Transport a human skull by FEDEX?

[JlazyMD]

I am starting med school this fall, and am gathering various tools to aid me in my studies.

These include a human skull that my father, a physician (Ret.), obtaining during the course of a clandestine operation during his medical school years. Details of said operation have been withheld from me pending the death of my grandmother, who apparently "just wouldn't understand."

Aforementioned skull (known as 'Willy') is currently residing with my cousin, 3rd year medical student in a distant location, and has been useful for locating various orifices, protrusions, etc.

I wish to advise my cousin on the proper way to transport Willy, but have never trafficked in human remains before. I look forward to your suggestions.

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[indo]

There aren't that many anatomical objects on the skull... Just use an anatomy atlas. But if you do ship the skull make sure you pad the package really well and don't put "fragile" on the outside.

 

[manicmaven]

Good call on the "fragile" thing. I've heard bad bad things about that being a big old bullseye for abuse.

 

[MichiMO]

This is hilarious. Fedexing a human skull!

As for the fragile thing, I have never heard of that. Putting fragile on your boxes can make them more likely to be mishandled? Are fedex people just bored or resentful?

 

[JlazyMD]

From the few hints my father has dropped concerning the origins of Willy, my current theory is that he (she, it) was obtained late at night, with a shovel. Considering these potentially dubious origins, and also considering the fertile imaginations of X-ray technicians employed by shipping agencies, am I warrented to proceed with caution above and beyond the proper padding and (non)labeling of the package?

 

[manicmaven]

Originally posted by MichiMO
This is hilarious. Fedexing a human skull!

As for the fragile thing, I have never heard of that. Putting fragile on your boxes can make them more likely to be mishandled? Are fedex people just bored or resentful?

Actually, I understand that if a box is labeled "fragile", they tend to treat it worse, thinking it's been packed well to avoid breakage. Also, those people with hard top luggage get the same treatment. Their baggage goes on bottom everytime and is thrashed the worst.
And yeah, they might be bored and resentful as well.

 

[Mike59]

I worked at a parcel store and can shed some light as to how to pack this:

- get some bubble wrap (large bubbles would be better) and wrap the skull (ughhhhhh....shudder.....) until it is convered by about 2" of bubble

- Find a box that is 2" wider, taller and longer than the bubbled skull

- Put 1" of packing peanuts under the skull, 1" on each side, and more on top. The package should be tight with peanuts so the skull doesn't move.

That box would be indestructable!😀

 

[bigmuny]

I also worked for a parcel store and I would agree with the last poster regarding packing. In terms of shipping, it is illegal to ship cremated human remains through the regular carriers and I would assume it would be the same for a skull. However, I get the feeling you are not too concerned with the legality and just want to get the job done. I would strongly advise using UPS for your carrier as opposed to fedex. UPS is less nosey and I know that drug dealers prefer them(fedex catches everything).
Best of Luck

 

[exmike]

Originally posted by bigmuny
I also worked for a parcel store and I would agree with the last poster regarding packing. In terms of shipping, it is illegal to ship cremated human remains through the regular carriers and I would assume it would be the same for a skull. However, I get the feeling you are not too concerned with the legality and just want to get the job done. I would strongly advise using UPS for your carrier as opposed to fedex. UPS is less nosey and I know that drug dealers prefer them(fedex catches everything).
Best of Luck

haha can i ask how you know that?

 

[oceandocDO]

I can imagine the drug/bomb dog that sniffs that package waiting to board the plane. Poor thing. He wont know what hit him.

Isnt it a felony to possess human remains without a USDA permit? I figure this doesnt factor into your equation, but I can imagine opening up cnn.com to find "human skull found in UPS overnight package".

 

[Mike59]

Originally posted by bigmuny
I also worked for a parcel store and I would agree with the last poster regarding packing. In terms of shipping, it is illegal to ship cremated human remains through the regular carriers and I would assume it would be the same for a skull.

Good Point. I wasn't sure about the legalities, I was just trying to share some packing knowledge. Part of the reason I never knew was because no one ever inquried about something so outrageous! Although my manager did warn me not to let anyone ship crocodiles. I'm sure you all heard about UPS's little mishap a few years back when a giant cardboard box started learking water/fluid during shipping. Turned out that there was a live croc inside 😱 😱

To the original poster:
For the love of god, keep yourself out of federal prison by getting ahold of one of these plastic models:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3225583706&category=4066

Assuming the auction stays where it is, $21.00 would have it shipped to your front door without any legal hassles.

Anyways, as someone pointed out earlier, skull anatomy is very easy relative to other things you would study in med school- I don't know why you're so possessed by this skull!??!? Between the plastic models most schools have and your text, you shouldn't be making this so complicated.

 

[exmike]

maybe this "skull" is just a euphemism for a real recently severed head he wants to get rid of!!!

jk

seriously though, just use a model and avoid the trouble

 

[Mike59]

Originally posted by exmike
maybe this "skull" is just a euphemism for a real recently severed head he wants to get rid of!!!

jk

Then he should get rid of it "OJ style". Fly to Chicago and dispose of it in the airport garbage bin.

 

[MichiMO]

I get the feeling that having the skull is more of a sentimental, right of passage sort of thing versus an actual, useful learning tool.
Also, it makes for a good conversation piece I imagine

Hey, whatever floats your boat. Just make sure you won't get arrested for it. Can anyone drive you the sacred skull?

 

[WatchingWaiting]

Perhaps the solution is to stick it in a kit that holds a model skull. On the off chance that an x-ray technician at a shipping agency notices it and thinks "human remains," it'll look like a packaged skull and likely get no further attention. Are the sniff dogs really equipped to smell for human remains? How much can a skull smell after ten or twenty years?

 

[tms]

as a past employee of one of the larger metioned shippers, it doesn't matter if you mark it fragile or not. the employees don't pay any attention. imagine if you had to load over 500 packages an hour into a truck...

they also aren't going to check the contents unless the box broke open...so make sure it is secure and you should have no problems.

 

[JlazyMD]

At the risk of being branded a freak (I'm sure some of you have already reached that conclusion), I continued my research and found http://www.skullsunlimited.com. It appears a human skull can be shipped without any special permissions, and retail for $300-$700 depending on quality (They also sell human fetus skulls, but are currently out of stock). I figured they might sell only to schools, but appartly cater to everyone with a credit card.

That said, I'm going to heed the advice of those who said a skull isn't that important, and not bother with the shipment-- it's just not worth the hassle.