Dressing, Casketing, Placing the Deceased in State and Shipping Procedures Flashcards
- Be sure the deceased is clean.
- Use Rubber or Plastics
- The Deceased should be dressed just prior to casketing.
- Cosmetic application
- How to dress
Dressing
Be sure all incisions are sealed and properly closed. Be sure head is secure on head block.
Be Certain that the Deceased is Clean
Always use protective rubber or plastic goods, unionall, stockings, coveralls, sleeves, etc- always check for leakage.
Use Rubber or Plastics
The deceased should be dressed at this time.
Just Prior to Casketing
Cosmetic application is optional before or after dressing but must professionals feel cosmetic application should be done only in the reposing room. Flourescent lightng can influence the appearance of the cosmetics- the deceased will look different in the reposing room.
Cosmetics
Those specifically designed for funeralization.
Burial Garments
- Clean and pressed
- Avoid cutting or tearing unless absolutely necessary.
- Put on all clothing given to you by the family.
- Show as little flesh as possible.
- A baby should be covered except for hands and face.
- Try to never show bare arms- needle marks, IV, bruising.
- Do not put jewelry on the deceased until the remains are in the casket.
How to Dress- Burial Garments
When jewelry is to be interred with the deceased, be sure that you have _________ witness the closing of the casket.
A Member of the Family
One of the most important of all operations associated with the preparation of a remains for disposition; placing the deceased in the casket.
Casketing
- Be sure the casket is properly positioned on the casket carriage.
- Bring the casket as close to the table as possible.
- Be sure the casket is completely wiped off.
- Open the casket, place pillow in position, remove the throw or blanket. Place valance in proper position.
- Push the interior to the sides of the casket.
- Two persons should move the remains
- Placement of the subject’s head
- Depress the right shoulder
- Push the deceased down wherever necessary
- Adjust to a neat, natural appearance
- Sunken abdomen
- Casket size
How to Casket
The casket carriage should be more toward the head and more toward the back of the casket to offset the weight of the remains and counterbalance the weight of the lid.
Be Sure the Casket is Properly Placed on the Casket Carriage
Place the casket at a right angle to the table.
Bring the Casket as Close to the Table as Possible
Never push it towards the middle. Remove or add padding wherever possible.
Push the Interior to the Sides of the Casket
One person slips their left arm beneath the neck of the subject supporting the subject’s head and their right arm beneath the subject’s back. The second person slips their left arm beneath the subject’s back and their right arm beneath the subject’s legs. Taller persons should take the head and the shorter person the feet.
Two Persons Should Move the Remains
As near the head end of the casket as possible except in the case of a very short person. An effort should be made to equalize distances.
Placement of Subject’s Head
The same distance should exist between the head end of the casket and the deceased’s hair as exists between the throw and the deceased’s hands.
Placement- Perfection Half-Couch Casket
The remains should be centered, utilizing the lid as a guide; the exception would be short people.
Placement- Perfection Full Couch Casket
This turns the remains a bit to the right and softens the appearance of lying flat on their back. No more than 15 Degrees to the right.
Depress the Right Shoulder Slightly
The head should always be on a level higher than the hands. This often requires the removal of padding from the mattress, especially beneath the buttocks, and occasionally from the sides.
Push the Deceased into Position Wherever Necessary
- Hands
- Shirt collar
- Suit coat
- Dress
- Sleeves
- Waist sash, etc.
Adjust to a Neat, Natural Appearance
If this is sunken, pad beneath the clothing with batting cotton, a thorough aspiration almost always requires some padding.
Abdomen
Never try to place large remains in a small casket. Crowding the deceased is obvious even to a casual observer. Improper placement of a perfectly embalmed body can almost completely negate all preliminary efforts.
Size of Casket
The utilization of a facility other than the funeral home for the wake and service, usually a public building, church, etc. Not, however, a private residence.
Placing the Deceased in State
- Dignity and dress of the staff
- Spotless rolling stock and equipment
- Be sure you are able to get the casket in the building.
- Inspection of the in state area
- Determination of the appropriate background for casketed remains. The setting should be discussed with the officiant.
- Equipment necessary for placing the casketed remains in state.
- Placement of the casket in building.
- Adjust lighting
- Placement of paraphernalia
- At least 2 employees in attendance
- It is best to visit the church a day before if you are unfamiliar.
Considerations the Funeral Home Should be Aware of When Placing a Deceased Person in State
Especially old churches. Handicap ramps are not necessarily made to get caskets into a building.
Be Sure you are Able to get the Casket in the Building
- Safety
- Cleanliness
- Temperature
- Ample seating
- Overall comfort
- Placement of register book
- Lighting
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Steps and other obstacles
- Doorway widths
Inspection of the State Area
- Prie Dieu (kneelers)
- Candles
- Church truck/casket carriage
- Flower stands
- Register book and stand(s)
- Charis, lights, extension cords
- Memorial cards/folders
Equipment Necessary for Placing the Casketed Remains in State
Place the casket at a right angle to the altar or stage in a center aisle or parallel to the altar or stage.
Placement of Casket in Building
Done with the casket open. All cosmetic work should be done under these lights.
Adjust Lighting
Placement of religious, fraternal, and military paraphernalia; discuss with the officiant.
Placement of Paraphernalia
Should also be discussed wtih the officiant.
Arrangement of Floral Pieces
- Ushers
- Rack flowers
- Open doors, etc.
- Parking lot- all cars backed in
At least 2 Employees in Attendance
The people who are allowed to deliver or recieve human remains from an airport.
A Licensed Funeral Director or Licensed Trainee
The funeral professional is required to produce two forms of identification. Both ID’s must be current and can not be expired.
A Picture ID and Their State License or Registration Card
All airlines require this. If the person’s religious convictions do not permit this, most airlines will permit a body that is packed with dry ice or with ice packs.
- Must be shortly after death (dry ice or ice packs)
- Does not show immediate signs of putrefaction or body fluid leaking.
Embalming
Place the body in a Zigler case and then pack the dry ice or ice packs around the body. This will protect the remains while insuring that fluid leaking will not occur.
Standard Practice for Unembalmed Bodies
A zinc liner in a constructed container that has a one piece zinc top that is usually screwed to the bottom portion of the case.
- Commonly used in international shipping
- Used in cases when the body is so badly decomposed that it needs to be contained in order to prevent the emission of foul odors.
Ziegler Case
Can be liable and held responsible for clean up costs for a body that leaks outside the shipping container and creates a biohazard incident.
- Airlines could potentially restrict a funeral home’s ability to domestically ship a body if a body causes a biohazard incident.
Both the Sending Funeral Home and Receiving Funeral Home
- Turn the pillow wrong side up and cover with plastic.
- Lower the deceased in the casket particularly when shipping by air.
- Paper or cotton placed over upper chest under the elbows and on the sides of the deceased to prevent lateral movement. Block the feet.
- Always pack the trachea on non-autopsied bodies.
- Position the arms and hands
- Cover the entire remains with plastic
- items placed at foot end of casket
- Do not close gasketed caskets completely
- Head card
Shipping Procedures for Casketed Remains
To prevent post-embalming purge. Also take the extra precaution of placing a square of cotton over the upper chest under the chin to protect clothing.
Always Pack the Trachea on Non-Autopsied Bodies
If necesary, wrap the hands with cotton towel. Do not use any device that will leave marks on the hands, such as rubber bands, glue, cords, etc.
Position Arms and Hands
Common materials: cleaning bag, plastic sheet, casket cover.
Cover the Entire Remains With Plastic
- Register book
- Memorial cards
- Flower cards/floral record
- Casket ornament- cross, etc.
- Mass cards
- Embalming report and not regarding cosmetics
- VA forms, flag
Items that Should be Placed in the Food End of the Casket When Shipping Remains
When shipping remains by air, do not do this. Follow air shipping directions from the casket manufacturer.
Do not Close Gasketed Caskets Completely
A waterproof envelope that contains the following information:
- Name of the deceased
- Destination of the deceased
- Name, address, phone number of sending funeral home
- Name, address, phone number of receiving funeral home
- Burial transit permit
- Routing information
Head Card (Air Bill)
- Use plastic to protect the casket
- Tie at least 2 webbing strips around the casket
- Carefully lower the casket into the shipping box (air tray) using webbing. Pad the sides and ends of the box to protect the casket.
- Be sure to screw down the lid and label the box head and foot.
- Attach the head card envelope with 4 tacks to the head end of the lid.
Shipping by Railroad (Very Rare)
One who publicly undertakes to transport from one place to another for a stated compensation the property of any person who may request his services up to the capacity of his facilities. Regulated by the Interstate Commerce Commission- the body must be embalmed.
Common Carrier
- Rough box or air tray
- Ziegler box- inside a casket
- Some railroads permit ziegler case only
- Air tray dominates shipment by rail
Railroad-Mark Box Head and Foot- 3 Options
- Most common method
- Excorted baggage
- Unescorted baggage
- Railway express
4 Ways to Ship by Rail
X amount of dollars per hundred pounds of combined total weight plus x dollars for standard service charge plus x dollars for each transfer to another train.
Most Common Method- Rail
First class ticket for escort and first class ticket for remains.
Escorted Baggage- Rail
Double first class ticket.
Unescorted Baggage- Rail
Short hauls- double first class fare.
Railway Express
Airlines charge weight per pound per mile. Cargo flights generally cheaper than passenger transport.
Shipping by Air
- Air trays- casketed remains
- Combination case- uncasketed remains
Shipping Containers for Air
- Contact nearest consulate and they will supply the necessary forms. Rules and regulations vary from country to country.
- The surest way is to engage a remains shipping company that deals with out of country shipping of remains.
Sending Casketed Remains to Foreign Countries (Yellow Book)
The rolling stock of the funeral home- charges based on one way or round trip mileage- embalming not required.
Private Carrier
- Always have burial transit permit accompany the deceased.
- Death certificates filing location
- Burial transit permit filing location
- You must have specific authorization to cremate.
General Information when Shipping Human Remains
Filed in the locality of death.
Death Certificate
Filed in the locality of disposition.
Burial Transit Permits and Cremation Permits (if on Separate Form)
