Disaster Body Bags for Emergency Management Planners
Body bags for municipal and provincial emergency managers, health authorities and search-and-rescue teams: pandemic, heavy-duty, bariatric, pediatric and water-recovery bags, manufactured in Ontario.
Who this page is for
Municipal and provincial emergency management offices, health authorities, public-health planners and search-and-rescue organizations that need to hold body bags in reserve for a mass-casualty event, a pandemic wave or a flood. Hospitals buying for daily use should start with the human body bag range; this page is about reserve planning.
A recommended mix
A stockpile that is all one size fails the first time it meets a real population. Build the reserve from these Medgear lines:
| Role in the reserve | Product | Listed specification |
|---|---|---|
| General adult use | Standard Body Bag with Handles | 38 x 98 in, 10 mil, 6 handles, up to 350 lb |
| Infectious disease | Pandemic Body Bag | 38 x 96 in, 10 mil heavy duty, sealed straight zip, up to 350 lb |
| Larger decedents | Bariatric Body Bag | 56 x 104 in, 10 mil reinforced, 8 handles, 500+ lb |
| Pediatric assortment | Teen, Youth, Child, Infant | 32 x 94, 32 x 70, 25 x 50 and 16 x 25 in, all 8 mil |
| Flood and water recovery | Underwater Recovery Bag | 40 x 96 in, integrated drainage, 350+ lb |
| Reusable movement between sites | Heavy Duty Transport Bag | 40 x 100 in, reusable with proper cleaning, 8 handles, 400+ lb |
How to size a stockpile
There is no national standard for how many body bags a municipality should hold. What follows is a planning aid, not a standard: take the number of fatalities your own hazard assessment plans for, multiply by the share you assume falls into each category, and round up. The percentages below are placeholders for you to replace with your local data, not recommendations.
| Category | Placeholder share | Bags for a 200-fatality scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, general | 70% | 140 |
| Bariatric | 5% | 10 |
| Pediatric (all sizes) | 10% | 20 |
| Infectious-disease reserve (pandemic bag) | 15% | 30 |
Illustration only. The scenario size and every percentage are invented to show the arithmetic. Add whatever margin your plan requires for spoilage, damage and replenishment lag.
Storage, shelf life and rotation
Medgear’s bags are LDPE, but this website does not publish a shelf life or storage-condition limits. Before you commit to a multi-year reserve, ask for written guidance on temperature, light and stacking, and write the answer into your rotation plan.
Why local manufacture matters in a surge
Medgear manufactures in Uxbridge, Ontario, so Canadian buyers have no ocean-freight leg or customs clearance to plan around, and the supplier is a phone call away. That does not mean unlimited capacity; for any large order, agree the quantity, ship date and delivery location in writing at quote stage.
Surge-order contact steps
- Decide the mix and quantity, even roughly, and note your delivery location.
- Call 1-705-242-0224 or send a quote request with the SKUs above.
- Ask for samples to test in an exercise, and for the lead time in writing.
- Confirm storage guidance and replenishment terms before you place a standing order.
Products for the reserve
MGW10MCZ3898WH
Standard Body Bag with Handles
38" x 98" • White
MGW10MST3896HD1T
Pandemic Body Bag
38" x 96" • White
MGW10CZ561042T
Bariatric Body Bag
56" x 104" • White
MGW-UDRWR40962T
Underwater Recovery Bag
40" x 96" • White
MGB-HVYD401002T
Transport Bag Heavy Duty
40" x 100" • Black
MGW8MBCZ2550
Child Body Bag
25" x 50" • White
Frequently asked questions
Which body bags should an emergency management stockpile include?
A mixed stock: adult bags with handles for general use, pandemic bags for infectious-disease scenarios, bariatric bags for larger decedents, a pediatric assortment (teen, youth, child, infant), and underwater recovery bags if flooding or water recovery is in your risk profile.
How long can LDPE body bags be stored?
Medgear has not published a shelf life or storage conditions for its bags on this website. Ask for written storage guidance when you request a quote, and follow it when you set your rotation plan.
Does local manufacturing help in a surge?
Medgear manufactures in Uxbridge, Ontario, so there is no ocean-freight leg or customs clearance for Canadian buyers. Lead time for a large order still depends on quantity, so ask for it in writing when you plan a stockpile.
Can Medgear supply a custom size for a mass-fatality plan?
Custom sizing is available on request. Samples are available too, so you can test a bag in an exercise before committing to a stock level.
Related
Ready to order or need a sample?
Send a quote request with quantities and a ship-to province, or call Medgear. Samples and custom sizing are available on request. Products are made in Uxbridge, Ontario.