An Unattended Death occurs when a person or persons pass away and are left ‘unattended’ for a period of time. These situations are fairly common, and almost always require the expertise of a specialized company who are properly licensed and trained to clean, disinfect and deodorize the property.
An Unattended death clean up, also known as trauma clean up or death cleanup, refers to the process of removing and disposing of hazardous materials and contaminated items left behind after a death. These situations can also cause a lot of structural damage to the property. This may involve disposing of items that cannot be cleaned, such as carpeting, furniture, and other porous materials. Any materials directly affected with biological fluids must be disposed of as medical waste according to local, state and federal regulations. The death cleanup team will also clean and disinfect surfaces, walls, and flooring to remove any residual contamination.
In addition, there are many health and environmental risks associated with the biological fluids expelled during decomposition such as:
- Upper Raspatory Infections
- Carcinogens
- Exposure to transmitted diseases
- Bacteria
- Mold
Due to these risks, it is imperative to us Personal Protective equipment while exposed to this environment. The overall goal of an unattended death cleanup is to restore the property to a safe, hygienic environment. Often times this is the first step in healing process for the family and loved ones of the deceased.