WHO- the World Health Organization indicates that one person dies in the world every 40 seconds by suicide. Most people don’t expect their family to be touched by the trauma of a suicide; unfortunately, the reality is that the incidents are common in family homes each day. 

When a suicide does occur and loved ones call for help; emotional distress can lead to mishandling of the scene quite simply because there’s uncertainty as to what should be done in the aftermath. Panic and trauma can lead close friends or family to want to move the victim. 

Ideally, the site is to be left undisturbed until help arrives so the circumstances surrounding the death can be determined. When the body is moved or the affected area has been compromised, it can impact the impending investigation.  

Let’s explore some common mistakes before suicide cleanup companies can take over the scene. 

Mistakes To Avoid When Facing Suicide Cleanup 

When coming onto the scene of the suicide of someone close to you, the devastation and trauma experienced cannot be expressed in words. The immediate response is to somehow help the victim by moving them from the situation.  

Unfortunately, this compromises the investigation to determine the circumstances of the death. Aside from calling for help, no one is certain what to do until emergency services arrive or how the scene will ultimately be cleaned up.   

Here are many of the mistakes that people often make and how the situations should be handled. 

Disturbing the scene 

Coming into the scene following a suicide is shocking and traumatic, with the immediate panic response for many is to move the body out of the situation. This usually results in touching many of the objects in the surrounding area.  

While it’s difficult considering the circumstances, it’s critical to try to gather your thoughts and remain as calm as possible in order to maintain the integrity of the scene. The first step is to reach out for help and find somewhere away from the scene to wait until they arrive. 

Not only can you compromise the scene, but touching the body can expose you to dangerous pathogens. Those responding to the incident need to determine the circumstances of the death, which is difficult if the scene has been disturbed. 

Responders order scene cleanup 

A common misperception is that those responding to a suicide will handle contacting the suicide cleanup company. The property owner will be left with this responsibility after the emergency service personnel and investigative team leave the scene. 

Because suicide deaths often result in biological materials such as blood, body fluids, or other human wastes, researching sites like suicidecleanup.com will offer resources for specialized companies with proper training and experience in biohazard removal and disposal in these situations. 

These technicians assume the cleanup burden, removing the likelihood for you to constantly be reminded of the trauma and instead move forward with the grieving and healing process. 

Cleaning the scene yourself 

A major mistake many people make is trying to perform suicide cleanup themself. The risks associated with infectious materials potentially found at the scene are significant.  

Exposure can lead to dangerous, possibly life-threatening diseases. Biohazards at a suicide scene can not only include blood and body fluids but also syringes and needles classified as sharps. Suicide cleanup companies are held to stringent laws and safety standards when removing and disposing of these materials. 

Property owners are strongly encouraged to hire specialized cleanup companies to remediate suicide scenes. Professionals are trained in using specific tools, equipment, and industrial-grade chemicals to eradicate biohazards thoroughly.  

Attempting to clean an affected area risks your physical health and further impacts your emotional and mental wellness. Finding the deceased is traumatic in and of itself, but cleanup can hinder the grieving process. 

Not taking care of your emotional and mental wellness 

The loss of someone close to you is emotionally devastating but when the individual takes their life by suicide and you discover the person, it’s harmful to your mental wellness. Go here to learn steps to help those you believe may be suicidal. 

In the aftermath of this sort of traumatic incident, it’s essential to bring yourself to a point of calm, as much as possible, and reach out for help.  

Once you have a cleanup company that will restore the property to its safe and healthy state, spending time with someone or somewhere you can begin to heal while the cleaning process is underway is critical. This can be at a hotel for a bit of solitude or with loved ones for emotional support. 

At some point, it may be helpful to seek a counselor or therapist’s guidance to process the incident and move forward with healing. Often, the suicide cleanup company can offer counseling resources if you’re unsure where to start.