1. Making death notifications is a difficult task requiring sensitivity and compassion. Research, identify, and discuss training that is available for first responders and investigators. How many training programs are there? Are there enough available? Do there need to be more programs?

Two programs that I found available for first responders and investigators are Death Investigation training Academy and Police Officer 1 available on USMAPS for military personnel, each are available through webinars in addition DITA offers podcasts, E-Learnings and the certification for this is 6 extensive courses that are accredited through the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI). The USMAP police officer 1 offered for military personnel is presented to us at a self paced course that requires hours logged in to obtain in a certain area. I believe that the amount of programs available through other companies should not be added. Having the limitation of programs who offer it means that everyone will have the same basic fundamentals needed to carry out this task. Specific topics for training content include, but are not limited to, the basics of effective crisis intervention, communication basics with individuals in crisis (verbal and nonverbal),understanding the basics of grief and loss, and responding to angry reactions/managing hostile situations. (Principles for Communicating With Next of Kin During Medicolegal Death Investigations, n.d.) After reading this article alone it gave step by step on what verbals not to say and what verbals to say in order to help the NOK out.

2. Research, describe, and explain the type of information you need to obtain in every death investigation and who you want to obtain that information from.

The basic information needed to obtain in every death investigation is factual information, what the cause of death, time, sudden, or homicide ensures that when the information was gathered at the death scene integrity was kept throughout the investigation. This information would be gathered from the Coroner or the Medical Examiner. In addition, gathering information that would be pertinent to answer the NOK questions.

3. Explain what information and/or records you may need to obtain from outside agencies, other than the records YOU produce (do not include witness interviews of Next of Kin or friends on scene). Why might these records or information be important and in what type of cases?

A few records or agencies one would have to work with is the primary medical provider in some cases to verify that the cause of death was due to the issues related to a condition the individual might have had.

References

Principles for Communicating with Next of Kin during Medicolegal Death Investigations. (n.d.). Retrieved March 11, 2022, from http://swgmdi.org/images/nokguidelinesforcommunicationwithnok6.14.12%202.pdf BALLAM, E. (2010, September 28). Death

Notification Tips Minimize Trauma. HMP Global Learning Network. Retrieved March 12, 2022, from https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/emsworld/news/10336914/death-notification-tips-minimize-trauma