Crematorium: An employee reveals the secrets of what really happens to our bodies

 

While cremation is increasingly appealing to families, it remains a little-known process, often a source of questions and misconceptions. How does a human body react to extreme heat? And how are the ashes delivered to loved ones? A crematorium employee, a privileged witness to each step, tells us frankly what happens behind the doors of the crematorium oven.

Cremation is a   funeral practice  that is gaining ground, but it still holds a certain mystique for the general public. What actually happens when a body is subjected to such high temperatures? How are the ashes produced? A crematorium employee, who witnesses each stage firsthand, sheds light on what takes place inside a crematorium oven.

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Funerals and bereavement

The key steps of cremation, from A to Z

The preparatory phase of the body

Before entering the oven, the deceased undergoes meticulous preparation, governed by strict rules:

– Formal verification of the deceased’s identity to eliminate any risk of error.
– Inspection and removal of prohibited items, particularly pacemakers, which could explode under the heat.
– Placement in a   lightweight coffin  , usually made of wood or cardboard, designed to burn quickly. 

Coffins

Funerals and bereavement

The introduction into the crematorium oven

The coffin is placed in a chamber where the temperature fluctuates between 800 and 1000 °C. As soon as the door closes, the intense heat begins to take effect.

Funerals and bereavement