Post-mortem reconstruction
An intensive five-day course on post-mortem reconstruction has provided a hands-on approach to facial reconstruction.
The William Purves Embalming Academy of professional embalming skills held the training seminar at the Old Medical School in the University of Edinburgh.
The skills and techniques taught during this course will provide the students with the ability to reconstruct a badly traumatised case, turning a closed coffin into an open coffin for viewing. The course tutors, Martin Jeffrey and Iain Campbell, were delighted with the students who attended the first ever session.
Martin said: “We would like to congratulate all the attendees who took part in our first post-mortem reconstruction course at Edinburgh University on 17 to 21 April 2017.
“The course was very intensive and hard work, everyone in the group bonded well and put in a fantastic effort which resulted in a very successful week with excellent results.”
The course was attended by Brian Langford, Funeral Director, Melia Powell Family Funeral Care, Keighley; Laura Sheils, Trainee Embalmer, John Kane Funeral Directors, Dumbarton; Richard Carter, Embalmer, Ian Bendall Funeral Directors, Castle Douglas; Phoebe Vincent, Embalmer, MBIE, Co-op Funeral Care, Walsall; Rachel Carline, Embalmer, MBIE, Co-op Funeral Care; and Nyree Swinscoe-Hunt, Trainee Embalmer.
Iain added: “We believe that all those who attended left having increased their personal skills as embalmers, leaving with the confidence to handle trauma cases and now better serve the companies and more importantly the families who rely on their support.
“We wish them all the very best for the future and again congratulate them on increasing their personal skill sets to include post-mortem reconstruction.”
Attendees of the course were quick to give it rave reviews.
Brian Langford wrote: “For the experienced practitioner, and anyone who wishes to develop their skills, it is one of the best job-related courses a professional embalmer will ever go on. The toolkit that is delivered after the course is a highly valued prize too… the ability to say goodbye to a loved one who otherwise would have been within a closed coffin due to the nature of their injuries is a great gift.
Laura Sheils added: “I embarked on this course with extreme trepidation, knowing I would most definitely be the least experienced of the students attending. I was almost instantly made to feel relaxed and comfortable.
“It was clear from the very outset that the tutors shared the same moral compass and respect for the specimens used during the week that we as members or students of the British Institute of Embalmers adhere to.”
The William Purves Embalming Academy was set up in 2012 and offers an introductory course in embalming as well as the advanced post-mortem reconstruction courses.
For more detail on the William Purves Embalming Academy and their courses visit their website www.embalmingacademy.com or call 0131 447 5858.
Tags: academy, Edinburgh, education, embalming, Iain Campbell, Martin Jeffrey, medical school, post mortem, reconstruction, training, William Purves