New, infection–proof shroud for handling the corona dead
KANPUR: Amid the corona spectre haunting people, the handling of infected dead bodies and their funerals are a source of major concern to the health authorities.
Healthcare workers dread shrouding the body for the last rites and even near and dear ones avoid attending the cremation, for fear of catching the virus.
However, to counter this problem, a company has introduced a new shroud—survival blanket-- meant for injured or fallen army jawans, to prevent corona-infected bodies from being a source of infection.
“Made of .14 mm aluminites film and polyester, the survival blankets weighs a mere 18 grams and gives all out protection to the handlers once the body is packed and moved to the crematorium,” said scientist Mayank Srivastava, whose company NCFD has developed the blanket with Defence Materials Stores Research Development Establishment (DMSRDE).
“This blanket has proven itself with the army. If a jawan gets injured and it is wrapped around him, it prevents infection and increases healing,” said Srivastava. “In areas where temperatures are sub-zero, it has successfully stopped a condition in which bones begin to decay,” he said.
Apart from preservation of bodies in temperatures from sub-zero to 48 degrees Celsius for prolonged period, the blanket stops the bleeding after coming in contact with a fresh wound.
The survival blanket came to be used to check Covid-9 infected corpses from passing the virus to handlers after a patient suspected to be corona positive passed away on April 4. He was in close proximity with six patients found huddled in a place of worship in Baripal village, Sajeti in Kanpur rural, Srivastava said.
The health workers were wary of carrying the body, which had been shrouded by two people who had complete protective gear with them. The
APART FROM PRESERVATION OF BODIES IN TEMPERATURES FROM SUB-ZERO TO 48 DEGREES CELSIUS FOR PROLONGED PERIOD, THE BLANKET STOPS THE BLEEDING AFTER COMING IN CONTACT WITH A FRESH WOUND.
senior authorities were perplexed with this situation and were looking a solution, a said a senior member of the chief medical officer’s core team.
At this point Srivastava was called by district magistrate Brahmdev Ram Tiwari for a suggestion and he explained the properties of this blanket, which doesn’t allow virus transmission. The body was wrapped in one such blanket and cremated several hours after death.
Priced at just Rs 250, the blanket has a tensile strength of 30 newton per square centimetre. This mades the blanket more durable and immune to tearing, Srivastava said.
At present Srivastava has a stock of 45,000 pieces with him and is ready to provide them whenever asked.
“Our Covid19 suit is a first from an MSME that has been certified foolproof against the virus; this blanket too is extremely useful,” he said.