Embrace the twists and turns of your learning journey

Selecting the correct career path is a crucial decision with far-reaching implications. It is a choice that will shape your future, underscoring the importance of making an informed decision.

Over the next few weeks, The African Reporter will engage with business people, professionals, and other role players, focusing on a specific career field every week.

Through this, we aim to provide valuable guidance to our younger readers navigating their career choices.
This week we give a platform to the embalmer career.

Kwa-Thema resident Vusimuzi Masuku has been an embalmer for 30 years. He made his way into the career when he was still very young and still in high school.

Maskuku said the career is very demanding and further requires a lot of practice as well as dedication.

What is an embalmer?
Embalmers provide an essential service to society, preserving and preparing the bodies of the deceased for burial or cremation.

What do embalmers do?
An embalmer prepares deceased bodies for funerals and public viewings through the use of chemicals and cosmetics.

The process begins with a thorough cleansing of the deceased with an aseptic soap. The embalmer must then remove waste material and drain the body.

The blood that is drained is replaced with an embalming fluid that acts as a preservative. The embalmer will then stitch the incisions and apply make-up to make the body appear as normal as possible.

If the person died in an accident or other traumatic circumstances, the embalmer might use special techniques to rebuild certain elements to avoid upsetting loved ones, especially if the body is to be viewed.

What should I study to become an embalmer?
Research an embalming center or funeral home near you. Some courses are in-person while some involve online learning and practical classroom work.

Most embalmers simply receive on-the-job training through apprenticeships. However, in order to become a licensed professional embalmer, it’s necessary for you to earn at least an associate’s degree in mortuary science and includes relevant classes like pathology, anatomy, embalming and restorative techniques, and physiology. To enroll in a 2-year associate’s degree program in mortuary science, you must have matric.

What high school subjects do I need to become an embalmer?
• Life sciences level 5: 60 – 69%
• Physical science level 5: 60 – 69%
• Mathematics level 4: 50 – 59%

Religious studies could be useful for the role.

What are the duties and tasks of an embalmer?

Depending on the size and nature of the funeral home, the duties and responsibilities of the embalmer might vary. Generally, day-to-day tasks might include:
• Checking the identity of the deceased.
• Determining the embalming requirements for the remains.
• Speaking to the family about their wishes for the deceased.
• Washing and disinfecting the body.
• Massaging the limbs of the body to relieve stiffness in the joints and muscles
• Working with specialised tools and instruments to restore the appearance of the body
• Feature setting, eyes and mouth
• Applying reconstructive techniques to the face, hands or other parts of the deceased’s body
• Suturing – Most traumatic wounds require skin closure of some kind. Most commonly, this closure is done by suturing, as opposed to staples or surgical glues.
• Applying makeup or styling hair to prepare the body for viewing.
• Consulting photographs of the deceased to restore their appearance to when they were living.
• Dressing the deceased in clothing chosen by the family.
• Following procedures for handling chemicals and medical waste.
• Adhering to health and safety guidelines.
• Adhering to confidentiality protocols.
• Cleaning and disinfecting the work area and tools and equipment such as the embalming machine, cosmetic applicators and bed or trolley.
• Keeping records of procedures carried out.
• Placing the body of the deceased in its casket or coffin.
What skills should an embalmer possess?

In order to be a successful embalmer, you need to combine various skill sets. In order to prepare the deceased for service and burial, you’ll need a thorough awareness of human anatomy.

You’ll also need to know the processes of restorative art, as well as having skills with cremation and burial preparation.

Becoming an embalmer requires dedication and study. It also requires a healthy respect for the dead and a strong, practical personality.

Skills required to become a successful embalmer include:
• Physical strength
• Attention to detail
• Excellent knowledge of human anatomy
• Communication skills
• Emotional resilience
• Being able to work under pressure
• Patience

Where do embalmers work?
Most embalmers work in funeral homes, employed directly by a funeral director. Others are self-employed and work for several funeral directors on a freelance basis. Other work environments for embalmers include morgues, crematoriums or laboratory settings.

The vast majority of embalming work takes place in an embalming room, sometimes called the preparation room, which is a room at a funeral home where a body is prepared for viewing and burial or cremation.