Infant and Child Death Scene Investigation: Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is a category of death that includes deaths among infants less than one year of age that occur suddenly and unexpectedly, where the cause of death is not immediately obvious prior to investigation. This category also includes infant deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which cannot be explained after a thorough case investigation, including scene investigation, autopsy, and review of the clinical history.

See below for information about the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Investigation Training and for guidance about correctly documenting the cause of death for infants.

Documenting Causes of Death

Sudden unexpected infant death is not a cause of death and should never be written on a death certificate. 

By correctly documenting the cause of death, death scene investigators, vital records, and other public health professionals can learn more about the differences in risk factors among infants who died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or other causes, more efficiently allocate resources, and create targeted interventions to prevent future deaths. 

Note: Vital Records will inappropriately classify the cause of death as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome if a certain combination of words is listed on a death certificate. Unless there is a confirmed Sudden Infant Death Syndrome case, do not use any combination of the following words on a death certificate: 

• Infant
• Unexpected
• Unexplained
• Sudden
• Death
• Syndrome

Avoiding the use of these words will prevent the computer coding deaths as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in vital records data.

Use the following guidance to correctly document the cause of death on infant and child death certificates:

Record:	When:
Unknown or Undetermined	The death cannot be explained, and one of the following is unavailable: autopsy, death scene investigation, or review of clinical history.
Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed (ASSB)	The death occurred in a sleep environment and may be due to overlay or rollover. The death may also be due to an object in the sleep environment including, but not limited to, bed linens, sheets, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or soft bedding.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)	The death of an infant less than one year of age cannot be explained even after autopsy, death scene investigation, and review of clinical history. All criteria must be met to classify the death as SIDS.

Infant and Child Death Scene Investigation Training Series

Thank you for your interest in the Infant and Child Death Scene Investigation Training Series, offered in collaboration with the Michigan Public Health Institute and the National Center for Fatality Review and Prevention. This training focuses on pediatric growth and development, infant safe sleep, best-practice investigative and interview protocols, and multi-agency response, providing death scene investigators and coroners with specialized tools and knowledge to effectively investigate sudden and unexpected infant and child deaths.

By strengthening investigative practices and supporting public health prevention efforts, the training will help improve the safety and well-being of children and families.

Participants can complete the training at no cost, and may select and prioritize modules based on their professional needs. The training is best viewed on a desktop device using Google Chrome.

Continuing education credits are offered after completing the training series for a broad range of professionals involved in child death investigations.

Training participants will learn how to:

• Apply specialized investigative techniques for sudden and unexpected infant and child deaths, including Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other sleep-related deaths

• Explain key pediatric growth and developmental milestones and their relevance to infant and child death investigations

• Identify and assess infant safe sleep practices and understand their role in death scene investigations

• Conduct effective, trauma-informed interviews using protocols specific to infant and child death investigations

• Perform a doll scene reenactment as a best practice to support accurate scene analysis

• Balance emergency medical response priorities with scene preservation and evidence collection

• Describe the roles and coordination of a multi-agency response to infant and child deaths

• Use death scene investigation findings to inform public health surveillance, prevention efforts, and systems improvement

• Incorporate considerations into investigative and interview practices

• Recognize the emotional impact of infant and child death investigations and apply strategies for professional self-care

Creating an Account for the Training Series

1. Create an account. Once your account is created, you will receive immediate access to the learning platform.

2. Log in and access your courses.

   After logging in, select “My Courses,” and then choose the “Child Death Scene Investigation Learning Series.” Once approved, you will be able to register for the training.

3.  

   Complete the training.

4. Request your certificate and continuing education credit, if applicable.

   After completing each training module:

• Select Louisiana from the drop-down menu
• Enter your professional credentials (if seeking continuing education credit)
• Choose the type of completion certificate you would like to receive