The Cremation Association of North America estimates that 56% of Americans will choose to be cremated by the year 2025.
Cremation for pets is also becoming very popular for pet burial.
Many people are uncomfortable with cremation as they lack information on the process. What actually happens during cremation?
Preparation
The body is prepared by removing any devices that could explode during burning for example pacemakers. Jewelry like rings and ear studs are also removed. The body is placed in a container preferably made from a combustible material. The burning chamber is called a crematorium or retort. This chamber is pre-heated to a set point to make the burning process faster. The body is then transferred into the chamber quickly through the mechanized door to begin burning.
Burning
The crematorium is heated to 1400-1800 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the body dries up, the muscles contract and chars, skin and hair burns and all soft tissue vaporizes. The extreme heat calcifies the bones and break down. What remains are the hardest bones in the body like the teeth. Some crematoriums have a secondary burner to help burn the hardest bones completely. The whole cremation process will take 3-4 hours to cremate an average human body. The final ashes weigh 3-7 pounds in weight.
Some may think that cremating is a smelly affair. Modern crematoriums have exhaust systems that help destroy and vaporize the smoke that comes from the burning. The final gases that are exhausted are smell free and safe for the environment.
Remains
What remains at the end of cremation are objects that cannot be consumed by fire at that temperature. These include nails and screws that were part of the container. Foreign objects like prosthetics, implants, and dental work. These items that have not burnt are separated by a strong magnet and sifting through the ashes.
Those bones that have not completely burnt are pulverized by a machine called a cremulator until they attain fine sand like consistency which is placed in an urn.
Scattering
The urn with ashes is usually presented to a relative of the deceased. Some people keep the ashes as a reminder, like on a shelf at home. More commonly is scattering the ashes. There are many ways to scatter the ashes. Scattering ashes at sea is one of the most preferred and tranquil methods of all burials.
Cost
Cremation will cost $475 for up to six people and $550 for more
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