Scene Response L.E. Protocols
Our current scene response protocol requires the 2-person team to respond to the scene within 1 hour of the initial call to activate the team. We also only allow the team members to be on scene if L.E. is still present. Can you tell me if all LOSS teams use this protocol or if the scene response team does not reach the scene before L.E. leaves, is the team still able to approach the home of the survivors? We had a scene response where L.E. had left, but a Chaplain from the city FD was still present and he introduced the 2-person team to the survivors at the scene. The survivors were receptive to the LOSS team and the resources provided. We would like to be able to approach the home and the survivors even if L.E. is not present when we are unable to get to the scene before they leave. Are other teams doing this or is L.E. presence a requirement for all LOSS teams?
Our team does our best to respond within 30 minutes but definitely within an hour. We prefer that law enforcement OR the coroner make an introduction and a soft hand-off to the survivors but we don’t always get it due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control. We’re completely comfortable arriving at the residence after law enforcement or the coroner’s office has left the scene though. If we aren’t called or made aware of the suicide then we’ll do a delayed response.