scope:

GENERAL

1. Whenever practicable separate emergency burial should be given to the remains, or even part of remains, of each deceased person.

2. The form of emergency burial being prescribed in this agreement is normally the responsibility of the unit and is not that of the specialised graves registration personnel.

3. Personnel who deal physically with the remains should take safety precautions:

a. Use gloves and boots, if available b. Wash hands with soap and water after handling bodies and before eating.

c. Avoid wiping face or mouth with hands.

d. Wash and disinfect all equipment, clothes, and vehicles used for transportation of bodies.

e. Face masks are unnecessary, but should be provided if requested to avoid anxiety or when the smell / odour is very penetrating.

4. Emergency burials1 are carried out so as to:

a. Conform with accepted principles of hygiene;

b. Obtain the maximum of safety from marauding animals and looting;

c. Provide the maximum chance of subsequent recovery of remains;

d. Provide the maximum safety for the environment in case of contaminated chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear remains;

e. Minimise decomposition of remains prior to recovery.

5. It is recommended to avoid burial in rocky areas. Digging in rocky areas may require special equipment and is likely to increase digging time and physical labour.

6. If burial is not possible due to the condition of the soil (rock or stone) the remains may be stored under a pile of rocks or stones. The amount of rocks or stones should avoid animals to recover the remains. But this possibility must be considered as a last resort (transportation of remains to a place where the emergency burial can be performed has always the advantage, even if this should involve a larger effort).

7. All corpses are potentially infectious, although the widespread belief that corpses pose a serious health risk is wrong. It is unlikely that a healthy person using normal universal precautions would become infected. There is a potential for the contamination of streams, wells or other water resources, which could result in the transmission of gastroenteritis or food poisoning syndrome to survivors.