What to Do Immediately When Someone Dies
When someone dies
You need to know what to do immediately when someone dies. The funeral and disposition come later.
Managing the remains
The most pressing need upon someone’s passing is to make arrangements for the remains. The immediate steps are always dictated by two factors: 1) the location of death and 2) the circumstances of death.
Location of death: Medical facility
If the person dies in a medical facility such as a hospital or hospice, the attending medical personnel will sign the death certificate and release the body for disposition: the funeral home, the crematorium or the family for a home funeral.
Location of death: Home or elsewhere
If the person dies at home or elsewhere, call the police by dialing your local non-emergency police number. Call 911 if necessary. The police will engage the medical examiner to confirm the cause of death.
Circumstances of death: Expected
If the decedent was elderly or expected to die, the body will be released to the funeral home, crematorium or family. The medical examiner will sign the death certificate subsequently.
Circumstances of death: Unexpected
If the cause of death cannot be determined, was the result of an accident, or involved potential foul play, the medical examiner will be dispatched to retrieve the body for an autopsy. Once the autopsy is complete, the medical examiner will sign the death certificate and the body will be released to the funeral home, crematorium or family.
Notes
- Preservation of the body can be helped by lowering the body’s temperature with ice packs and air conditioning.
- Preparation of the body – cleaning, dressing, etc. – can be done by the family, the funeral home or the crematory.
- Removal of a pace maker can be done by a medical professional before death or a funeral provider after death.