500 pounds without assis- tance, the LoadAlone™ aids in reducing over- head costs. Additional savings can be found by taking advantage of available federal tax breaks through the end of 2020. For more information, visit the company website at www.loadalone.com or call 585-330-5772. New Memorials Direct introduces New Unisex Pendant Style To inquire about this new pen- dant, contact New Memorials Di- rect at 1-877-995-8767 or visit www.NewMemorialsDirect.com. GIG HARBOR,WA— New Memorials Direct is pleased to announce a brand new unisex pendant style, the An- chor. This has been created for their extensive collection of cremation jewelry after requests for a new option for families of fishermen, boaters, Navy servicemen, or those simply of the nautical persuasion. This new necklace features a flat back for personal- ized engraving of up to 10 characters vertically down the shank of the anchor or 6 characters horizontally across the arms of the anchor. The back of the pendant also features a dis- creet chamber accessible via a rub- ber gasketed square screw that can be used for cremation ashes, sacred soil, or even sand from a favorite beach. It may be ordered in your choice of metal: sterling silver, 14K gold plated, 14K solid gold (yel- low, white, or rose), or platinum. UPD Urns hires Engler as Director of Customer Experience Jason Ryan Engler MANASSAS,VA—UPDUrns is excited to an- nounce that Jason Ryan Engler, a well-known cremation thought leader in the deathcare space, has joined their team as director of customer ex- perience. This new role will bring Jason face to face with funeral professionals nationwide as he ensures premier customer satisfaction to current and future UPD customers. He will also work to ensure that UPD carries a competitive prod- uct assortment that meets the needs of funeral professionals and their client families. A licensed funeral director in Texas and Arkansas, Jason brings almost a quarter- century of experience in funeral and crema- tion service to his role at UPD. His inter- est in the funeral profession began at age 12 and his interest in cremation urns was inspired by the mystical urn carried by pro- fessional wrestling manager Paul Bearer. He became fascinated with urns, which led him to begin learning as much as he could about cremation products. Tyler Fraser, UPD Urns CEO said, “As a funeral di- rector, Jason brings a new perspective to our growing urn company. We are thrilled to be working together.” Jason serves as the historian for the Cremation Association of North America and as the Cremation Historian for the National Museum of Funeral History where the History of Cremation exhibit, opened in 2018, is largely comprised of his personal research and cremation collection. Just prior to joining UPD Urns, Jason worked more than 12 years in various roles at SCI, from funeral director to location leadership to the SCI home office where he was the cremation products buyer. Jason is a published author and does speaking engage- ments for groups and asso- ciations across the deathcare spectrum. He is known for his great appreciation for cre- mation memorialization and boasts a vast knowledge of cremation urns both modern and historic. “I am looking forward to this endeavor with UPD,” Jason says. “With quality products, excellent custom- er service, and an urn store platform that assists funeral professionals like no other, I am excited to serve the fu- neral professionals who call on UPD to meet their cre- mation product needs.” UPD Urns offers crema- tion urns and cremation jew- elry to funeral homes and cemeteries worldwide. The company recently completed a full-size bronze battle cross for the US Navy, with anoth- er project scheduled in 2021. UPD Urns ships cremation urn products out of Dallas, Texas and Manassas, Virgin- ia, the greater Arlington and Washington, DC area.