BMS Funeral NBE 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The term 'thanatology' is best defined as:
- The science of embalming
- The scientific study of death and its associated phenomena (Correct answer)
- Legal regulations governing body disposition
- The chemistry of decomposition
Correct answer: The scientific study of death and its associated phenomena
Thanatology is the multidisciplinary study of death, dying, grief, and bereavement, encompassing psychological, social, and medical perspectives.
Question 2: A death certificate must typically be filed with which authority before a burial permit can be issued?
- County coroner only
- State vital statistics registrar (Correct answer)
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
- National Funeral Directors Association
Correct answer: State vital statistics registrar
Death certificates must be filed with the state or local vital statistics registrar, who issues a burial or disposition permit upon acceptance.
Question 3: Which embalming complication is characterized by a graying or bleaching of tissues during injection?
- Formaldehyde poisoning
- Tissue gas
- Dehydration (Correct answer)
- Intravascular resistance
Correct answer: Dehydration
Dehydration caused by high-index embalming fluids can draw moisture from tissues, resulting in graying, shriveling, or bleaching of the skin.
Question 4: Which of the following is a legal requirement for a funeral home accepting a pre-need contract in most states?
- The full amount must be placed immediately into a trust or insurance policy (Correct answer)
- The funeral director must be board-certified in pre-need counseling
- A notarized signature from the next of kin is required
- A copy must be filed with the FTC
Correct answer: The full amount must be placed immediately into a trust or insurance policy
Most state laws require pre-need funds to be placed in a trust account or used to purchase a life insurance policy to protect consumers.
Question 5: The primary purpose of cavity embalming is to:
- Restore facial features
- Preserve and disinfect the organs of the thoracic and abdominal cavities (Correct answer)
- Remove excess blood from the vascular system
- Reduce postmortem swelling
Correct answer: Preserve and disinfect the organs of the thoracic and abdominal cavities
Cavity embalming uses a trocar to aspirate gases and liquids from the body cavities and then inject concentrated cavity fluid to preserve the visceral organs.
Question 6: Which federal agency enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard in funeral homes?
- EPA
- OSHA (Correct answer)
- CDC
- FTC
Correct answer: OSHA
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) enforces the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) to protect workers from infectious disease exposure.
Question 7: When embalming a body with jaundice, the embalmer should expect the tissues to be:
- Pale white due to anemia
- Yellow or greenish due to bilirubin deposits (Correct answer)
- Dark blue due to cyanosis
- Red due to carbon monoxide
Correct answer: Yellow or greenish due to bilirubin deposits
Jaundice causes yellowing of tissues due to elevated bilirubin levels; special embalming fluids may be needed to counteract this discoloration.
BMS Funeral NBE 4
The term 'thanatology' is best defined as: