Issued by the Board of Directors of Life Pulse Volunteer Team
In her article “Mortuary Washrooms and Deadly Diseases,” journalist Yasmeen Khalaf reopens a crucial and long-overlooked file: the safety of those who prepare the deceased for burial. It is a profession that works quietly in the background, yet it involves direct exposure to some of the most hazardous sources of infection. Her effort to highlight this sensitive and deeply human matter fills an important gap in public discussion and draws attention to risks that extend beyond the workers themselves to their families and the wider community.
Life Pulse underscores that mortuary environments require an advanced level of awareness regarding infection control and first aid. Human remains may carry bloodborne viruses that remain active even after death. Among the most dangerous are HIV—the virus that leads to AIDS if transmitted—alongside Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, all of which can spread through microscopic cuts or invisible droplets. Mishandling a body, even briefly, can place workers at immediate risk.
The dangers, however, are not limited to viruses. Bodily fluids such as urine, abdominal fluids, and respiratory or gastrointestinal secretions may contain aggressive bacteria capable of causing severe infections. These include E. coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Salmonella—organisms that can survive on skin, clothing, and surfaces for extended periods. A single point of contact with contaminated fluids or tools can result in serious, sometimes treatment-resistant infections.
Risk increases significantly when workers handle bodies with open wounds, or when remnants of ventilator tubes, nasogastric feeding tubes, or urinary catheters remain in place, as these devices are often saturated with infectious material. Additionally, improper handling of sharps—such as needles, blades, and medical instruments—poses a high-risk scenario, where one accidental prick is enough to transmit a life-changing infection.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bahrain implemented strong infection-control protocols across healthcare facilities. Yet many of these measures were never formally integrated into the routine procedures of mortuary washrooms once the pandemic eased. Guidelines may exist, but they often fail to reach workers directly, resulting in inconsistent practices and a heavy reliance on personal judgment rather than structured, enforced policy.
The risk extends further to the disposal of medical waste generated during body preparation. According to regulations issued by the Supreme Council for the Environment, such waste is classified as hazardous due to its toxicity and its potential to harm humans, animals, and the environment. Contaminated cloths, sharps, tubing, and cleaning materials must be managed with strict adherence to environmental standards. Any deviation during collection, transport, or disposal can transmit contaminants beyond the mortuary grounds.
Drawing on its experience in community emergency response and risk management, Life Pulse emphasizes that protecting mortuary workers requires clear infection-control protocols that are properly implemented—not merely documented—as well as the continuous availability and correct use of personal protective equipment. The organization stresses the importance of proper sharps handling, environmentally compliant disposal of medical waste, and equipping all houses of worship and cemeteries with complete first aid kits and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Life Pulse announces its full readiness to provide free, professional training for all mortuary workers—men and women—including infection control, PPE use, primary and secondary first aid, AED operation, and practical simulation scenarios designed to raise readiness levels and improve overall safety.
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