Can you feel getting cremated?

Cremation is a method of final disposition of a deceased person’s body through burning. Cremation breaks down the body into its basic elements and bones which are then pulverized into ash. The ash can then be scattered or stored in an urn.

Cremation is carried out in a crematorium furnace at high temperatures up to 1400-1800°F. The intense heat helps reduce the body to its basic elements and dried bone fragments within 2-3 hours. This understandably leads to the question – can you feel pain when you are cremated?

Can You Feel Pain During Cremation?

Fortunately, there is no evidence that indicates a person can feel pain during the cremation process itself. Here’s why:

The person is already dead by the time cremation takes place. Cremation is done after the funeral service is completed.
When a person dies, all brain and nervous system functions cease. The ability to feel, react, or sense pain is no longer present.

The intense heat leads to the complete destruction of all internal organs and nerves that could send pain signals to the brain.
What remains after cremation are simply brittle, calcified bone fragments that cannot transmit pain.

Therefore, being cremated does not cause any discomfort, pain, or suffering to the deceased person. They are unable to feel anything at that point.

What Does Take Place During Cremation?

While the person does not feel pain, here is a brief overview of the physical processes taking place within the cremation chamber itself:

The intense heat initially singes the hair and remaining skin of the deceased.
The water in the body then heats up and evaporates away into steam or vapor.

The proteins in the body start breaking down and the fat content melts.
With further heat, the muscles, soft tissues, organs and other parts disintegrate.
The only remains are brittle pieces of bone that are left behind and raked into the ashes.

The entire cremation takes about 2-3 hours with modern equipment. The high temperature enables the complete cremation process.

What Temperature is Used For Cremation?

Cremation requires sustained high temperatures of 1400-1800°F to complete the process of reducing the body to ashes and bone fragments.

Here are some key facts about the cremation temperatures used:

Most modern crematories can reach over 2000°F if required.
The legal minimum is 1400°F for at least 45-60 minutes.
Temperatures between 1400°F to 1800°F are typically used.

Higher temperatures result in faster cremation.
The temperature is carefully controlled throughout multiple burn cycles.

Maintaining this extreme temperature is important to facilitate the rapid breakdown and decomposition of all organic matter.

Primary Cremation Chamber Temperature

The main cremation chamber is used for the primary cremation process. It is maintained at a high temperature of 1600-1800°F.

The body is inserted into the primary chamber where it is quickly heated. Most of the cremation occurs here over a period of 1-2 hours.

Secondary Cremation Chamber Temperature

The secondary cremation chamber operates at a lower temperature of around 1200-1500°F. This is lower than the primary chamber.

After initial cremation, the partially cremated remains are moved here for 1-2 hours for additional processing.

The secondary chamber ensures a complete and thorough cremation cycle at well controlled temperatures.

Stages of Cremation Based on Temperature

Cremation takes place in different stages as the temperature progressively increases inside the chamber:

Stage	Chamber Temperature	Process
1	400-1600°F	Water evaporates from the body.
2	1400-1800°F	Body fat helps accelerate the process. Soft tissues burn off.
3	1600-1800°F	Organs, muscles and hair carbonize.
4	1800°F	Bones become brittle and start disintegrating.

The temperature is gradually increased through each phase as the cremation nears completion.

Factors That Influence Cremation Duration

On average, a full adult body cremation takes around 2-3 hours to complete. However, there are several factors that can affect the total time required:

Body weight – Heavier bodies take longer to cremate.

Body fat – High fat content can speed up cremation.
Pace settings – Newer crematories allow adjusting the pace.
Temperature – Higher temps accelerate the process.

Chamber size – Larger chambers cremate faster.

Modern crematories are quite versatile and can accommodate bodies of different weights and sizes.

When are Coffins Opened During Cremation?

The coffin or casket is not opened at any point during the cremation process. The entire closed coffin is inserted into the cremation chamber.

Here is the standard procedure:

The coffin is placed in the cremation chamber.
After cremation, the remains are removed together with some coffin ash.

Metal parts are separated from the bone and ash.
The remains are then processed into finer ashes and fragments.

The high heat fully breaks down the coffin materials along with the body inside it. Therefore, there is no need to open the coffin.

What Happens to Gold Fillings During Cremation?

Gold fillings, crowns, bridges and dental fixtures will withstand the high heat of cremation.

Here’s what happens:

The gold melts and fuses with dental ceramic material.

It cools into a lump within the ashes.
The crematory will remove this metal lump after cremation.
They are required to recycle or dispose of it properly.

Gold has a very high melting point and does not burn off or evaporate. The gold is therefore recovered and not mixed with the ashes.

Cremation of Other Metals or Implants

Similar to gold, other metals like steel, titanium and silver also endure the cremation heat. Pacemakers, hip implants and surgical screws will remain behind after cremation. The crematory will remove these metals through magnetic or mechanical separation processes before giving the ashes to the family.

Can You Opt For a Low Heat Cremation?

Some religions discourage cremation, while accepting low heat cremation as an alternative option. This includes faiths like Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity.

In a low heat cremation:

The temperature is limited to between 600-800°F.
The body is dried out but not completely reduced to ashes.

The bones remain intact and are ground to a powder form.

While standard cremation uses intense heat, a low heat cremation avoids complete burning. This is preferred by certain faith traditions.

Alkaline Hydrolysis as an Alternative

Alkaline hydrolysis is a low temperature water-based dissolution process that is sometimes used instead of flame based cremation.

It uses:

Heated water solution with alkali chemicals like potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide.
Lower temperature around 300°F.

Takes 2-3 hours to dissolve the body tissues.

The remaining bone can be dried and crushed similar to cremated ashes. The process is termed aquamation or biocremation.

What Does Cremated Body Ash Consist Of?

After cremation, the cremated remains or ashes consist of:

Coarse bone fragments from the skeleton.
Fine powder of ground bones.
Ash and dust from organic matter.

Residue from the burnt coffin or container.

Any metals like dental gold or hip implants are removed after cremation. The ash does not contain any human tissue, DNA or organic matter. It mainly just the calcified bones.

Weight of Human Ashes

The typical weight of adult human ashes from a cremation is 4-8 pounds. This depends on the bone structure of the person. The amount can vary based on factors like:

Sex – Men generally have denser bones.
Age – Younger bones are heavier.
Body size – Taller frames have more bone mass.

Ashes from small pets weigh only a few ounces, while large animals can produce pounds of ash.

Is Every Part of the Body Completely Burned?

Modern high heat cremators are designed to completely burn all parts of the human body, including the bones. However, some bone fragments do remain behind.

Here are some key points:

Soft tissues, organs and skin – Completely burnt.
Hair, nails – Completely burnt.
Bones – Brittle fragments remain and require grinding.

Dental metals – Remain behind and are separated.

While most components are fully destroyed, it takes effort to pulverize the brittle bone pieces. They resist being completely reduced to ash.

Can Bones Fully Burn in a Fire?

If a body is burnt in an open-air pyre or fire, the heat may not be sufficient to burn the bones fully. Only the flesh and soft tissues may be destroyed by an open fire.

To burn bones, sustained high heat above 1600°F is required, as achieved in modern crematories. Otherwise, intact bone pieces are likely to remain behind in the fire ashes.

Cremation Process Step-by-Step

Here is an overview of the typical cremation process in sequential steps:

The body is formally identified before cremation.

Any pacemakers or implants are removed.
The body is placed in a combustible coffin or container.
The closed coffin is inserted into the cremator.

Heat is applied at 1400-1800°F.
Cremation takes 2-3 hours for full decomposition.
Burn cycles are repeated to ensure completeness.

Bone fragments are collected in a tray.
Bones are grounded down to finer particles.
Metal pieces are separated with a magnet.

The processed ashes are placed in an urn or container.

The entire process is carefully controlled, recorded and carried out in a professional and respectful manner.

Are More Cremations Being Done Today?

Cremation rates have been steadily rising over the past decades all over the world. Some key statistics for United States:

Cremation rate in 2020: 56%
Cremation rate in 2010: 40%
Cremation rate in 2000: 25%

Factors driving this shift include:

Lower costs compared to burial.
Less space requirements.

Fewer religious objections.
More environmental awareness.

The trend is expected to continue with over 75% cremations projected in America by 2040.

Global Cremation Statistics

Some highest national cremation rates worldwide are:

Country	Cremation Rate
Japan	99.97%
Hong Kong	86.4%
Switzerland	84.4%
Germany	68.4%
Canada	62.4%

Acceptance of cremation varies by region and local culture. The highest rates of cremation are found in countries like Japan and Thailand.

Future of Cremation and New Methods

Cremation technology continues to advance with more automation, improved efficiency and new options emerging.

Some developments and trends shaping the future of cremation include:

Promession – Freeze drying the body and vibrating into powder.
Resomation – Alkaline hydrolysis dissolution.

Biocapsule – Sealed capsule burial for natural decomposition.
Biocremation – Using water instead of fire for cremation.
Greener systems – More eco-friendly and energy-efficient.

Smart crematories – IoT and remote monitoring technology.
3D printed ashes – Casting ashes into memorial statues or shapes.
Space burial – Launching ashes into orbit.

Cremation is likely to remain a prominent choice as new approaches make it simpler, greener and more personalized.

Conclusion

While cremation involves exposing a deceased person’s body to intense fire and heat, there is no possibility of feeling pain or discomfort during the process due to complete loss of life and sensory function. However, there remains an ongoing need to treat the deceased with utmost dignity and respect. With modern cremation equipment and professional practices, the process can be carried out in an appropriate manner.