Be Sure You are Correctly Cryonicly Frozen When You Die.

You have decided that when you die you want to be cryogenically frozen. Well, how do you know it's being done correctly? Here is how.

Steps

First know what the professionals do. Go to http://science.howstuffworks.com/cryonics.htm to find out. Make sure you understand the process and decide if it is practical for your needs.
- The first thing the professionals would do is to cool you down in a coffin (a place to hold you) by surrounding you with ice.
- They would set a machine that pumps your heart to keep alive as much tissue as possible.
- Your blood will be replaced with several solutions to preserve and dehydrate your body.
- They will slowly cool your body to the temperature of the liquid nitrogen.
- They will then submerge your body in liquid nitrogen. Tank full of liquid nitrogen
Speak with local funeral homes and inquire if they know of companies that can assist you.
- Even though you are not being buried or cremated you will likely still need the services of the local funeral home to transport your remains and sign required paperwork. They may work with the cryonics company to meet your requests.
Contact companies that provide Cryonic preservation of human remains.
Check with their licensing agency and verify the center is in good standing, has passed required inspections, and see if any complaints have been made.
Discuss the process and understand what will be required in your last days.
- You may need to make arrangements to have your remains transported to a facility.
- Be prepared to pay the necessary fees upfront. You may also be required to pay several years of storage fees in advance.
Speak to your physicians and make them aware of your request.
- Make sure your physician is aware of any and all releases and paperwork that may may be required. The Cryonics company will make you aware of the required paperwork once you have finalized your arrangements.
Contact the administration at your local hospital. This process isn't common and there may be procedures they will need to coordinate with the Cryonics company.
Speak with your family and make sure they understand your request.
- Be sensitive. The decision to be frozen will prevent your family from having a traditional funeral.
- If you wish, make plans for a memorial or wake or a service with only your photo displayed. This may help the grieving process and helps people to cope with your loss.
Speak with your attorney and make sure all details are covered in the language of your Last Will and Testament.
Coordinate with your attorney to appoint someone trustworthy who will make sure your wishes are met and you are frozen as planned. This may be a power of attorney or other legal representative.
Anticipate problems. Understand your family may protest this unconventional and expensive process. Have a plan to deal with family bickering after you've passed. Speak to your attorney about ways to prevent family members from altering your plans.
Discuss a timeline with the company that will be dealing with your remains.
- Ask yourself how long you'd like to be frozen.
- Consider keeping your remains frozen for a specific period of time and then donating the remains to research.
- Consider that long term storage is very expensive and more damaging to the tissues. It can also be a financial hardship on the family. The family will be responsible for any fees once the original term of your storage has been fulfilled.
- Appreciate the company could close, natural or man made disasters could take place or their could be a malfunction. Let them know of secondary plans should the freezing process be interrupted. Have these plans outlined in your agreement and make sure your family is aware.
Hire an inspector or a trusted family member to check that things are alright. Make this an annual inspection that is required by your will. If there seem to be problems with the company storing your remains your attorney or family can begin the process of having you moved to a different facility.

Tips

The experts make a big to-do about replacing blood with various solutions, such as mixtures to dehydrate. It is not really needed unless you are capable of paying for it.
Make sure you know they have a way of re-cooling the liquid nitrogen.
The episode of the popular History channel series "Deep Freeze" has information about Cryonics in it.

Warnings

It can be a bit costly to be frozen.
Keep in mind that nobody has ever been successfully revived.
Do not put any part of your body in liquid nitrogen or it will freeze the cells and you may even lose a limb(however, it will not matter in this case unless you were alive)