Step 3: Delivery - Review

+ Transcript

Once everyone is seated, the primary notifier delivers the notification with clearly understood words such as died, death, or dead.  Avoid saying passed away, lost, or expired. Examples include, “there has been a domestic violence incident in a study group on campus involving Jess and she has been killed.” or “we found John in Oak Park with a fatal gunshot wound. It appears self-inflicted.” 

There may be silence after the notification as the Next of Kin is trying to grasp the information you just delivered. Allow the Next of Kin time to absorb the information. It is imperative you use the deceased person’s name and never say “the body” or “remains.” Be prepared to repeat the information or say the word dead or died several times as the Next of Kin may be in shock. Once the Next of Kin begins to speak, listen to them without interrupting. 

The support person is monitoring the reactions of the Next of Kin during the notification.

Once everyone is seated, the primary notifier delivers the notification

  • Primary notifier should briefly review what happened prior to revealing the news
    • “There has been a domestic violence incident in a study group on campus involving Jess and she has been killed”
    • “We found John in Oak Park with a fatal gunshot wound.  It appears self-inflicted.”
  • Use the decedent’s name and not language such as “the body” or "remains"
  • Be prepared to repeat information and/or say the word "dead" or "died" several times.
  • Support person is responsible for monitoring the Next of Kin for any type of reaction and the scene safety