Guidelines for First Responders

Supporting Survivors of Murder-Suicide in the First 72 Hours

First responders play a critical role in providing immediate support to survivors of murder-suicide incidents. The first 72 hours are crucial for ensuring survivors' emotional and physical well-being, preserving evidence, and connecting them to long-term support.

This page outlines key steps and best practices for first responders when dealing with these traumatic situations.

Scene Management and Safety

Secure the area and assess any ongoing threats, ensuring there is no immediate danger to survivors or responders.
Establish a perimeter to limit unnecessary exposure to the scene, protecting both survivors and evidence.
Follow forensic protocols to preserve evidence, including securing weapons, documenting blood spatter, and maintaining scene integrity.
If survivors are present, assign an officer or designated personnel to stay with them in a safe area, away from the scene.
Coordinate with emergency medical personnel to assess survivors for potential injuries, including shock or other medical emergencies.

Providing Immediate Support to Survivors

Although it’s difficult, remain calm. Listen and validate the survivors feelings in the moment. It is very common for survivors to feel feelings of shock, disbelief, shame and guilt. Remind them that they are not responsible for others’ actions.
Give the survivor space and time when asked and needed.
Identify and locate surviving family members, witnesses, or those directly impacted.
Approach survivors with sensitivity, using calm and compassionate communication, addressing them by name when possible.
Avoid sharing graphic details about the scene or circumstances; instead, provide factual but minimal information as necessary.
Offer a quiet, secure space where survivors can begin processing the event away from public view and media presence.
Ensure survivors have access to hydration, blankets, and any immediate medical assistance they may require.
Again, this is a very difficult situation to have to encounter. Acknowledge your own feelings of anger, concern, sadness, etc. and seek support for yourself. You are no help to others if you don’t help yourself first!

Addressing Emotional and Psychological Needs

Acknowledge the trauma and validate survivors’ emotions without imposing expectations on their reactions.
Avoid making statements like “I know how you feel” or “Everything happens for a reason.” Instead, offer support with statements such as “I’m here to help” or “You are not alone.”
Connect survivors with crisis intervention specialists, counselors, or chaplains who are trained to handle traumatic grief.
Offer immediate referrals to crisis counseling or mental health services, ensuring survivors have access to professional support within hours of the incident.
If children are present, ensure they are cared for by responsible adults or child protection personnel, and provide age-appropriate explanations with the help of mental health professionals.

Remembering Compassion and Avoiding Desensitization

As first responders, this might not be your first rodeo, but remember for a murder-suicide survivor, this may be the most devastating event that has ever occurred in their life.

- Recognize that repeated exposure to traumatic incidents can lead to emotional desensitization. Stay mindful of the human impact of these tragedies.
- Treat each case with the same level of care and respect, understanding that survivors are grieving loved ones, not just part of an investigation. It may be normal for survivors to want to know all the details as they are searching for answers, for the “why”. This may not be the time for that. Be mindful.
- Be patient and allow survivors time to process their emotions without rushing them.
- Avoid using clinical or detached language when speaking with survivors. Simple acts of kindness, such as offering a comforting presence, can make a significant difference in the survivors’ healing or lack of.
- If struggling with emotional detachment, seek peer support or mental health resources available for first responders to process the impact of responding to traumatic events.

Coordinating with Support Services

Contact victim advocates, mental health professionals, and community support organizations to be on-site as soon as possible.
Provide survivors with written information on grief counseling, crisis hotlines, and survivor support groups, such as Impacted Survivors of Murder-Suicide.
Assist in arranging temporary shelter or accommodations if survivors are unable to return home.
Work with child protective services if minors are left without immediate guardianship.
Ensure survivors are given a direct point of contact within law enforcement or victim services to follow up on concerns.

Handling Media and Public Relations

Protect survivors’ privacy by keeping them shielded from media personnel and preventing unauthorized photography or interviews.
Do not disclose personal details about victims or survivors to the press; refer all media inquiries to designated public information officers.
Educate survivors on their rights regarding media interactions and provide them with assistance in issuing statements if necessary.
Ensure social media privacy by advising survivors and witnesses not to share details online that could compromise investigations or their own emotional well-being. Advise survivors to stay off social media and news outlets if possible.

Assisting with Practical Matters

Guide survivors through the next steps regarding legal and procedural matters, such as:
- Medical examinations, autopsies, and obtaining death certificates.
- Coordination with funeral services, including financial assistance if necessary.
- Assistance in navigating legal processes such as guardianship of minors or securing property.
- Financial aid options, including crime victim compensation programs.
- Connect them with people who remove mattresses or any necessary details related to the trauma.
- Connect them with legal counsel if necessary.
Provide survivors with a comprehensive, written resource packet detailing available services, important contacts, and next steps.

Monitoring for Signs of Acute Distress

Watch for symptoms of severe shock, dissociation, panic attacks, or suicidal ideation among survivors.
If necessary, coordinate with medical personnel for emergency psychological intervention, including hospitalization if required.
Maintain periodic check-ins with survivors, even if they initially decline assistance, as grief and trauma responses can escalate over time.
Ensure that survivors who require long-term support are connected with follow-up counseling or community-based trauma services.

Survivors of murder-suicide are at high risk for emotional and psychological distress.

You, as the First Responders, can make a profound difference by offering compassionate support, connecting survivors with necessary resources, and ensuring their safety.

By following these guidelines, first responders can help mitigate the trauma of these devastating incidents and facilitate the beginning of the healing process.

Get in Touch

Interested in connecting with us? We welcome you to share your thoughts and stories. Your voice matters, and we are here to support you on your journey of healing and hope.

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When you give to ISMS, you provide critical support to survivors of murder-suicide as they navigate trauma, grief, and the stigma that often follows. Your generosity helps offer safe spaces, healing resources, and community. Together, we can raise awareness, restore hope, and remind survivors they are not alone.