Carlifornia Crematory Manager Practice Exam

Which materials are excluded from the definition of "cremation remains"?

1. Only ashes

2. Foreign materials and pacemakers

3. Bone fragments

4. All metals

The correct answer is: Foreign materials and pacemakers

The correct answer highlights that "cremation remains" specifically do not include foreign materials and pacemakers. This distinction is crucial within the context of cremation practices. Cremation effectively reduces human remains to ashes and some bone fragments, which are considered the final cremation remains. However, the presence of foreign materials, such as dental work, prosthetics, or pacemakers, can introduce additional complexities. For example, pacemakers contain batteries that can explode during the cremation process, posing a safety hazard. As a result, these items must be removed beforehand. In essence, the definition of cremation remains pertains specifically to the organic material that results from the cremation process, namely ashes and bone fragments. Any extraneous materials, such as metals, are excluded from this definition to ensure clarity and safety in crematory operations.