Cremation is an incredibly common means of disposition after death. The trend across North America is definitely favoring fire to earth. The process remains a mystery to most people. You may think you just set fire to the body. The process is a little more detailed than that. While you may not know the exact details of how a traditional burial works, it is easy to visualize what happens. Cremation has been around for 2,000 years.
Cremation reduces the body to its basic elements through a process that exposes it to open flames, intense heat and evaporation. Today’s modern crematories use industrial furnaces designed just for cremation. Many facilities allow the family of the deceased to witness the cremation with limited space for family to attend. Below are some of the more common questions answered about cremation:
1.
How is the body identified
before cremation and what safeguards are in place to make sure it is your loved
one? To make sure your loved one’s
remains are properly handled, reputable crematories have strict procedures. The
first step is to make sure that they have permission to take care of the
cremation. Identification regulations vary by state. In most cases, you complete
paperwork that provides the crematory with your authorization.
The form will also ask for information such as who will
pick up the remains and what type of container to use. The facility
you use defines the specific identification procedures based on industry
recommendations. A typical identification procedure will include having a
family member confirm the identity. Next, some sort of metal ID tag is placed
on the body. This will remain throughout the process. Following
the cremation, the identification tag is put with the remains.
2.
How is the body prepared for
cremation? The body is prepared and placed into
a proper container. Normally the body is bathed, cleaned, and dressed
before identification. Unless you have a public viewing or
you request it, the body is not embalmed. Next, jewelry or other
items that you would like to keep are removed. Medical devices and
prosthetics that are mechanical or contain batteries are also removed. This
is to prevent reaction during the cremation process. Items such as pins,
screws, and joints remain in place. Recycling policies for medical devices
vary by facility but in no case are the devices reused as is. They are
disassembled, melted down, or disposed of in some other responsible method.
3.
What kind of container is used for cremation? There are special caskets made for cremation or
you can use a simple cardboard box. The key rule is that the container must be
sturdy enough to hold the body and it must be combustible.
4.
What is a cremation chamber? A cremation chamber, referred to as a retort,
is an industrial furnace that is large enough to hold one body. Fire resistant
bricks line the chamber and can withstand temperatures up to 2000
degrees. Modern cremation furnaces follow according to strict environmental
and air quality standards. Natural gas, propane, or diesel fuel can be used in
the furnaces. They are also automated and computerized. The process takes
about 2-3 hours to complete.
5.
What is done with the metal that
remains after cremation? After incineration, the remains
are cooled. The operator inspects the remains for remnants of metal
left behind and removes them by hand or with strong magnets. The metal is often
sent to a recycler. Cremation produces 3 to 9 pounds of remains, depending on
the size of the body and the process used by the crematory.
6.
What is done with the remains that
are left directly after cremation? We
refer to cremated remains as ashes but what is left behind is actually
bits of bone. After cremation, a special processor grinds the
fragments into what we call “cremains.” This is what we mean when we refer
to ashes.
7.
What kind of container is used for
the cremated remains? After grinding, the ashes are placed
in a plastic bag. The bag is placed in the urn that the family provides or in a
temporary container. The urn or temporary container with the ashes is returned
to the family.
“My husband wanted to be
cremated. I told him I'd scatter his ashes at Neiman Marcus that way I'd visit
him every day.” (Joan Rivers)[i]
[i] Sources used:
·
“9 Things about Cremation” by | Elemental
Undertakings
·
“The Cremation Process” by funeralwise
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