Being half artists and half scientists, embalmers provide a necessary service in funeral homes by disinfecting, preserving and restoring the deceased to make it look more natural. Embalming is a delicate and complex procedure. Read on to learn more about the world of embalming.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Preparing the Body
Step 1. Make sure the body is on its back
If the body is upside down, gravity will cause blood to fall to the lower parts of the body, particularly the face. This can discolor and puff up facial features, making it more difficult to create a natural looking appearance.
Step 2. Remove any clothing the person is wearing
You will need to see signs on the skin that embalming is working, so the body will remain uncovered throughout the procedure. Also remove any IV needles or catheters you have.
- As is common, you will have to record the person's personal belongings, as well as any cuts, bruises, or other discolorations they have at that time, in the embalming report. This will also be used to record the procedure and the chemicals used during the process. The report serves as insurance in case the family decides to sue the funeral home for any reason.
- Respect the body all the time. Use a sheet or towel to cover your genitals, and don't leave tools on your body while you work. Assume the family could come in at any time.
Step 3. Disinfect the mouth, eyes, nose, and other openings
To clean the features inside and out, use a strong disinfectant.
Inspect the body to see what type of fluid you will need. Some embalmers will take this opportunity to mix all the liquid they will need for the procedure to get it ready. Generally, a good dilution is 450 grams (16 ounces) of liquid with 8 liters (2 gallons) of water
Step 4. Shave the body
Normally, at this time, he shaves his face, as you would yourself. Generally, men always shave, although women and children also shave frequently to remove any loose hair or lint from the face.
Step 5. Break rigor mortis by massaging the body
Massage the major muscle groups to relieve tension and move stiff joints to loosen them. If the muscles are tight, they will increase the extravascular pressure, diverting the embalming fluid from where it needs to go.
Part 2 of 5: Restoring Factions
Step 1. Close her eyes
Be careful when restoring the eyes. Generally, the eyelids tend to sink into the socket of the eye, so a small piece of cotton is placed between the eyelid and the eye to round it out. In some cases, a plastic eye plug is used for the same purpose.
- The eyelids are never sewn, but in some cases, they can be closed by gluing them.
- The features must be restored before introducing the embalming fluid, because that fluid will "restore" the body making it quite rigid, complicating this task if it is done later.
Step 2. Close her mouth and adjust her naturally
Generally, one of two methods is used to restore the mouth.
- Sometimes the mouth is sewn up with a suture thread, passing a curved needle through the jaw, under the gums to the septum at the top. Avoid tying the thread too tight to give the jawbone a natural look.
- An injection gun with a nozzle is also commonly used. The mouthpiece functions as a mouth guard or dental prosthesis supporting the jaw according to a natural bite and jaw alignment. This method often has less chance of human error.
Step 3. Moisturize the facial features
A little cream should be used on the eyelids and lips to prevent them from drying out and to make them look more natural.
Part 3 of 5: Embalming the arteries
Step 1. Choose the incision site
Arteries are embalmed by simultaneously introducing embalming fluid (a mixture of formaldehyde, other chemicals, and water) into an artery while drawing blood from a nearby vein or from the heart. 2 gallons (7.5 L) of fluid are needed to embalm a normal body.
In men, the incision is made near the base of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and the clavicle. In women or younger people, the most common place is the femoral area
Step 2. Make the incision
Thoroughly clean the tip of the vein, create an entry point, and insert the drainage tube into where the heart is. Tie a tie around the lower side of the tube.
Do the same for the artery, but this time insert a cannula instead of a drainage tube. Place the forceps on the artery to lock the cannula in place. Use a small closed forceps to grasp the top of the artery and restrict flow
Step 3. Turn on the embalming machine and distribute the fluid
While embalming is taking place, wash the body with a good germicidal or antibacterial soap, and be sure to control drainage while massaging the limbs to push the blood out and the embalming solution in.
When the fluid enters the arteries, there is pressure in the veins, which means that the fluid is moving through the body. You will notice that the veins somehow stick out. Open the jugular drainage tube every so often to get the blood out and reduce the pressure
Step 4. Reduce pressure slowly
When you have about 20% of the solution left, turn off the machine and pass the cannula to the other side of the artery you decided to inject. By doing this, the part that was previously blocked by the cannula will be embalmed. Make sure to lower the pressure, as the fluid only has to travel a short distance, and you don't want to blow your eyes.
In the case of the femoral, this will embalm the lower leg. In the case of the right carotid artery, this will embalm the right side of the head
Step 5. Finish the embalming
Once you've embalmed until you're satisfied or the fluid has run out, turn off the machine, remove the cannula, and tie off the used veins and arteries. Suture the incisions. Use sealing powder to make sure there is no leak.
Part 4 of 5: Embalming the Cavities
Step 1. Use a trocar to aspirate the organs
Now that the arteries have been cleaned, you will need to clean the insides of the organs before bacteria and gas form and excess fluids leak out of the nose or mouth.
Step 2. Vacuum the chest cavity
Insert the trocar 5 cm (2 inches) to the right and 5 cm (2 inches) above the navel. Do a general cleaning of hollow organs, such as the stomach, pancreas, and small intestine.
Step 3. Vacuum the lower cavity
Remove the trocar, turn it over, and insert it into the lower body, aspirating the contents of the large intestine, bladder, and in the case of women, the uterus. Sometimes the rectum and vagina are filled with cotton to prevent leakage.
Step 4. Inject cavity fluid into the torso
The cavity fluid is generally 30 percent formaldehyde, and the gravity injection method is generally used to push the cavity fluid into the hollow organs, sterilizing and preserving them.
Make sure to do it to both the upper and lower organs. This step is crucial to prevent them from getting “contaminated”
Step 5. Remove the trocar and close the hole with a screw
Do a general cleaning of the trocar and save it.
Part 5 of 5: Putting the Finishing Touches to Place the Body in the Casket
Step 1. Wash the body carefully
Using the same disinfectant you used before, cleanse the body thoroughly to remove any blood or other chemicals left over from the embalming process. Be gentle and careful during this process.
Step 2. Touch up the features
Natural makeup should be applied, fingernails trimmed, and hair combed and brushed.
Step 3. Dress the body
Normally, the family of the deceased chooses the garments that he will wear in the coffin. Dress the body carefully and appropriately.
Sometimes plastic underwear is used, especially to protect bodies with holes
Step 4. Place the body in the coffin
Arrange your body so that it looks calm. Consult with the family about any instructions or recommendations regarding the presentation of the body.
Advice
- Make sure the body is in a desirable position when you finish embalming it. Once the chemicals take full effect, the body will be frozen until decomposition resumes.
- Respect, respect and respect. This person was alive, and someone probably cared quite a bit about her. You are entrusted with taking good care of someone's loved one. Do not disappoint the family members, as they pay a lot to get this work done, regardless of what you earn for it.
- Some substitutes suitable for the environment are available for embalming, such as AARD fluid. Formaldehyde can be dangerous to groundwater in some way.
- Embalming is not permanent. An embalmed body can be viewed in prime condition for approximately seven days.
- Adding dye to your embalming solution is a good way to monitor what will and will not be preserved.
- If the fluid is not reaching a particular limb, try injecting that limb. That should perfectly fix the problem. If none of this works, inject hypodermically.
Warnings
- Formaldehyde is a possible carcinogen. Take precautions to minimize your exposure to it.
- Working with the internal parts of a human body can expose you to hazardous materials. Make sure to dispose of disposable items that have come in contact with the body in a properly marked bio-waste container, and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself.
- Embalming a body is illegal if you do not have a license, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) as required by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, and an embalming permit issued by the executor.