ABSTRACT
Mass-fatality incidents (MFI) present unique challenges to support agencies. The individuals tasked with identifying the victims of those disasters, thereby facilitating the return of remains to families, work under demands and in conditions that are often unique and always stressful. These individuals may be police, medical and paramedical personnel, legal and administrative staff, and even untrained assistants such as cleaners and manual handlers. There is intense pressure to expeditiously complete identifications of human remains, and this pressure often manifests itself in personal stresses imposed on workers in all sections of the disaster response. Disasters usually occur without warning so there is little opportunity to prepare for the personal, emotional, psychological, and even physical strains that may develop. This chapter will outline the challenges faced by mass-fatality incident responders, both practical and personal, and it will suggest approaches and solutions that can be employed to address those challenges. The strategy needs to be addressed in three phases. These include the period before the disaster occurs in respect of personnel selection, training, and preparation, as well as during the actual disaster response. The final approach should involve the post-reaction period, where institutional and individual support systems may fulfill an increasingly public and prominent role. Examples will be provided that will outline how these problems can manifest themselves but also how they may be managed.
