Unfortunately, cleaning after traumatic incidents doesn’t fall on the first responders.
Let’s say you’re a landlord. When a traumatic incident occurs on your property, you will be legally responsible to clean up the mess yourself as soon as the police or the paramedics are out of the picture. You are expected to restore the area back to what it once was—safe and habitable, particularly if you plan to rent the property out again.
You may be thinking of doing it yourself or getting your regular cleaners to do the job, but that’s not a good idea. Traumatic incidents are, of course, very volatile and complex, and it’s easy for one to blow everything out of proportion.
You’re going to need the help of professional trauma cleaning specialists who are trained to deal with these gruesome cases on the technical, legal, and emotional level. So to start, here’s everything you need to know about cleaning after traumatic incidents:
What Are Trauma Incidents?
A “trauma incident” in the context of cleaning is an event that involves the release of biohazardous materials such as blood, bodily fluids, human tissues, and many more. Blood, in particular, can transmit harmful viruses, bacteria and other pathogens in an area, therefore putting other people at risk. Thus, they require a specific method of containment and disposal.
That’s just blood we’re talking about. What about the other bodily fluids and human tissues?
It gets worse the more you think about it, especially if we start to consider if and how long the body has been left unattended.
Most Common Trauma Incidents in the UK
Cleaning after traumatic incidents could encompass several sensitive, often graphic, scenes. The approach may vary from case to case, but each scenario requires a high level of discretion to protect both the privacy of the deceased person’s relatives and the property owner.
Crime Scenes
This is often the result of homicides or other violent crimes. Property owners are usually left with the victim’s blood, bodily fluids, tissues (depending on the severity of the crime), and chemicals that the police may have used to conduct their investigations.
Suicide
This also includes suicide attempts. Blood and other bodily fluids are to be expected; the worst-case scenario would be if the body has been left unattended. The general goal would be to restore the property to be as close as possible to what it once was. This case also demands compassion from the professional crew working if the deceased person’s relatives are present.
Accidents
This does not necessarily involve a person’s death. It could also be a large accident in the workplace, one that particularly involves a hazardous chemical or waste. Workplaces are usually required to ensure that the area is safe and decontaminated before the employees can resume work.
Unattended Deaths
If a person passes away and is discovered several days or weeks later, they turn into a very complex biohazard that may involve bacteria, insects, small animals, or all of them on top of powerful odours. Decontamination and restoration of the area becomes the priority, though compassion for the deceased and their grieving relatives are provided as needed.
Cleaning After Traumatic Incidents Is A Specialist’s Job
Truth be told, you’re going to need more than a deep clean regardless of how severe the traumatic incident is.
Going DIY is not a good idea. We don’t have to go very far for examples. Working with blood and other bodily fluids without the proper equipment may have you contract Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV—and those are just the most common ones. There’s also the mental stress of having to deal with a corpse; this becomes especially true if you’re related to the deceased person.
Regular cleaners aren’t fit for trauma cleaning, either. Not having the right tools is just the tip of the iceberg; a standard cleaning crew won’t be able to handle the technicalities of containing and disposing of biohazardous waste. Hiring them also means that you’re putting them at risk too psychologically.
What Does Professional Trauma Scene Cleaning Look Like?
Cleaning after traumatic incidents with a professional team involves a process that prioritizes safety and discretion.
If you’re working with one, you could expect them to arrive in unmarked vehicles so as not to draw attention. Confidentiality will also be maintained for everyone involved. And if needed, these specialists are trained on how to properly interact with their grieving clients.
For the cleaning itself, professional trauma scene cleaners would go above and beyond. It’s a standard for cleaning after traumatic incidents to restore the room to be as close as possible to what it once was. This depth also applies to the quality of air in the area, making sure that it is completely free of unwanted odours. A professional cleaning crew has the right tools to make this happen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Does Cleaning After A Traumatic Incident Involve?
Cleaning after a traumatic incident involves a thorough decontamination of areas affected by blood, bodily fluids, and other tissues of a person following a crime or a traumatic event.
How Long Does the Process Take?
It depends on the case, but most of the trauma cleaning services we provide are typically completed within 24 to 48 hours. We want to complete the job as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Who Pays for Professional Trauma Scene Cleaning?
The cleaning after traumatic incidents is generally covered by insurance. It would be best to check your policy or speak to your provider regarding this.
Cleaning After Traumatic Incidents With Principal Cleaning Solutions
There are a number of traumatic incidents with each case being different from the last, but a few things remain true: cleaning after traumatic incidents should fall into the hands of specialists—professional trauma scene cleaners who are better equipped and trained to handle these types of cases.
For cleaning after traumatic incidents, you can reach out to Principal Cleaning Solutions. You can get a no-obligation quotation here. You can email us at info@principalcleaningsolutions.co.uk or call 01462 227 000 for more information.
Let us know how we can help you today!
