Super-sized
You have to admit, this is sort of a little funny.
---
Morbidly obese: bigger Britons need fatter furnaces
LONDON (AFP) - Britain's growing obesity problem is forcing crematoria to build bigger furnaces because of the broader coffins of their expanding clientele, officials said Wednesday.
Standard coffins are typically between 22-26 inches (55-65 centimetres) wide, but many undertakers now use super-size 40 inch-wide casks to accommodate bigger bodies.
"As long as the nation keeps on piling on the pounds, pressure will continue to be placed on crematoria," said Hazel Harding of the Local Government Association (LGA), which has to deal with funding for the building work.
"This is just another demonstration of how the UK's obesity problem is putting a real strain on public services."
The development follows a trend in the United States, where "supersize" coffins up to 44 inches across have been available for a number of years.
At the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, officials are well aware of changing needs.
"The Institute has received calls from funeral directors from all parts of the country whose local crematorium is unable to cremate large coffins," said spokesman Tim Morris.
"The likelihood is that a large number of facilities will be upgraded to meet these requirements, with some taking this opportunity to install a larger cremator at this time."
About 430,000 people are cremated in Britain each year.
"By upgrading their crematoria and widening furnaces, councils are changing the services people use for the better, to make sure that relatives are not put out," Harding added.
---
Train smart,
RL
---
Morbidly obese: bigger Britons need fatter furnaces
LONDON (AFP) - Britain's growing obesity problem is forcing crematoria to build bigger furnaces because of the broader coffins of their expanding clientele, officials said Wednesday.
Standard coffins are typically between 22-26 inches (55-65 centimetres) wide, but many undertakers now use super-size 40 inch-wide casks to accommodate bigger bodies.
"As long as the nation keeps on piling on the pounds, pressure will continue to be placed on crematoria," said Hazel Harding of the Local Government Association (LGA), which has to deal with funding for the building work.
"This is just another demonstration of how the UK's obesity problem is putting a real strain on public services."
The development follows a trend in the United States, where "supersize" coffins up to 44 inches across have been available for a number of years.
At the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, officials are well aware of changing needs.
"The Institute has received calls from funeral directors from all parts of the country whose local crematorium is unable to cremate large coffins," said spokesman Tim Morris.
"The likelihood is that a large number of facilities will be upgraded to meet these requirements, with some taking this opportunity to install a larger cremator at this time."
About 430,000 people are cremated in Britain each year.
"By upgrading their crematoria and widening furnaces, councils are changing the services people use for the better, to make sure that relatives are not put out," Harding added.
---
Train smart,
RL
posted by Ryan at 7:19 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home