Cremation is a controlled process that ensures dignity and safety. Here’s how it works
1. Preparation:
Before cremation, several factors are considered: the deceased’s gender, casket type, and weight. Gender is noted because females generally have more body fat, which affects fuel needs. The casket material is important for managing the cremators combustion. Weight is crucial for the cremator computer to determine the cremation duration, which can vary significantly.
2. Temperature Control:
Cremators typically operate at around 850 degrees Celsius. The secondary chamber handles emissions to ensure only a heat haze exits. Cremating two bodies simultaneously does NOT take place as not only unethical but also avoided due to the challenges of controlling temperature and mass. For instance, smaller cremations (under 50 kg) take about 2.15 hours, while larger cases (over 150 kg) may last 5 to 8 hours.
3. Ethical Considerations:
Some families request combining ashes post-cremation, which occurs separately on the processing station to maintain dignity.
Cameras monitor the loading process to ensure integrity, and the process is recorded.
4. Casket Contents Check:
Before cremation, the casket’s contents are inspected to remove hazardous items like batteries and non-combustible materials (e.g., glass), which could damage the cremator. Items like older reading glasses are donated for reuse by Rotary for community program in the pacific Islands.
5. Pre-Heating and Loading:
The cremator can be pre-heated remotely,
(by a smart phone) which takes 15-30 minutes. A metal roller aids in loading the casket safely, as handling the body directly poses health risks. Cardboard caskets are used if they have wooden bases, ensuring safe transport into the cremator. While families usually don’t witness the loading, some may request to be present under appropriate circumstances.
This is a quick overview to help clarify the cremation process and its considerations for dignity and safety, next week we will cover, green Crematoriums options.
