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What to do if…
you find someone who appears to have died and you are the first person there

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

From a safe position, call 911 immediately unless you know this was an expected death covered by a current hospice or documented home-death plan. Do not decide that the person is dead yourself; follow instructions about checking breathing, giving CPR, or using an automated external defibrillator.

Do not do these things

  • Do not approach if there may be traffic, fire, smoke, leaking gas, exposed electricity, chemicals, weapons, violence, or another immediate danger.
  • Do not assume the person cannot be helped because of how they look or feel.
  • Do not delay contacting 911 while you call relatives, a landlord, or a funeral home.
  • Do not call a funeral home first unless a known expected-death plan specifically directs you to do so.
  • Do not move the person unless this is needed for immediate safety, CPR, bleeding control, or because the 911 call-taker instructs you to.
  • Do not clean the area, rearrange objects, or remove belongings, medications, containers, or possible weapons.
  • Do not take or share photographs of the person.
  • Do not guess publicly about the cause of death or what may have happened.

What to do now

  1. Check the area for danger. Look for traffic, fire, smoke, electricity, gas, chemicals, weapons, aggressive people, animals, or anything else that could harm you. Move away and call from safety if necessary.

  2. Check for a known expected-death plan. If the person was receiving hospice care and the death was expected, call the hospice’s on-call number and follow the plan you were given. If you are uncertain, cannot quickly confirm the plan, or see signs of injury or suspicious circumstances, call 911.

  3. Call 911 for an unexpected or uncertain situation. Give the exact location and say that you have found an unresponsive person who may have died. Describe any hazards you can see. Put the phone on speaker if possible and do not hang up until the call-taker tells you to.

  4. Check responsiveness and breathing when it is safe. Follow the call-taker’s directions. Shout to the person, tap their shoulder, and check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. Report only what you observe. Occasional gasps are not normal breathing.

  5. Start emergency care when directed. If the person is unresponsive and is not breathing normally or is only gasping, begin CPR and use an automated external defibrillator if one is available. Follow the device prompts and the 911 call-taker’s instructions.

  6. Keep monitoring normal breathing. If the person is unresponsive but breathing normally, tell the call-taker and follow their instructions about positioning and monitoring. Avoid unnecessary movement, especially if an injury may have occurred.

  7. Limit disturbance after urgent care. Keep other people, children, and pets away. Touch or move only what emergency care requires, and remember anything you moved so you can tell responders.

  8. Help responders reach the person. Unlock a door or gate if it is safe, turn on lights when needed, and ask another person to meet emergency services and direct them to the location.

  9. Give responders factual information. Explain when and where you found the person, what you observed, what care you gave, and what you touched or moved. Share known information about hazards, medications, identification, or recent events without guessing.

  10. Take care of your immediate safety once responders take over. Sit somewhere safe if you feel faint or overwhelmed and contact a trusted person. Call or text 988 if you are in severe emotional distress or are worried that you may not remain safe.

What can wait

You do not need to determine the cause of death, notify everyone, arrange a funeral, clean the area, gather belongings, contact insurers, or make legal and financial decisions now. Detailed family communication and later arrangements can wait until the immediate response is complete.

Important reassurance

You are not expected to decide whether the person has died. Your immediate role is to stay safe, contact the appropriate emergency or hospice service, follow instructions, and avoid unnecessary disturbance. It is understandable if you feel shaky, numb, sick, or unable to think clearly after finding someone in this situation.

Scope note

This guide covers only the first actions at the scene. Later notifications, death-investigation procedures, belongings, funeral arrangements, housing, employment, benefits, and family support may require help from local responders and appropriate specialists.

Important note

This is general emergency and first-aid information, not medical, legal, investigative, or other professional advice. Procedures for expected deaths and death investigations vary by state and locality, so follow instructions from 911, emergency medical personnel, law enforcement, the hospice team, and the local medical examiner or coroner.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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