How to Compose a Follow-Up Release

• Date
• News peg, if applicable
• Unit’s information, if available now, to add more clarity to the impersonal "who" information”

• It's important to note the notification period is 24 hours after the LAST of next of kin has been notified. That is based on the personnel accountability information on the deceased and who is listed as next of kin.
• Permission to release the name from the next of kin is not required. If the next of kin asks that the name not be released, the commander can decide to honor that request.
• Names of the injured along with specific injuries are only releasable with the patient’s consent. If
  consent is not given, unit and duty title can still be provided along with the condition statement
  (i.e. stable).

After you receive consent, move on to the next step.

When listing the deceased:

• List names in alphabetical order by their last name
• Include the following information, if applicable, in this order:
  • Service
  • Rank
  • Full name
  • Sex
  • Age
  • Job title
  • Unit
  • Home

Civilian contractors will not have a service or rank.

Structure the beginning of the sentence appropriately based on the number of deceased people, using the following format:

• For a single deceased person,
  • Indent the sentence
  • Begin the bridge with “Dead is”
  • Continue on the same line with the deceased’s information
• For two or more deceased,
  • Do not indent
  • Begin the bridge with “Dead are:” on its own line
  • Break to the next line
  • Indent and list each deceased person's information on their own line

List the injured in the following paragraph. You must receive written consent to include their names. Do not list the dead and injured in the same paragraph. The structure for both listings is very similar.

Continue to step 5 if there are no injuries. Note that you must have completed step 2, confirm personal information is releasable, before releasing the names of the injured.

When listing the injured:

• Write about injuries in the past tense
• List names in alphabetical order by their last name
• Include the following information, if applicable, in this order:
  • Service
  • Rank
  • Full name
  • Job title
  • Unit

Civilian contractors will not have a service or rank.

Structure the beginning of the sentence appropriately based on the number of injured people, using the following format:

• For a single injured person,
  • Indent the sentence
  • Begin the bridge with “Injured was”
  • Continue on the same line with the injured’s information
• For two or more injured,
  • Do not indent
  • Begin the bridge with “Injured were:” on its own line
  • Break to the next line
  • Indent and list each injured person's information on their own line

Similar to the bridge, begin by listing the deceased followed by the injured. The dead will have their own paragraph(s) and the injured will have their own paragraph(s). List the names in alphabetical order by their last name.

The body should begin with how and when the deceased arrived at the hospital.

• If the deceased took the same transport to the same hospital, state that in a single paragraph placed above each person’s additional medical details.
• If any details differ, give each person their own separate paragraph explaining how and where they went.
• If two or more of the deceased went to the same place and had the same cause of death, they can be merged into one paragraph.

This information can also be combined with the medical data, but make sure to cover all the information within the body.

Structure the medical details using the following format:
[Last name] was pronounced dead at [medical facility] at [time], said [doctor full ID]. They died of [cause of death].

When writing the body details for the deceased:

• Always attribute all medical information. Every paragraph that mentions a prognosis must have an attribution.
• Don't say the deceased were “pronounced dead on arrival,” if you don’t know for sure.

While writing about the dead and injured, be mindful of the pain everyone involved is going through. Be tasteful and consider propriety at all times. This means:

1. Don't list injuries as is, and don't use complex medical terms.
2. Say the injured suffered their wounds, not sustained.
3. Say ‘internal injuries’ instead of graphically talking about the dead’s organs rupturing and being torn asunder.
4. Say ‘blood loss’ instead of getting too graphic about excessive bleeding.
5. Say ‘head injury’ instead of saying their brain was severely injured.
6. Say ‘gunshot wounds’ instead of detailing where they were hit.

Compose the medical details for the injured exactly like those of the deceased:

• The body should begin with the how and when the injured arrived at the hospital.
• If the injured took the same transport to the same hospital, state that in a single paragraph placed above each person’s additional medical details.
• If any details differ, give each person their own separate paragraph explaining how and where they went.
• Give each of the injured their own paragraph(s), listed in alphabetical order by their last name.
• Always attribute all medical information. Every paragraph that mentions a prognosis must have an attribution.
• Include the known condition and type of injury the injured suffered, if permitted, using the past tense, keeping in mind injuries can change quickly for better or worse.

This information can also be combined with the medical data, but make sure to cover all the information within the body.

Structure the medical details using the following format:
[Last name] was in [known condition] with [type of injury] at [date].

Lastly, just like for the deceased, be mindful, tasteful and consider propriety at all times when writing about the injured. Refer to step 5 for more details on writing about the injured. PA professionals should review all the information, prior to release, against Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Privacy Act considerations. Care should be given to preserve the dignity of the victims and their families.

• Condolence quote from the commander
• Event details
• Weather conditions
• Mission-related facts
• Number of crew
• Memorial service information or emotional support details
• Contact number for the Public Affairs office for more information

Release only directly-relevant information with command approval, balanced against the risk of assigning blame or culpability.

The incident is under investigation.

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas - A patrolman from the 26th Security Forces Squadron was killed and a librarian with the 26th Force Support Squadron was injured during a shooting at approximately 7 a.m., Oct. 24 at the Herbert Library.

Dead is U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. John J. Smith, male, 27, a patrolman with the 26th SFS, originally from Del Rio, Texas.
Injured was Elizabeth M. Jones, a librarian with the 26th SFS.

“Our hearts go out to all involved,” said Col. Emeline Miller, 26th Air Mobility Wing commander. "We're all saddened by the tragic loss of Sergeant Smith and Mrs. Jones. On behalf of the base community, I'd
like to express our deepest condolences to their family and loved ones. They will be sorely missed."
A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Oct. 30 at the main chapel. In addition, the base chaplain is offering grieving and counseling services for Airmen and families affected by the shooting.
The shooting suspect is in custody.
The incident is under investigation.