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Making Funerals Safer For The Living?

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Funerals might seem like a strange time to worry about the comfort of the living, except for their emotional comfort as they mourn the deceased. However, you do have to be sure that the people attending don't run into safety issues due to weather, the slope of the cemetery land, and so on. The following situations could become problematic for attendees unless you take a few simple steps to mitigate the problems.

Sun Protection

Graveside services on sunny days -- and even on cloudy days -- can lead to sunburn in the sensitive. The heat during summer can also make people feel light-headed and dehydrated. Provide a tent for people to stay under, even when it's cloudy. UV rays can still get through clouds, and while many people wear sunscreen, some don't or can't, for whatever reason. Having a sheltered area is very helpful.

Difficult Slopes

It's standard to have a few rows of chairs at the gravesite so that people can sit instead of try to stand for the whole thing. But if the cemetery is located in a hilly area, so people are standing on a slope during the graveside part of the funeral, chairs become even more important. The slope shouldn't be so bad that you have trouble standing, but the extra balancing effort that you have to make on even slight slopes can become tiresome after a while. Ensure chairs are provided under that sun shelter.

Mud and Rainy Days

If it's been raining, the ground around the grave will be muddy. Talk to the funeral home and cemetery about what they can do to provide stable walking surfaces, such as laying down plywood walkways leading from the street to the gravesite.

Gun Salutes

Most funerals, including many military ones, don't have gun salutes. However, some do, and if the funeral you're arranging will have a gun salute, warn attendees. The gunshots can be loud and create temporary, if not permanent, hearing loss. Plus, the loud noise can startle attendees and create anxiety if they aren't prepared. Gun salutes may seem obvious to you and those in front of the group, but in a large funeral audience, many might not realize a salute's about to happen.

Most cemeteries have chairs, tents, and walkways at the ready, and you can warn people about gun salutes in the funeral notice. Funerals are already stressful, and making them more physically comfortable will help attendees focus more on the celebration of the deceased's life, rather than the dreariness of the deceased's death. Contact a funeral home like Maham Funeral Home for more tips on planning the funeral.


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