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Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation (SUIDI)

Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation is usually an unexpected and emotionally charged death scene which requires the participation of various people, including police, medical examiners and coroners, public health officials, physicians, and  family members.  Collaboration among agencies only enhances the ability to determine accurately the cause and mechanism of death.

A competent and comprehensive child death investigation begins with well-trained scene investigators who are sensitive to issues of family grief dynamics, can remain objective throughout the investigation, and be able to attain all the information necessary to arrive at a conclusion about the cause, manner and mechanism of the death.

An all-inclusive scene investigation is followed by interviews with caregivers and first responders, and includes a complete autopsy, and review of the child's medical records.  In addition, a review of the family history, information from outside agencies including Child Protective Services, and the local Public Health Office will help develop the appropriate cause and manner of the death.  Without all of these components, a diagnosis including S.I.D.S. can not accurately be made.

Who should attend?
Major crime investigators, detectives and supervisors, first responders, crime scene technicians, medical examiner's and coroner's investigators, prosecutors and attorneys, and crime laboratory personnel would all benefit from this training course.

Course Content:
  • Child Death Scene Investigations
  • Working with Other Agencies
  • Dealing with the Family
  • Post-Mortem Physiological Changes
  • Natural Deaths of Children
  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome S.I.D.S.
  • Accidental Deaths of Children
  • Homicidal Deaths of Children
  • Asphyxial Death
  • The Forensic Autopsy
  • Cause and Manner of Death
  • Delivering Death News to Parents
  • Child Death Grief and Loss