Posted on 05/30/2006 4:36:09 PM PDT by robowombat
Pacemaker Blamed As Explosion Inside Coffin Halts Cremation Posted on Saturday, May 27 @ 21:57:06 CDT
A MINOR explosion in a coffin rocked Carlisle’s crematorium after a funeral service yesterday afternoon. The cause is still being investigated – but it is believed to have been the result of a pacemaker being left inside a body.
It is understood that members of the family involved have been informed of what happened.
No-one was hurt in the incident and there was no disruption to funeral services or cremations.
The crematorium, in Dalston Road, is operated by the city council’s bereavement services department. It is the only one in north Cumbria.
A council spokesperson said: “There was a minor explosion within the crematorium’s cremator yesterday afternoon.
“The machinery continued to operate normally and there was no lasting damage.
“Staff members overseeing the machinery were unharmed and are investigating the possible cause.
“Cremations continued as planned and there were no disruptions to services.”
It is understood that prior to cremations, it is the responsibility of the family and funeral director to ensure that nothing is within a coffin which may cause an explosion.
In this instance, it is believed the go-ahead for the cremation had been given by two doctors.
Pacemakers should be removed before cremation.
This could be a very fun thread.
Pacemakers explode?
Talk about going out with a bang!
"This could be a very fun thread."
Or a heart-breaking one!
;)
I'm glad to see that the deceased was unhurt.
Oh lord, I hope the victim wasn't hurt too badly!
Sounds like insurgents again. This is a quagmire.
Batteries don't like fire.
If they did, a well-placed trocar would have found this pacemaker.
the city council’s bereavement services department.
????
Well you know it's written,
"Blessed are the pacemakers,
for they are the image of the cremator."
No but the lithium batteries do.
It came up that my father has a pacer, and he proceeded to tell me he's removed many of them before cremation....his place started doing that after one (taking his word for it) blew the door off the "oven" and trashed the surroundings.
it is the responsibility of the family and funeral director to ensure that nothing is within a coffin which may cause an explosion.
Probably some obscure federal law eh.
Since no one else has said it yet; this is a classic example of going out with a bang.
I'd hate to be the one that had to clean up that mess.
"it is the responsibility of the family and funeral director to ensure that nothing is within a coffin which may cause an explosion."
Good thing the deceased didn't take multiple hits of viagra before he passed away..
And, most importantly, do they explode only after you're dead?
The coffin took a lickin' while the pacemaker was still tickin'.
See #4. You're too late.
There was a funny song about this. An old lady, anarchist in her youth, an amateur bomber of the sort that would get life in Gitmo these days, finally dies and is cremated at Forest Lawn. They forgot that she had a pacemaker... and she went as she lived. It's called "Grandma went out with a bang."
I want my pacemaker to be like a Timex:,
"Takes a Lickin' and keeps on Tickin"
WHAT HAPPEN?
SOMEBODY SET US UP THE PACEMAKER!
Good thing it didn't explode at that crematory in Rome,
Georgia a few years back. It could'a set the woods on fire!
Are you sure it wasn't his I-pod?
Oh-boy! Bake & Shake!
At least we can be assured that the funeral home didn't remove the pacemaker, hose it off, and re-sell it to the local thoracic surgeon for re-implantation.
Fire stunes beebers
Do they embalm prior to cremating?
Bad enough that he was in a coffin (for which I'm sure somebody paid a pretty penny for), much less having to be embalmed prior to cremation.
Damn morticians rape the living to bury the dead.
Ghouls.
gotta come back to this one!
Do they put someone in a coffin if they are going to be cremated?
Depends on state law. In Texas, a deceased has to be embalmed if not interred within 24 hours of death.
Now, if cremation occurs immediately, there is no requirement for embalming anywhere in the States.
If a family wants a viewing for a couple of days, embalming is a necessity, unless they want their friends to view a swollen, smelly mess.
Only if the family is stupid enough to pay for one.
As far as I know, there is a requirement for a cardboard container, which has a nominal cost and a coffin sans metal fixtures can be purchased, for a price.
Bottom line is: morticians and funeral home owners/directors absolutely screw over the living, playing on the grief of the family, making them feel cheap and guilty if they don't spring for the most expensive services available.
I suppose that includes a coffin to be cremated in and embalming prior to cremation.
It's all about the dollar, donchya know?
And the US funeral directors/owners and morticians are the greediest.
You know, I've seen stores that sell coffins. I suppose they deliver. Otherwise that could be interesting (trying to carry one to the funeral home yourself in the back of a pickup for example)
No they don't. Morticians have to publish prices and can be hauled before the state mortuary board for impropriety if they presssure families.
If a family feels pressured, it's because they, themselves, are feeling guilty about not providing the most expensive service possible.
If you want to make sure you don't leave your family with lots of unexpected expenses, arrange and pay for your funeral in advance. They're generally cheaper, and you spend what you want.
You can buy a cloth-covered pine box for $200, specify no embalming, and no service, and get by for under $1200.
The $100 cost part doesn't include the jointer that I needed to build the box. ;>) Any excuse to buy a tool....
/johnny
My Dad had always complained about the same thing, he would say that he just wanted a simple pine box. He later decided on cremation rather than embalming and burial.
After he died, we went to the funeral home to make arrangements. When they showed us the coffin options for cremation, there was a simple plywood sheet with some sort of cardboard cover. Mom and us kids all looked at each other and said: "That's exactly what Dad would have chosen for himself!"
After his service was over, his brothers & sisters threw a big luncheon affair. That would have meant a lot more to Dad than some velvet lined maple box with brass handles.
Did the occupant of the coffin survive?
If you're alive, then it is a toss up whether the pacer or the nuker explodes first.
Either way, your hot pastry is ruined.
That wasn't in Rome. Rome is the county seat of Floyd County off of I-75 on the way to Chattanooga. Ray Brent Marsh was from way up in Walker County.
Only when heated to blast furnace temperatures.
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