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Contact Us Crime Scene Cleanup: Supplies, Procedures, and Guidelines
When someone falls victim to a violent crime, suicide, or traumatic accident, their family is often tasked with cleaning up the scene. In the past, families or property owners had to handle the cleaning of a crime scene the best way they knew how — with a bucket, a mop, and a jug of bleach. However, cleaning a site that contains potential biohazards is better left to professionals with specialized crime scene cleanup supplies, training, and know-how.
The Right Supplies for Crime Scene Cleanup
As more information becomes available about the dangers of handling blood and other potentially infectious material, it is not recommended that crime scene cleanup be left to untrained individuals. The blood and body fluids found at a crime scene can carry bloodborne pathogens, including MRSA, HIV, hepatitis B and C, and clostridium difficile (C. diff). This means that if proper supplies and procedures are not used during crime scene cleanup, the individuals tasked with the cleanup could be at risk for these infections.
To ensure that all potential biohazards found at a crime scene are properly remediated, and to reduce the risk of spreading infection, it is suggested that families and property owners hire a professional crime scene cleanup company to disinfect the site. When selecting the company, you should also ensure that they are using chemicals with a kill agent specific to the disease or infection, because there is no such thing as a universal disinfectant.
Some supplies that crime scene cleanup companies use include:
- Personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, biohazard suits, respiratory masks, and shoe coverings
- Biohazard disposal containers
- Proprietary cleaning agents and commercially available solvents
- Plastic sheeting and bio-tape
- Portable ATP fluorescence testing unit
Call a Professional for Crime Scene Cleanup
Aftermath is a nationwide crime scene and bioremediation company that has been an industry leader since 1996. Not only do we utilize the supplies mentioned above for crime scene cleanup, we also follow a strict set of protocols and guidelines to ensure the safety of our employees and those we serve. We call this our 28-point checklist. Additionally, we follow a six step process to ensure your home is properly remediated.
- Assessment: We walk through the site and create zones to prevent cross-contamination.
- Bio Removal: This is the most dangerous step as we remove all visible blood, body fluids, and compromised materials.
- Preparation: Remove carpet, furniture, dirt, dust, etc. in preparation for disinfecting.
- 3-Step Biowash: This involves cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing.
- Path of Extraction: We use the same 3-step process to disinfect the pathway around and out of the home.
- Site Breakdown: Disinfect all equipment and properly dispose of biohazard containers.
At Aftermath, we handle the cleanup of traumatic situations on a daily basis and understand that our customers need more than just supplies and a cleaning regimen during this trying time. The Aftermath Way is more than a cleaning regimen, it is a mindset instilled in all Aftermath employees that our customers deserve the highest quality service while being treated with dignity and respect
If you have suffered a recent loss and find yourself wondering about what to do about crime scene cleanup, an Aftermath representative is available to serve you at any time. Call us today at (877) 872-4339.
Note: Aftermath provides a Biohazard Response Program to companies looking to be prepared should a biohazard emergency occur. Contact us today to learn more about preparing your employees with training, reporting, a preparedness kit, and more!
