Page 106 - CFDI Guide

usually an Undetermined Manner of Death, and an Undetermined Cause of Death. These most often do

not result in criminal charges, although circumstances may result in charges. We recommend adding Infant
Death Investigation: Guidelines for the Scene Investigator (CDC 2007) to your library from

www.cdc.gov/sids/pdf/508suidiguidelinessingles_tag508.pdf and also Sudden, Unexplained Infant Death
Investigation from www.cdc.gov/sids/pdf/curriculumguide_tag508.pdf.

As a final introductory note, life to death is a cycle – just as there are stages of child growth, there are

stages of adult decline. These span a longer period of years, roughly beginning at age 60 for significant
natural health issues, younger for self-induced (i.e. lung cancer from smoking, work-place exposures, etc.).

From our later years there is a natural decline in health. From some this results in less autonomy – from
needing some form of home care visits, to in-home resident care, and from assisted living to nursing home

with variable autonomy and care. For these reasons, some aspects of elder death and abuse investigations
may be similar.

Identification and Assessment

Assessment at the incident scene – including in the absence of the child (i.e. transport to a hospital) is
extremely important. Within this section is an extensive Child Death Investigation template, which should

also be used for abuse – SBI – cases. It is important to use this template to determine if law enforcement
and the medical examiner’s office followed what is considered standard protocols in all child

investigations. It is further suggested, as will be outlined later, for the CFDI to do the same.

It must be immediately known what the child looked like when last seen and when found injured or
deceased. This will include skin color and markings – discoloration, red or blue, fluids such as frothy mouth

or urine, pressure marks or indications of injury, rashes or petechial hemorrhages, or how they felt to the

touch – warm or cold, sweaty or clammy, limp or stiff, or did they have any fever or difficulty breathing at
any time, and what was their location and exact position – including bedding or clothing – when found.

It is important to know the age, sex, race, and medical history of the child. In addition, parent personal and

medical history is important and may be contributory – including their own history of abuse and neglect.
Generally, the medical examiner will address any issues related to these, including any disease processes

and health. Law enforcement will have less involvement in these areas, and will be focused more on an
external trauma and environmental circumstances. Law enforcement will also be more involved in the

child’s background – from environmental to parents and family.

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