The Definition of Accidental Death

What is the definition of an accidental death? The term accidental death is defined as any death that occurs as the result of an accident. These types of death are only deemed accidental if it was not intended (suicide), expected, or foreseeable (illness).

Accidental Death Defined By Examples

Examples of accidental deaths include:

• Motor vehicle accidents. The leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, motor vehicle accidents include mechanically or electrically powered vehicles.
• Falls. Each year there are approximately 13,000 deaths from falls.
• Poisoning. This category consists of 2 subcategories: Poisoning by gases and vapors (ie. carbon monoxide poisoning) and poisoning by solids and liquids (i.e. drugs and medications).
• Drowning. This category excludes drownings that occur as a result of natural disasters.
• Fire-related injuries. This includes burns, asphyxiation, and deaths that occur from falling objects during a fire.
• Suffocation. This includes choking on food or ingesting an object that blocks the air passage.
• Firearms. This does not include people who are killed in combat or individuals who commit suicide using a firearm.
• Industrial accidents. This can include explosions, equipment malfunctions, mining accidents, and any other work-related deaths.
• Other accidents: This includes medical complications resulting from mistakes made by medical professionals (e.g. surgery), air transport injury, machine interactions, mechanical suffocation, and the impact from a falling object.

Cleaning Up After an Accidental Death

When an accidental death results in significant bloodspill, as is often the case with falls and deaths caused by firearms, properly cleaning up the affected are of the accident is important for the health and safety of everyone involved.

However, because blood can carry bloodborne pathogens like HIV, MRSA, and Hepatitis B and C, cleaning up the blood yourself can be dangerous.

“These diseases are invisible and yet can cause severe illness or even death, without the proper bloodborne pathogen cleanup. Frighteningly, some viruses can remain dormant and reactivate when exposed to water, putting you and your family at risk years later.

News reports daily warn of infections occurring from a crime scene or industrial accident. Law enforcement and other officials are not responsible for blood spill cleanup or remediation of any damage, such as broken glass, and fingerprint powders and chemicals used by crime scene investigators. The burden and risk falls on the family or business in biohazard situations.”

Hiring a bioremediation company like Aftermath can help.

For Blood Cleanups Resulting from Accidental Death, Call Aftermath

More goes into cleaning up after an accidental death than just cleaning. Unlike a general cleaning company, Aftermath approaches blood cleanup with a full scientific process to contain, sanitize, and remediate all potential bloodborne pathogens from homes and properties.

We maintain the highest standards in sanitation and safety through:

• Protection. Our technicians are required to wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, respirators, and full body suits while onsite.
• Training. All of our technicians must complete bloodborne pathogens, hazard communication, OSHA, and medical waste handling/transporting training.
• Compliance. Aftermath is compliant with all DOT, OSHA, state, and local regulations.
• Compassion. We believe that no one should have to suffer the process of cleaning and restoration after a traumatic event. Therefore, the mission of Aftermath is to relieve the customer’s burden by providing compassionate, customer-focused, conscientious care in the delivery of our services.
• Public education. We support public health education through community outreach, learning materials, and brochures.

In the case of an accidental death that produces a significant amount of blood or biological material, Aftermath can help clean up the site, dispose of the waste, and sanitize all affected areas. For almost 20 years, Aftermath has provided professional and compassionate services to families dealing with the death of a loved one due to suicide, homicide, or accidental death.

If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, please call us day or night.

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Sources:

US Legal: http://definitions.uslegal.com/a/accidental-death/
AgriLIFE EXTENSION: http://agsafety.tamu.edu/files/2011/06/ACCIDENTAL-DEATHS-IN-THE-UNITED-STATES1.pdf