Transporting the body of a loved one who died far away from his/her home can be one of the most harrowing and stressful experiences a family member could face. However, such circumstances do happen and it is best to know what to do to give a departed loved one a dignified and respectful journey to their final resting place. Here are tips on shipping human remains.
Human remains, whether embalmed, un-embalmed or cremated, must be handled with utmost care when being transported. In such cases, special shipping arrangements must be made to bring the remains home safely and respectfully.
Depending on place of origin and destination, there are regulations that must be met when shipping a body. Some states and countries will require embalming while it is not strictly necessary for some as long as the human remains are transported in a sealed casket.
Transporting cremated remains face fewer restrictions provided they are stored in a sealed urn and well-protected against breakage. The urn can even be taken as a carry-on luggage as long as it is approved by the Transportation Security Administration. The TSA recommends using containers made of wood, plastic or non-lead lined ceramic that can successfully pass through x-ray machines and will not require opening for inspection by security personnel.
Whether transporting in a casket or an urn, airlines will require a death certificate showing the cause of death, as well as other sanitary and hygienic requirements. Prepare pertinent documents to make the booking of flight as smooth as possible. Most airlines have staff specially trained in handling such sensitive cargo.
There are companies which specializes in body shipping services which work with licensed funeral homes to move human remains from one place to another. These companies take the burden of making the necessary arrangements away from grieving family members.