The majority of us have watched murder mysteries, such as “CSI”, “First 48” and that is our only brush with a violent death. It is all very interesting, the police officers crime-scene investigators collecting evidence, taking notes, photos and then removing the body. What you never see on TV is the family members who live in the house standing in a room that is covered in blood. Professionals do not clean up the crime scene. That is left up to the victim’s family.
Cleaning Up After A Violent Death
Typically, when a violent death occurs such as suicide or murder occurs, the family members remain in the home. Until the 1990’s the family were usually the ones that had to clean the crime scene, a nightmarish task for the shocked and grieving family. Thankfully, today, once the crime scene has been secured, the cleanup specialists can start. Depending on the type of trauma, it can take from one hour to 40 hours or more to restore the home.
Keeping The Family Safe From Infection After a Violent Death
According to federal regulations, all bodily fluids are considered biohazards. Any blood or tissue at the crime scene is a potential source for infection for the family. For example, while there is just a postage-stamp-sized bloodstain on the carpet, when pulled back there is a good chance you will see a 2-foot bloodstain on the floorboards. It is not just enough to wash the walls and clean carpets. Another thing that many family members are not aware of is that a crime scene cleanup will require permits to transport any blood-stained items and biohazardous waste. This is where you need a specialist with the knowledge to know what to look for and how to handle biohazardous material safely. It is also required for the cleanup crew to hold biohazard certifications.
Steps To Cleaning Up A Crime Scene
Cleaning up a crime scene is no easy task and not for those who are faint of heart. In addition to addressing the biohazards, cleaning up and working with a family in shock and pain, they must do so quickly and efficiently. Most crime scene clean up follows these steps.
- Assessment: The amount of damage will be assessed at the crime scene. Biohazard contractors identify areas that need to be cleaned and determine the proper cleanup procedure
- Preparation: A safety zone will be created around the crime scene to prevent cross-contamination by keeping the biohazards from coming into contact with non-contaminated materials.
- Removal: The most dangerous part of the cleanup, includes removing organic materials like blood, tissue, contaminated items such as the carpet.
- Cleaning: After removal, the area is cleaned, disinfected and deodorized
- Restoration: The crime scene is restored to its original condition. This might include carpet, new drywall, or painting.
While it is so difficult when a family member succumbs to a violent death, the crime scene must be cleaned to keep your family from infection. The Blackhill Restoration Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With over 70 years of combined experience, we are a first response, emergency services restoration team that is here to help you in your time of grief and need.