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This information is suggested only to help you get started.

Family Liaison Role
Family Info Form
Compassion Fatigue

The information contained in this Tool Kit is to help those of you who have been designated to help with a fatality and/or line of duty death. It will help you with the initial needs of the families as they begin to deal with the loss they have just experienced. This information was compiled from a number of sources, including our own survivor family members. Please keep in mind this is a work in progress. We appreciate all input and encourage you to help us keep this information current, pertinent, and most of all helpful.

Non-Line of Duty Death Information: Recently we have had a number of accidental and other deaths of firefighters and lots of questions on how to handle these very tragic incidents. As information comes to us, we will post suggestions from family members, co-workers, and professionals. Here are thoughts from some of our families:

1) Ask the family what can be done for them. Follow up a few days later, until the shock wears off, they won't even remember who they talked to.
2) Have someone keep in touch with the family for years to come. A phone call or card once in a while to let them know their loved one is not forgotten means more than anything else you could do long-term.

Line of Duty Death Information

The Line of Duty Death (LODD) information posted here is intended to supplement information contained in agency LODD handbooks and to serve you in the first 24-48 hours after you are asked to assist a family after an LODD.  This information is gathered from a variety of sources including the USDA USFS, DOI, NPS, and the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation handbooks.  If you are an agency employee, as soon as you possibly can, get a copy of the appropriate agency LODD handbook. Due to the differences in policies and legislation, use extreme care when using a different agency’s handbook.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO CONSIDER:

A family's religious preferences can be an area requiring extreme sensitivity. If the family or the deceased are Native American, contact the tribe ASAP and ask for assistance.  Be aware there may be restrictions on talking about the person, the incident, or even speaking the person’s name.

Keep in mind that an autopsy is REQUIRED by the Department of Justice for payment of any PSOB benefits.  Additionally, many localities require an autopsy for any deaths that may be considered unnatural.

Consider contacting the local city or community fire department and see if they have a chaplain that would be available to assist you until you are able to make sure the family has their own support in place.

The local agency/company human resource office may have very limited experience in dealing with an LODD and they may also be grieving the loss of the individual.  Agency employee: If things aren't coming together like you believe they should, request assistance from a Regional or WASO HR office.

The individuals' personal effects will need to be gathered and returned to the family.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES allow them to be returned in a trash bag.  If at all possible we would suggest they be placed in a “red bag” for delivery to the family.  They need to be delivered by someone from the agency and not mailed unless the family specifically requests them to be.

Be aware that not all families get along well and this type of incident may cause even more dissention.  Try and determine if there is good communication among the family and make sure that everyone is being kept in the loop. You may need to ask for additional help in some cases.

Work with the family regarding media contacts.  If they are willing to speak to the media, it is best if they appoint one person as “spokesperson”.  If there is a local agency Public Information Officer or company designate, they can assist the family in preparing to speak if the family desires that.  The agency/company never should speak for the family.  If the family does not want to talk to the media that is their decision. Back the family up and ask the media to respect their decision.