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BroMenn/St. Joseph EMS Systems

Policy and Procedure Manual

TITLE: CORONER NOTIFICATIONS

POLICY STATEMENT:

This procedure has been developed to provide guidelines for EMS crews to follow when they have encountered a death scene in the pre-hospital setting.

GOAL/PURPOSE:

To assure pre-hospital personnel are aware of and adhere to Coroner and EMS System Policies and Procedures involving death cases.

POLICY/PROCEDURE:

A. Recognition of Death

Refer to "Reporting of Suspecting Crimes and Crime Scene Responsibilities" (page 33-34 of the Policy and Procedure Manual) and "Cardiac Resuscitation vs. Cease Effort and Coroner Notification" (page 62-63 of the Policy and Procedure Manual) policies for additional information involving determination and death at scene responsibilities.

B. Notification Requirements and Procedures

Under Section 10.6, Chapter 31, of the Illinois Revised Statutes - Coroners, it is written that;

Every law enforcement official, funeral director, AMBULANCE ATTENDANT, hospital director or administrator or person having custody of the body of a deceased person, where the death is one subjected to investigation under Section 10 of this Act, and any physician in attendance upon such a decedent at the time of his death, shall notify the coroner promptly. Any such person failing to so notify the coroner promptly shall be guilty of Class A misdemeanor, unless such person has reasonable cause to believe that the coroner had already been so notified.

C. Those deaths that are subjected to investigation, are classified in the following categories:

1. ACCIDENTAL DEATHS

a. Anesthetic Accident (death on the operating table or prior to recovery from anesthesia.
b. Blows or other forms of mechanical violence.
c. Burns
d. Crushed beneath falling objects
e. Cutting or stabbing
f. Drowning
g. Electric shock
h. Explosion
i. Firearms
j. Fracture of bones. Such as cases to be reported even when fracture is not primarily responsible for death.
k. Falls
l. Carbon Monoxide poisoning
m. Hanging
n. Thermal Exposure
o. Poisoning
p. Strangulation
q. Suffocation
r. Vehicular Accidents

2. HOMICIDAL DEATHS
3. SUICIDAL DEATHS
4. ABORTIONS - Criminal or self induced maternal or fetal deaths.
5. SUDDEN DEATHS - When in apparent good health or in any suspicious or unusual manner including sudden death on the street, at home, in a public place, at ultimately be the subject of investigation.

C. In notifying the coroner, or his designee, give the following information:

1. Your name
2. Your provider
3. Location
4. Phone number and/or radio frequency from which you may be contacted.
5. Brief explanation - i.e., possible suicide, car accident - two dead.
6. During transfer, if a patient goes into cardio-pulmonary arrest, note time and location. Record this information on the run sheet.

D. Once this information has been given, wait for the coroner or his designee to arrive, or for further instructions.

E. Law enforcement personnel are responsible for death scenes once the determination of death is established with Medical Control and the coroner has been notified. EMS crews may be called upon to assist law enforcement personnel.

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