Pediatric Terrorism and Disaster Preparedness: A ... - PHE Home

problems. New issues related to trauma may emerge as children mature. Thus,
developmentally appropriate staged interventions, which anticipate and address the
course of recovery, should be considered during developmental transitions and at marker
events such as anniversaries.
Death Notification and Pediatric Bereavement
Considerations in Notifying Individuals About an Unexpected
Death
At the time of a disaster or terrorist attack, it is very unlikely that pediatric health care
providers will have the time and resources to deliver death notification in an optimal
manner. Nonetheless, sensitivity to the issues discussed here can help minimize the shortand
long-term impact on survivors.
• Verify the identity of the deceased and identify the next of kin.
• Establish contact as soon as possible. Do not delay contact waiting for a time
thought to be more convenient for the survivors (e.g., if the death occurs in the
middle of the night, do not wait until the following morning).
• Contact the next of kin. Phone calls can be used to contact next of kin, but death
notification is preferably done in person. Alternatively, someone (e.g., police) can
be sent to the home of the next of kin to ask them to come to the hospital for
notification purposes.
• Minimize the likelihood that you will be compelled to notify the family members
of the death over the phone. If you contact the survivor(s) by phone to request
they come to the hospital, try to contact the family before the death has been
declared (i.e., during resuscitation) or have someone else who has not been
directly involved in the care call on your behalf. Someone not directly involved in
the care could make a statement such as: “I know that your husband was seriously
hurt in the bombing, but I don’t have any further information. If you come to the
hospital now, someone who has been taking care of your husband will be
available to talk with you when you arrive.” If family members demand
information on the phone, the caller can state: “I would prefer to talk with you
about this in person when you arrive at the hospital.”
• Consider inviting additional family members or friends to accompany the next of
kin to the hospital for notification. If a child has died, it is best to notify both
parents at the same time. When any family member has died, survivors may
benefit from being told with at least one other family member or friend present.
Family members and friends can provide support to the next of kin and help
notify other relatives and friends (instead of the entire burden being placed on one
survivor).
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