Death is not a subject many of us like to contemplate with too much scrutiny, it comes to us all and we know that, but life is for living in the meantime. However, when death affects us personally and unavoidably, it is good to know there are experienced, compassionate professionals who can help us through the worst of the physical processes and allow us to start grieving.
What is an unattended death?
An unattended death is one where the person was found alone, possibly after an extended period of time, and typically involves older family members who pass away alone at home. Occasionally, other incidents can be the cause, such as accidents, misadventures, or criminal activity. Either way, an unattended death cleanup can be more complex, traumatic, and potentially dangerous to perform, and this is where Aftercare steps up to offer our expert advice and professional services.
The importance of fast trauma scene cleanup
If the unfortunate death is caused during the perpetration of a crime, the situation is a little different. Crime scenes can often be highly contaminated and present significant health risks, increasing the longer the scene remains uncleaned. Once authorities have finished investigating, it is crucial to clean the area as thoroughly and quickly as possible. It is unlikely to be a sight anyone wants to linger for long and there are some other factors to consider, namely:
- Safety and Security
- Potential harmful substances/materials
- Cross-contamination
- Emotional trauma
- Retrieval of personal items
- Preventing irreparable structural damage
The importance of fast trauma scene cleanup could not be more pressing in terms of health and safety. The potential for people or animals in the immediate area to injure themselves, contaminate other areas, or contract a dangerous illness is very real. Protecting anyone exposed to the scene is paramount and rapid and professional actions can go a long way towards easing some of the trauma whilst removing dangerous hazards.
Neutralize health hazards
The scene of an unattended death is likely to contain one or all of the following:
- Blood/bodilyfluids
- Medical waste
- Chemicals/drugs
These are extremely hazardous to others and must be neutralized and removed as fluid-borne illness are serious and there may be other dangerous substances present. The cleanup must be undertaken by experienced professionals with the knowledge, equipment, and cleaning materials necessary to return the scene to its original state, ensuring no traces of contaminants remain.
A compassionate approach
The aftermath of any unattended death must be handled respectfully and compassionately. Feelings will be running high and there will surely be emotional amd possibly physical damage to take into account. It is important to know you can rely on your chosen environmental cleanup team to tread carefully and take these factors seriously. Professionalism in these situations comes in the form of compassion for the unfortunate souls involved, not just a fine cleaning job.
Contact us
With more than 20 years of experience providing fast, efficient cleanup solutions in Virginia and North Carolina, Aftercare has the team you need to get the job done correctly and promptly. If you have any questions or comments about the importance of fast trauma scene cleanup or any of our other services, please get in touch and we will gladly discuss them with you.
