Mortuary Cold Storage

Morgues function to provide a clean and isolated environment in which bodies can be autopsied, preserved and/or prepared for death before a funeral. Morticians and autopsy technicians use morgues to ensure that the proper cause of death has been noted and to visually prepare the body for the viewing of the family of the deceased. This preparation phase is psychologically important to the family of the deceased, who are likely to be more at ease seeing the body of the deceased as they were remembered in life.

Cold storage is known to slow down the rate of decomposition and preserves the body for identification, without cold storage decomposition advances rapidly, within 12 to 48 hours in hot climates decomposition will be too advanced to allow facial recognition.

There are two types of mortuary cold chambers:

• Positive Temperature: Bodies are kept between 2°C and 4°C. While this is usually used for keeping bodies for up to several weeks, it does not prevent decomposition, which continues at a slower rate than at room temperature.

• Negative Temperature: Bodies are kept at between -10°C and -50°C. Usually used at forensic institutes, particularly when a body has not been identified. At these temperatures the body is completely frozen and decomposition is very much reduced.

In some countries, the body of the deceased is embalmed before disposal, which makes refrigeration unnecessary.

In many countries, the family of the deceased must make the burial within three days of death, however in some other countries it is usual that burial takes place some weeks or months after the death.

Tough Times Long Distance Funeral Transport  has recently added a cold storage facility to it's services in order to better serve their clients

Choosing a Funeral Home

Depending upon the wishes of the family and their specific needs concerning the death of their loved one, there are many activities a funeral home will take care of, from the time they are first called until the chosen services are concluded. No situation is exactly the same. Many funeral homes offer various "packages" of commonly selected goods and services that make up a funeral. But when you arrange for a funeral, you have the right to buy individual goods and services. Meaning: you do not have to accept a package that may include items you do not want, you have the right to choose what you find appropriate for your loved one or even yourself. 

According to the Funeral Rule:

·       You have the right to choose the funeral goods and services you want  (with some exceptions).

·       The funeral home must state this in writing on the general price list.

·       If state or local law requires you to buy any particular item, the funeral provider must disclose it on the price list, with a reference to the specific law.

·       The funeral home may not refuse, or charge a fee, to handle a casket you bought elsewhere

A funeral home that offers cremations must make alternative containers available

the following list is a brief summary of things a family should know about the services a funeral home performs upon a person's death:

Be on call to serve families when a death occurs, 24 hours a day.

Remove and transfer the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home.

Perform professional care of the the deceased, as requested by the family, which may include washing, embalming, restorative art, dressing, casketing, hairdressing and cosmetology.

Arrange a consultation with the family to gather information necessary for completing paperwork and to arrange the details of the funeral service.

Formulate, complete and file of all necessary paperwork, including certificates of death, or other premits and authorizations.

Compose, with the provided information, an obituary - including service information, biographical information and survivor information - and send to all newspapers requested by the family.

Offer assistance to the family by contacting the family's choice of clergy, other officiants, musicians and singers if requested.

Contact and arrange necessary details with the cemetery, crematory or other place of disposition, inquiring about fees, regulations and other requirements prior to funeral services.

Help families with questions about veterans affairs, social security benefits, insurance claims and other inquiries.

Help families by arranging flowers, framed photos, photo collages and other memorial pieces in chapel during services and/or visitation.

Assist the family with other arrangements that are needed after the service, including death dates added to existing monuments or purchase of new monuments.

At Tough Times we take the time to understand your needs, our experienced staff are on hand to help with every detail. Contact us today