Inside of a mortuary | The Dutch Embalmers

What actually happens to a person’s body after they die, before the funeral takes place? In this video, we get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the final care of the deceased. We explore the practical techniques, specialist tools and careful procedures used to prepare someone for viewing and their funeral. From moving and dressing the body to dealing with fluid leakage, blisters and small wounds, we take a closer look at many aspects of post-mortem care that most people never get to see. Why is absorbent underwear sometimes used after death? Why is the head positioned higher than the rest of the body? How does rigor mortis affect the way someone is moved and dressed? We also explore some of the specialist equipment used in thanatopraxy and embalming. How are fluids from the nose and mouth controlled? What are eye caps, and why are they placed underneath the eyelids? How are the hands positioned naturally when rigor mortis has set in? And perhaps one of the biggest questions: how is the mouth of a deceased person closed using sutures without the stitching being visible afterwards? We also take a brief look inside the autopsy room and examine some of the instruments and equipment that most people would normally never see. This video is intended to provide an open, respectful and educational look at the amount of care, skill and attention that goes into preparing someone after death. Topics covered in this video: 00:00 Introduction 00:50 First care after death 01:40 Moving and positioning the body 04:00 Body inspection and skin care 05:50 Dressing the deceased 08:10 Eye care 09:20 Inside the autopsy room 10:40 Embalming tools 12:20 Fluid leakage and wound care 15:40 Eye cap application 16:25 Closing the mouth 18:50 Final thoughts A special thanks to Memorta and all of our colleagues. Thank you all for watching and have a lovely day!