| What to do When Someone Dies |
When a person dies suddenly or unexpectedly, your first responsibility is to:
Call 9-1-1 for medical assistance and guidance.
Please try and have the following information available:
Name and address of the decedent,
Age and date of birth,
Place and circumstances of occurrence,
The name and location of the treating physician, and
Any other information which may be helpful.
When such a call is received by Emergency Services, it is our County’s Policy to
dispatch a BLS & ALS Ambulance. The EMS unit will verify that “DOA Criteria” exist
as set forth by State BLS Protocol:
- Decomposition,
- Rigor Mortis,
- Dependent Lividity,
- Decapitation,
- Unwitnessed cardiac arrest of traumatic cause,
- Traumatic cardiac arrest in entrapped patient with severe injury incompatible
with life, - Incineration
Cases where these criteria are not clearly met, BLS personnel will initiate
resuscitation efforts and transport the patient immediately to the nearest medical
facility for further treatment and disposition.
In all cases where death has been determined, the responders will notify the County
911 Center of this, and the Coroner’s Office is to then be notified immediately.
In all cases where the coroner has jurisdiction to investigate the facts and
circumstances of death, State Law requires that the body and its surroundings shall
be left untouched until the Coroner has had a view thereof or until he shall otherwise
direct or authorize. (As amended 1990, Nov. 29, P.L. 602, No. 152, Sec. 3)
If the scene is a suspected crime scene, it is important for all concerned to NOT move
the body or disturb anything at the scene, and do not allow others to enter the scene
until the police arrive. This is very important, as any alteration of the body or the
crime scene may interfere with the ability of the investigating authorities to discover
the “truth” and bring any guilty parties to justice.
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| Coping with the loss of a loved one |
Coping With The Loss of a Loved One
(click on links below)
| Coping with the loss of a loved one |
| Coping with the loss of a loved one |
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
Pre-Planning Thoughts
The person or group who arranges for the funeral of someone close is often unprepared for the many decisions that will
need to be made, especially in the event of a sudden death or short illness. For this reason, planning ahead is helpful
to your family. It also ensures that your wishes are carried out instead of leaving those you love to guess your wishes.
Making funeral arrangements at the time of loss can be especially difficult for those left behind, but if the funeral and
payment have been arranged beforehand, most of the decisions have been made, sparing loved ones uncertainty and
confusion. Before making pre-arrangements, discuss it with those closest to you because their needs and wishes should
be considered, as well as your own.
Many people today have strong ideas about what they would like to see included in their own funerals, based upon
things they have seen, read and heard. The idea behind pre-arranged funerals is to put these thoughts together as a
guide for survivors to follow when the need arises.
With any pre-need program, you will be arranging the funeral details in advance. The funeral director will explain the
available services and record your selections. At the time of death, your record will be reviewed and your selections will
be respected.
Discussion of arrangements with other family members is essential, as the funeral affects them most directly. You may
wish to leave flexible requests to allow survivors to make appropriate arrangements for the fulfillment of their own
emotional needs.
Personal Information That Will Be Needed
Name:____________________________ Birth Date:____________________________
Address: ________________________________ City/State_________________________________
ZIP: _______________ Birth Place: ____________________________
Social Security Number: ____________________________ Education Completed: __________
Year Graduated: _____ Marital Status:____________________________
Spouse’s Name:____________________________ Father’s Name:____________________________
Mother’s Name (Maiden):____________________________ Occupation:____________________________
Date retired (if no longer working):______________________ How Long a Resident:_____________________
Church Membership:____________________________ Veteran of:____________________________
Branch of Service:____________________________ Rank:____________________________
Clubs, Organizations and Other Information_________________
SURVIVORS - - Name City/State
Spouse____________________________ Children: ____________________________
Parents:____________________________ Sisters: ____________________________
Brothers:____________________________ Number of Grandchildren:________________
Number of Great-Grandchildren: Other:
SERVICES DESIRED
Place of Funeral Services:____________________________ Place of Burial:____________________________
Lot Owner: _________________________ Section and Lot Number: _________
Receive Friends Y/N Open Casket Y/N
Officiant/Church: ____________________________ Special Music:____________________________
Special Services/Honors:____________________________ Fraternal Rites:__________________________
Newspapers for Obituary:____________________________ Memorials:____________________________
Pallbearers’ Names: Type of Casket Desired:_____________________
Type of Vault Desired:____________________________ Type of Urn Desired:_______________________
Location of Clothing:____________________________ Flowers or Flag on Casket:__________________
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR PERSONAL RECORDS
Name of Attorney:____________________________
Phone:____________________________
Estate Planner:____________________________
Phone:____________________________
Insurance Companies & Policy Number
Military Service:____________________________
Date of Entry:____________________________
Date of Discharge:____________________________
Serial Number____________________________
Location of Discharge:____________________________
Pre-Planning Thoughts
The person or group who arranges for the funeral of someone close is often unprepared for the many decisions that will
need to be made, especially in the event of a sudden death or short illness. For this reason, planning ahead is helpful
to your family. It also ensures that your wishes are carried out instead of leaving those you love to guess your wishes.
Making funeral arrangements at the time of loss can be especially difficult for those left behind, but if the funeral and
payment have been arranged beforehand, most of the decisions have been made, sparing loved ones uncertainty and
confusion. Before making pre-arrangements, discuss it with those closest to you because their needs and wishes should
be considered, as well as your own.
Many people today have strong ideas about what they would like to see included in their own funerals, based upon
things they have seen, read and heard. The idea behind pre-arranged funerals is to put these thoughts together as a
guide for survivors to follow when the need arises.
With any pre-need program, you will be arranging the funeral details in advance. The funeral director will explain the
available services and record your selections. At the time of death, your record will be reviewed and your selections will
be respected.
Discussion of arrangements with other family members is essential, as the funeral affects them most directly. You may
wish to leave flexible requests to allow survivors to make appropriate arrangements for the fulfillment of their own
emotional needs.
Personal Information That Will Be Needed
Name:____________________________ Birth Date:____________________________
Address: ________________________________ City/State_________________________________
ZIP: _______________ Birth Place: ____________________________
Social Security Number: ____________________________ Education Completed: __________
Year Graduated: _____ Marital Status:____________________________
Spouse’s Name:____________________________ Father’s Name:____________________________
Mother’s Name (Maiden):____________________________ Occupation:____________________________
Date retired (if no longer working):______________________ How Long a Resident:_____________________
Church Membership:____________________________ Veteran of:____________________________
Branch of Service:____________________________ Rank:____________________________
Clubs, Organizations and Other Information_________________
SURVIVORS - - Name City/State
Spouse____________________________ Children: ____________________________
Parents:____________________________ Sisters: ____________________________
Brothers:____________________________ Number of Grandchildren:________________
Number of Great-Grandchildren: Other:
SERVICES DESIRED
Place of Funeral Services:____________________________ Place of Burial:____________________________
Lot Owner: _________________________ Section and Lot Number: _________
Receive Friends Y/N Open Casket Y/N
Officiant/Church: ____________________________ Special Music:____________________________
Special Services/Honors:____________________________ Fraternal Rites:__________________________
Newspapers for Obituary:____________________________ Memorials:____________________________
Pallbearers’ Names: Type of Casket Desired:_____________________
Type of Vault Desired:____________________________ Type of Urn Desired:_______________________
Location of Clothing:____________________________ Flowers or Flag on Casket:__________________
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR YOUR PERSONAL RECORDS
Name of Attorney:____________________________
Phone:____________________________
Estate Planner:____________________________
Phone:____________________________
Insurance Companies & Policy Number
Military Service:____________________________
Date of Entry:____________________________
Date of Discharge:____________________________
Serial Number____________________________
Location of Discharge:____________________________
| Helpful information about making funeral arrangements, scroll down |