Question: how do you know if someone is really dead?
Answer: Kick Them. OK, OK, don't kick the possibly dead body. ...  Check for a Pulse. Hold your fingertips to the person's wrist or on either side of their neck and see if you can feel for any sign of a beating heart. ...  The Old Mirror Trick. ...  Shine a Light. ...  The Sniff Test. ...  The, Um, Other Sniff Test.