The length of time taken to notify some families is inexcusable IMHO:

[Are_grits_groceries]

I know they have to leave the bodies in order to process the crime scene.

There are hundreds of law enforcement people on site. Why can't a team be assigned to try to find out the identity of the victims? They would follow protocol and do as little to the crime scene as possible.

I believe a small trained group could do this and let families know what has happened. It wouldn't be a full report by any means, but it would answer the critical question the families have.

They may not be able to identify all, but any family that does't have to wait hours would be worth it.

[dballance]

1. I understand your frustration but

The more people you have enter a crime scene, even if they are pros, the more likely it is to become contaminated. Or that some crucial piece of evidence like a footprint or fibers are to get obscured.

It is impossible for us to not leave fibers and traces of our own DNA behind. And how can you assure they would leave the bodies back in the exact position as before they touched them?

[HopeHoops]

2. It's not always as simple as it seems it should be. I wear a dog collar with tags when I go out.

It has actual dog tags, from PetSmart, with my medical conditions, ICE (in case of emergency) numbers, hospital preference, and a pill case with my emergency pills. My service dog's harness has the same. Both are on leash clips so they can be easily removed. Sure, most people will have a driver's license, but how will that help with tracking down relatives, especially if you're single and live away from your closest kin? I've got contact information in my wallet also, but most people don't keep that sort of thing.

I'd rather find out something happened to a close relative from the police than seeing it on the news. I think they do a pretty good job of it.

[lonestarnot]

3. I saved my dog-tags, there always in my possession. Has my blood type info.

[noamnety]

4. I don't always carry my "papers"

It's pretty common for me to go out for a run or bike ride in workout clothes with no pockets, so I don't have ID on me.

If I go out with my husband and I know I won't be driving, I don't generally bother with a purse. I hate purses. And I try not to take my ID out of my wallet and put it in a pocket because I know I'm absent-minded enough that I might forget to put it back in my wallet for when I really need it.