Name
In Their Darkest Hour: Guiding Families Through Loss with Clarity and Compassion
Date & Time
Friday, February 5, 2027, 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Terence Sheehy
Description

Few responsibilities in EMS carry more emotional weight than notifying a family that a loved one has died. Despite the significance of this moment, many EMS professionals receive little formal education on death notification, family communication, scene management, or provider support following emotionally difficult calls. Poor communication, avoidance behaviors, unclear language, and lack of preparation can significantly impact both families and responders during moments of crisis. This session provides practical, field-tested guidance for delivering death notifications with professionalism, compassion, clarity, and emotional intelligence in prehospital environments. Attendees will explore communication strategies, scene considerations, cultural awareness, provider wellness, leadership responsibilities, and approaches for supporting crews following emotionally difficult incidents. Using real-world examples and practical application, this presentation equips EMS professionals with immediately usable tools to improve communication, reduce anxiety surrounding death notifications, and preserve dignity for patients, families, responders, and organizations alike.

Location Name
Upper Flex Area
Full Address
Resch Expo
840 Armed Forces Dr
Ashwaubenon, WI 54304
United States
Session Type
Lecture
CAPCE Topic Area
Communications
CAPCE Category
Operational
Number of CE Credits
1
Learning Objectives
At the end of this session, the participants will be able to:
1. Demonstrate evidence-informed communication techniques for delivering death notifications in EMS and prehospital settings.
2. Analyze common communication errors and avoidance behaviors that negatively impact families during emotionally charged encounters.
3. Apply scene management and leadership strategies that improve professionalism, clarity, and compassion during death notifications.
4. Evaluate the emotional impact of death notification responsibilities on EMS personnel and identify approaches that support responder wellbeing and resilience.