“JI see death but I don't look at it“announces modestly and with great tact, Sébastien Grisolle, in his forties, embalmer, based in Sainte-Anastasie-sur-Issole. A phrase tinged with philosophy but cryptic which deserves reflection.
His profession, once practiced by his grandfather, is fundamentally based on respect for dead bodies and that of living families. “In short, I work on the dead for the living. “
His job consists of presenting, at the request of relatives, the deceased before their last journey. He is not “magician “But use the techniques and tools.”care“.
“Mask of Death”
Each person entrusted to him is unique. Sébastien enjoys working on the basis of photos, preferably recent ones because the reaper is “annoying”.
Very quickly after death, in fact, the signs do not lie. Mask of death, stagnation of blood on certain parts of the body, almost immutable rigor mortis, the rapid intervention of conservation care services is essential. Cooling the body with a refrigerated bed or cell helps stave off putrefaction.
But the act is not always possible immediately, particularly in cases where an autopsy is ordered.
The profession is regulated. Sébastien Grisolle attended the Montpellier Faculty of Medicine. Monday is probably his biggest day.
The process is always the same: physiological fluids (blood, urine, etc.) must be replaced with a preservation fluid.
Nothing to do with mummification which involves the removal of organs.
Technology is his ally. A sort of pump captures the flow, after an incision in the right carotid artery, the easiest to access. “Knowledge of the anatomy of a human body is essentialexplains Mr. Grisolle. The organs of a remains may move slightly. Thanatopractitioners are experts in this sense. “
From now on, it is a question of restoring an acceptable form to the deceased body.
“Restore volume”
“The main concern is to restore volume to the face and hands. “
A corpse has rapidly thinning or non-existent lips, open eyes and mouth, and featureless fingers.
The expert warns: “Novices often make the same mistake. They tape the eyes to keep them closed but when they need to be removed, they tear off the skin at the same time.“
Then, chemistry comes into play.
“It looks like he’s sleeping.”
A preservative product based on formalin, glycol, PH corrector and anticoagulants is then injected.
The integrity of the deceased person is the priority for Sébastien Grisolle.
Supporting photos – and sometimes thanks to the deceased person's toiletry bag – the result is astonishing: the faces have regained color, the marks of a road accident or tracheotomy have disappeared and the prostheses have repaired missing items.
The best compliment you can give to an embalmer? Tell him: “ Thanks, it looks like he's sleeping“. “This is where I finished my work “, concludes Sébastien.
A new mortuary room
Not yet inaugurated, the new mortuary room (1) at Brignoles hospital is however operational.
Mainly composed of two rooms, it allows, on one side, to accommodate families who wish to gather before the funeral. This is the public part.
In the adjoining space, the bodies lie discreetly in cold cells. The three refrigerated elements have a maximum capacity of 12 people, lying horizontally. In front of them, boxes containing their personal effects.
“You should know that 90% of people die in hospital. 25 years ago it was the opposite “, specifies Mr. Grisolle.
1. Or morgue. It is necessarily located in a health establishment, unlike the funeral home, an external structure managed by a private company.
Landmarks
2
This is the average number of hours necessary to practice conservation care for a body.
70%
This is the percentage of people who choose cremation over burial. It has been authorized by the church since the 1960s.
70%
This is also the percentage of people who chose conservation care, rather than simple washing.
30
This is the average number of actions carried out in a month by your company.
