[user104658]

Originally Posted by AnnieK

Having to have a safety coffin is grim isn't it? I read somewhere that that is where a wake after a funeral started....because after a body was buried someone had to sit through the night "awake" in case the bell rang

I think it was more commonly that they weren't buried until after the wake - the coffin (sometimes open casket) would be kept in the family home for a while after death to be sure they were actually dead before burying it.

As has been said though, not really an issue any more as most bodies are embalmed and the embalming process would "gently" kill the person anyway... which is the sort of scary part... no one would have any idea it happened if the person didn't wake up. Their blood would be drained and they'd just die "peacefully" during that process and no one would be any the wiser .