Grieving the loss of someone you love is an intensely distressing experience. While life insists we must keep going with the mundane, our minds and hearts are rife with memories and sorrows of those we are mourning. It is a delicate, emotional, and taxing time that can make everything from cooking a simple meal to getting out of bed feel impossible.
When faced with all the details, you may be left reeling and wondering: what happens when the cremation passes and the ashes arrive? How do you protect them? How can you maintain the integrity and dignity of cremated remains?
At Legacy, we understand the importance of handling ashes with care and respect. We also know that while harmless in appearance, they may pose a health risk if not managed correctly.
Today, we want to try to answer these questions by sharing how to protect yourself and others while honoring your loved one's memory.
The Potential Risks of Cremated Ashes
While ashes can appear harmless to the naked eye, they hide potential health risks. The tiny particles within cremated ashes can quickly become airborne and accidentally inhaled, irritating your throat and lungs.
A non-health-related risk that many may not be aware of is that it is very easy for cremation ashes to stick to our skin. Many are deeply uncomfortable with the idea of handing cremains out of the respect and love they have for the person who has passed.
Handling cremated remains at home can be a sensitive task that requires care, respect, and steps to protect the handler's safety while ensuring preservation.
Handing Cremation Remains Safety
- Find an area in which there is little to no airflow. Avoid places where the window is open, near a ceiling fan, and so on when handling a loved one's remains.
- Find a surface in the clean, dry, and flat area.
- Line or cover the surface you will be working on to collect and protect any ashes that may fall outside a container.
- Wear gloves and a protective mask whenever you handle cremated remains to avoid direct contact and inhalation of the ashes.
- Whether the cremains are in a temporary container or plastic bag, take your time and open it as carefully as possible. Handle it gently to prevent spillage, and take your time using scissors to open a bag of ashes.
- Use the right tools. If you want to transfer ashes to a new container or divvy them out, use a small scoop or spoon to transfer cremains to avoid spillage. A funnel is another excellent tool in careful ashes transference. In the case of cremation keepsake jewelry, you may wish to use a very small one to help place a loved one's ashes into tiny compartments.
Cremation Ashes Storage Tips
While the container you choose to store your loved one's cremains is entirely up to you, there are a few things you may wish to know about storing the ashes.
- Cold or damp areas can affect your loved one's ashes if not appropriately sealed in an air-tight container. Moisture in these conditions can easily creep into the container or bag, solidifying the ashes over time—making transference, splitting, or placing in another container arduous as one will need to break the ashes up.
- Consider choosing an urn or air-tight container to house cremated remains that seals tightly to prevent accidental leaks or spills.
- Label the container. If it is a temporary container or yet to be engraved, clearly label the container with the name of the loved one it holds and any other information to prevent heartbreaking mix-ups or confusion.
- Keep the ashes stored safely, away from heavily trafficked areas, pets, and young children to avoid accidents.
- For the long term, inspect the container occasionally to spot any issues such as cracks or sealant flaking.
With these simple tips and guidelines, you can handle a loved one's ashes in a respectful, dignified manner while preserving their integrity for years to come. At Legacy, we understand how difficult it can be to navigate the grief process. We hope to help you one step at a time through compassionate care and guidance.