Partly artists and partly scientists, the embalmers provide a special service at the funeral home by sanitizing, preserving and giving a good appearance to the deceased. It is a complex and delicate procedure. Read on to learn more.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Prepare the Body
Step 1. Place your body on your back
If the person is prone, gravity will bring blood to the face and front of the body. This stains the skin, swells the tissues and will make the task of making the deceased look better.
Step 2. Remove all clothes from the dead person
You need to be able to see the skin to make sure the embalming process is working properly; for this reason the body must be naked during the procedure. Also remove any catheter or venous access that may be present.
- Usually it is necessary to make an inventory of everything you find on the body, you must report any cuts, stains or bruises on the embalming report. This document must also include all the procedures and chemicals you use at work. This is an important relationship that allows you to prove your fairness in case the family wants to sue the funeral home for any reason.
- Always respect the body. Use a sheet or cloth to cover his genitals and don't leave tools scattered around him while you work. Proceed as if a family member were to enter the room at any moment.
Step 3. Disinfect the mouth, nose, eyes and other orifices
A very powerful disinfectant is used to clean these areas both inside and out.
Inspect the body to determine which embalming fluids are best suited. Many professionals, at this stage, decide to mix all the liquids they will need in order to have them close at hand. Usually 480 ml of fluid are diluted in 8 liters of water
Step 4. Shave the body
Typically at this stage the body is shaved, just like you would on yourself. Men are shaved, but also women and children to get rid of that light natural facial hair.
Step 5. Break rigor mortis by massaging your body
Massage major muscle groups to release tension and try to move hardened joints. If the muscles are contracted, the vascular pressure is greater and the embalming fluids will have a hard time reaching the various tissues.
Part 2 of 5: Arrange the Body
Step 1. Close his eyes
Be very careful with these organs; usually the eyelids tend to retract, so it is advisable to put a small piece of cotton between the eye and the eyelid to maintain the round shape. In some cases, small plastic caps designed for this purpose are used.
- The eyelids are never sutured to be kept closed, but sometimes they are glued.
- These preparatory steps are necessary before injecting the embalming fluids, as these will stiffen the body, making any subsequent changes difficult.
Step 2. Close your mouth in a natural expression
There are two methods of doing this:
- Sometimes the mouth is sutured with surgical thread and a curved needle. This is passed through the jaw, under the gums and then towards the nasal septum. Do not tie the thread too tightly so as not to alter the natural line of the jaw.
- Sometimes an injection gun is also used in conjunction with a mouthguard. Just like a mouthguard or 'bite', this tool allows you to keep the jaw closed while respecting the natural alignment between the upper and lower arch. This method is more accurate and leaves less room for human error.
Step 3. Hydrate the areas you have just treated
A small amount of moisturizer on the eyelids and lips prevents them from drying out and gives them a more natural look.
Part 3 of 5: Embalming the Arteries
Step 1. Choose the incision point
The arteries must be embalmed simultaneously by introducing the correct liquid (a mixture of formaldehyde and other chemicals, as well as water). At the same time it drains blood from a nearby vein or from the heart. Usually 8 liters of liquid are needed.
On men, an incision is made at the base of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, near the collarbone. Femoral artery is preferred for women and young people
Step 2. Make the incision
Clean the area, create venous access, and insert the drainage tube to the heart. Make a small tie around the bottom of the tube.
Repeat the same procedure for the artery, but instead of using a drainage tube, use a cannula. Insert the cannula forceps into the artery, this mechanism will lock it in place. Use a small locking forceps to clamp the top of the cannula and decrease the flow
Step 3. Turn on the embalming machine and distribute the fluid in the circulatory system
As the process starts, wash the body with a good bactericidal / germicidal soap and check the blood drainage by massaging the limbs, so that the blood comes out and the embalming fluid enters.
As the fluid enters the arteries, the pressure is distributed to the veins and the solution flows into the body. You may see the veins swelling from time to time. Regularly open the jugular drainage tube to release blood and decrease internal pressure
Step 4. Slowly decrease the pressure
When you have only about 20% of the pressure left, turn the machine off and turn the cannula to the other side of your chosen insertion site. This allows you to also embalm the portion previously blocked by the cannula itself. Remember to lower the pressure, since the fluid only has to flow a short distance inside the eye, you certainly don't want to make the deceased's "eyes pop".
If you have used a femoral access, this allows you to spray the lower leg as well. If you have chosen a carotid access, you will embalm the right side of the head
Step 5. Finished
When you are satisfied with the job or run out of embalming fluid, turn off the machine and remove the cannula. Suture the vein and artery you used. Suture the incisions and add some sealing powder to make sure there are no leaks.
Part 4 of 5: Embalming the Abdominal Cavity
Step 1. Use a trocar to aspirate the inside of the organs
Now that the arteries have been cleared, you need to take care of the organs before the bacteria produce gas and the excess fluids start flowing out of the nose or mouth.
Step 2. Vacuum the chest cavity
Insert the trocar at a point 5cm to the right and 5cm above the navel. Clean all organs such as the stomach, pancreas and small intestine.
Step 3. Go to the lower cavity
Remove the trocar, rotate it down and insert it into the lower abdominal cavity by aspirating the contents of the large intestine, bladder and, for women, the uterus. Usually the anus and vagina are filled with cotton to prevent any leakage.
Step 4. Inject abdominal embalming fluid into the torso cavity
This solution is usually composed of 30% formaldehyde and is inserted by gravity into the hollow organs. It is a substance that sterilizes and preserves them.
Be sure to supply both upper and lower abdominal organs. This step is essential to avoid "losses"
Step 5. Remove the trocar and close the hole with the trocar screw
Clean the tool and put it away.
Part 5 of 5: Arrange the Body in the Coffin
Step 1. Wash the deceased carefully
Use the same disinfectant you used earlier and clean your body thoroughly. Eliminate all traces of blood and chemicals that may have remained during embalming. Be gentle and careful.
Step 2. Make the finishing touches
You can apply make-up to improve the appearance of the deceased, cut his nails. The hair must be combed and styled.
Step 3. Dress him up
Usually it is the family that chooses the clothes they will have to wear in the coffin. Dress it carefully and appropriately.
Sometimes plastic undergarments are used to protect outer clothing from leaks
Step 4. Put the body in the coffin
Arrange it in an appropriate manner. Ask the family if there are any other arrangements or instructions regarding the presentation.
Advice
- The body must remain in a suitable position once embalmed. When the chemicals take effect, it will remain rigid in that position until decomposition resumes.
- Respect, respect, respect. These people had a life and are someone's family. You are the one who has to take care of it. Don't let your loved ones down, they pay you for this job, even a lot, but respect is worth every penny!
- If a particular limb is not receiving fluid, try injecting it. You should solve the problem. If that doesn't work, inject hypodermically.
- More environmentally friendly embalming liquids are available than formaldehyde. This is in fact very dangerous for the aquifers.
- Embalming is not permanent! Decomposition does not stop, it can only be delayed. An embalmed body will remain open for a week in optimal conditions.
- Adding dye to the embalming solution helps you understand what has been sprayed (so it will keep) and what hasn't.
Warnings
- Working with the internal organs of corpses exposes you to biologically dangerous material. Throw any disposable tools into medical containers and take the right precautions to protect yourself.
- Formaldehyde can be carcinogenic. Take the right precautions to protect yourself.
- Embalming is illegal if you don't have a license, if you don't use personal safety devices, and if you don't have the person's permission.
