Step 4: Follow Up

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Once you and the Next of Kin determine a time for follow up, ensure that follow up is made. This is the fourth step of the death notification process. Follow up contact provides an opportunity for the Next of Kin to ask additional questions.

This is often a time when the Next of Kin asks about their loved one’s personal effects. If the personal effects are not needed as evidence, they should be returned to the Next of Kin as soon as possible.  It is important to ask the Next of Kin if they would like their loved ones personal effects cleaned prior to their return. Personal effects should never be thrown away just because they have bio hazard on them. If the personal effects have hazardous materials on them, there are several companies that can assist with cleaning them.

The Next of Kin may also ask about media intervention if they have been contacted by media outlets. The follow up is also a time for the Next of Kin to ask about additional resources.

Follow-up with the Next of Kin within 24 hours

  • Opportunity to ask additional questions
  • Personal effects
  • Media intervention
  • Additional resources