• If you recieve an emergency call at the time of a sudden infant death, immediately respond to the call in person. Do not advise carers or parents to take the child to the hospital themselves.
• Confirm the death and offer a tentative diagnosis with words such as 'This looks like a Sudden Infant Death, but a post-mortem is needed to confirm this'.
• Always refer to the child by his/her name and acknowledge the reality of the child's death to the family.
• If one of the parents is not present at the time, offer to contact him/her. Offer to contact a relative/friend who will be supportive of the family at this time.
• Explain to the parents that in all cases of sudden and unexpected death, the Coroner must be notified and that a post-mortem is essential. Also explain that the Gardaí (as an agent of the Coroner) have to enquire into the circumstances of all sudden deaths including this one, and have the child identified to them (usually by a parent or close relative).
• Ensure that parents are given the opportunity to spend some time alone with their child before he/she leaves the home.
• Make the necessary arrangements to transport the child to the appropriate hospital and offer the parents the opportunity to travel with their child. Try to speak directly to the Senior Doctor or Nurse at the hospital A&E Department. Remain with the family until the child is moved.
• If there are siblings, they will need an immediate and simple explanation of what has happened and what is going to happen. Encourage parents to include any siblings in all arrangements and to spend time with their brother/sister (see ISIDA's booklet 'A Precious Past, A Hopeful Future.', section 'Children and Grief').
• In the event of parents choosing to take their child home, advise the Public Health Nurse about this. Provide parents, relatives or family members with written instructions regarding the care of their child at home (Appendix C).
• Make arrangements to call again the following day and follow with house calls for a reasonable period. This will normally be for the first few months, at least.
• Be prepared to listen and support rather than prescribe. Give appropriate advice on the suppression of lactation to breast feeding mothers.
• Provide parents/family with a copy of the booklet 'A Precious Past, A Hopeful Future' (available from ISIDA). Ask the parents/family if they would like to speak to a SIDS parent. You can arrange this by phoning ISIDA's Nationwide Support Helpline, and/or give the parents the number 1850 391 391.

• Immediately notify the following of the child's death:
  • The National Sudden Infant Death Register
    • Minicall: 1550 135 135
    • Phone: 01 - 8788455
    • Fax: 01 - 8787696
    • Address: Georges Hall, The Children's Hospital,Temple Street, Dublin 1.
  • The Superintendent Public Health Nurse and Director of Commuinity Care.
  • The Maternity Hospital and Obstetrician attendant at the child's birth.
  These notifications will avoid possible paternal hurt or professional embarrasment resulting from notification of appointments being sent to the family by services that are not aware of the child's death.
• Ensure that hte Community Social Worker is aware of the child's death and liaise with him/her. If the Social Worker has not previously been in contact with the family, discuss the appropriateness of a Social Worker's visit to the family at this time with the Public Health Nurse and the Social Worker.
• Following consultation with the Coroner arrange with the Pathologist to have the preliminary and final post-mortem reports made available as soon as possible and ensure that their findings are conveyed clearly and immediately to the parents.

Situation (ii) - If your first contact with the family is some time after the death

• Ensure that you obtain full details from the hospital of the events surrounding the child's death and in the period immediately after it.
• Take the initiative to contact the parents and offer to visit.
• Always refer to the child by his/her name.
• If there are siblings, they will need a simple explanation of what has happened. Encourage parents to include any siblings in the grieving process (see ISIDA's booklet 'A Precious Past, A Hopeful Future.', section 'Children and Grief').
• In the event of parents choosing to take their child home, advise the Public Health Nurse about this. Provide parents, relatives or family members with written instructions regarding the care of their child at home (Appendix C).
• Be generous with your time and follow with house calls for a reasonable period. This will normally be for a few months at least.
• Be prepared to listen and support rather than prescribe. Give appropriate advice on the suppression of lactation to breast feeding mothers.
• Provide parents/family with a copy of the booklet 'A Precious Past, A Hopeful Future' (available from ISIDA). Ask the parents/family if they would like to speak to a SIDS parent. You can arrange this by phoning ISIDA's Nationwide Support Helpline, and/or give the parents the number 1850 391 391.
• Ensure that the Community Social Worker is aware of the child's death and liaise with him/her. If the Social Worker has not previously been in contact with the family, discuss the appropriateness of a Social Worker's visit to the family at this time with the Public Health Nurse and the Social Worker.
• Following consultation with the Coroner arrange with the Pathologist to have the preliminary and final post-mortem reports made available as soon as possible and ensure that their findings are conveyed clearly and immediately to the parents.