What to do when someone dies

Losing a loved one or someone close to you is one of the hardest parts of the human experience. It’s a blow, and you are going to be in a lot of pain. Coming to terms with the death of someone you care about can be difficult to do.

If you were present when the death happened and it was an expected death, you need to call the doctor of the deceased person first. If the death was unexpected, you need to call emergency services first. If you’re unsure about the circumstances, call your local coroner’s office. The attending doctor or coroner will complete a medical certificate of death that includes the cause of death.

The next step when someone dies is to transport the body either to a funeral home, cemetery, or crematorium. If the death occurred while in a hospital, you have more time to make arrangements than you would if the death occurred elsewhere, like at home. In order to get the body transferred, contact a funeral director who can also help you get a burial permit (which is required before the body can be buried, cremated, or taken outside a province).

If the deceased person left a will, you can find out important information there, such as whether they’ve chosen to be an organ donor. However, if they didn’t make a decision either way while they were alive, their family can usually make that decision on their behalf.

You will also need to apply for a death certificate, which can be done at any time, but only issued after a death is registered. Either a next of kin, an executor, or estate administrator can request a death certificate, and this can be done online.

Attending or arranging the funeral when someone dies can be one of the first steps in the grieving process. This can help you acknowledge the death and be around other people who feel the loss deeply, too. Grieving is an important step in eventually moving on from the death. Suppressing your feelings will only cause them eventually bubble over and return later. If you’re struggling with grief when someone close to you dies, it may be a good idea to try grief counselling.

Expressing your feelings of loss and surrounding yourself with supportive people is crucial during this trying time. You may experience feelings of rage, denial, confusion, sadness, and despair. These are all natural emotions at this time and will eventually help lead you to acceptance.