A MORTUARY worker has revealed what happens in the morgue, and what her day usually entails.
Alexandria Bowser knew she wanted to take on the role of mortuary technologist when she was 11, and loves her job.
A mortuary worker has revealed her day-to-day activities while working in the morgueCredit: Getty
She spends her days working with dead bodies, to help work out the cause of death.
Her interest was sparked after watching a televised post mortem examination with her mum, and has revealed the team often uses basic kitchen equipment, including ladles, jugs and knives every day.
She told the Mirror: “I was completely fascinated with the anatomical processes and afterwards I knew there and then that’s what I wanted to do when I grew up. My mum couldn’t believe it.
“We use ladles, jugs, sponges, knives and scissors to name a few, however, we do have some specialist equipment such as rib shears, oscillating saws and suturing needles and threads.
“The equipment used hasn’t actually changed much in many years.”
Alexandria’s role involves working with the pathologist to do an external examination of the patient, documenting injuries and scarring.
They then remove all the organs to look for anything abnormal that might give more clues, before they are carefully reconstructed and a cause of death decided on.
The day usually involves processing patients who may have been brought in overnight, checking the ID, property and conditions.
She often has to do six post mortem examinations a day, plus paperwork and cleaning.
‘COMPLETELY FASCINATED’
She said: “I’m always 100 per cent focused on my patients when I’m working, however, I’m not going to deny that we love to laugh and keep each other in good spirits.
“After all, when you deal with death everyday it can soon bring you down if you don’t switch off from it every now and then.
“There are a few cases with certain patients and their families that will stick with me forever.
“Sometimes it’s a specific traumatic death where it leaves you with a sinking pit in your stomach, or a family who you deeply connect with when you’re trying to support and comfort them.
“I tend to find extreme suicides are the worst, because you can never imagine what that person must’ve gone through in the events leading to the end of their life. The desperation is saddening.”
She revealed you don’t need a degree to work in a mortuary, but this means it’s very competitive.
Alexandria volunteered and worked in a funeral directors for months before landing a trainee position.
She explained that while the job is a serious one and involves working with hundreds of corpses, the atmosphere is often very positive.
The mortuary worker said she feels privileged to take on a skilled and sensitive job, finding important answers out at the end of someone’s life.
Yesterday we explained what happens to the human body when we die.
It’s a topic many avoid talking about, but it is surprisingly fascinating to understand the process of death.
Discussing dying is a taboo subject, but knowing what the biological elements are and why they happen can make it less scary.
She revealed the equipment used is often just basic kitchen toolsCredit: Getty
