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What Are Casket Safety Valves?

Some caskets are said to have "safety valves" on them. What are these for?

We've done some research and here's what we found:

Several years ago, a company applied for a patent on a valve that was to be installed in caskets. It resembled a type of SCUBA mask. The valve was one-way directional, and allowed gases under pressure to escape but not return.

The inventor intended the gases of a decomposing body would build up and escape through the valve.--Ed.