County's masterplan to deal with flu pandemic
Plans are being drafted to cope with an estimated 11,298 deaths across Lincolnshire if a flu pandemic takes hold.
Among the measures already outlined to deal with such a devastating wave of sickness are re-used grave plots, cold body stores and even ways of dissolving corpses in alkaline.
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The county has outlined how it would cope with a flu pandemic.
This "worst case scenario", outlined in a new report, examines how a high mortality rate over the course of a 15-week epidemic might affect county services.
But Lincolnshire's head of emergency planning, David Powell, says that the county's burial and cremation services can cope with all but the most catastrophic situations.
Hospitals could be allowed to use refrigerated vehicles to store bodies.
More grave diggers would be employed, including using local authority staff, and mechanical diggers used to dig plots at a faster rate, it says.
Funeral directors would train non-funeral staff to operate a service.
The length of cremation services would be shortened to allow more each day.
More than one person could be placed in a grave or untended graves re-used.
Mr Powell said: "We have got the capacity within Lincolnshire to deal with an outbreak but it would be irresponsible not to think about how we would plan for the very worst scenario.
"But the plan recognises the absolute importance of protecting the dignity of the grieving and burial process for relatives."
Click here to read the full emergency plan.
More on this story in Saturday's Lincolnshire Echo.
7 Comments
by W.Wilkins, Lincoln
Monday, April 27 2009, 3:57PM
“Well relax everyone it was more or less the same when the HN51 bird flu was on the spread, they predicted pretty much the same then. I think a fair bit of scaremongering goes on, but then if they failed to warn us of all the risks we would complain.
It just makes me wonder when they (the government) are thinking of how to dispose of bodies etc. Not what i would expect from a responsible government, say no more.
After all isn't prevention better than cure?.”
by lynn, lincoln
Monday, April 27 2009, 3:49PM
“Donna - So when people arrive in this Country, by whatever means, they are tested. If they test positive will they be put in quarantine accommodation for, say, six months. Who is going to foot the bill? Better still, why not test them BEFORE they leave their Country of origin and if positive not let them leave. Problem solved.”
by Donna, Spalding
Monday, April 27 2009, 3:38PM
“Why not put efforts into quarrantine at airports? everyone entering the Country from risk areas should be quarrantined to prevent the spread thereby saving lives. The quarrantine pets for heavens sake - do the same for people that pose risk to others”
by lynn, lincoln
Monday, April 27 2009, 3:06PM
“Maybe the Mad Max films weren't so stupid after all. Plans like this have to be in place just in case the Swine Flu hits our City, (heaven forbid). It does say in the article the County can cope with all but the most catastrophic situations. Better to be safe than sorry, at least Britain gets geared up for such eventuality. If anyone disposes of me in alkaline, beware I will get my revenge.”
by TheBee, Spalding
Monday, April 27 2009, 2:40PM
“So they're not doing anything to prevent it from comming in! typical! Just estimating that over 11000 people will die from it and how to get rid of the bodies - no dignified burial! grave sharing and acid burning - disgraceful! close the borders you idiots! buy local meat! Nice to have a government you can rely on in a crisis - NOT!”
by hmmmm, lincoln
Monday, April 27 2009, 10:37AM
“omg so insted of reasuring us and telling us whats in place to make us better if we get it all there talking about is how there going to store us!!!!”
by W.Wilkins, Lincoln
Monday, April 27 2009, 7:07AM
“My god, the above reads like something from a doomsday extract, (dissolving corpes in acid).
Im sure no matter what happens our beloved government will do what their best at,
Look after themselves first.”