5 SERVPRO Guidelines For Handling Suicide Cleanup

10/26/2020 (Permalink)

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SERVPRO Specializes in Suicide Cleanup Services in Atlanta 

Losing a loved one to suicide is an experience that we hope no one has to go through. A death in the family can turn every family member's world upside down. Knowing that they will never be able to hear that person's voice again can be very traumatic. When it comes to suicide, the team at SERVPRO wants the suicide clean up to be the last thing to have on their mind. We want to help any way we can in cleaning up the suicide scene so that those involved can focus on mourning the unexpected death. 

In this blog post, we will go over our guidelines to properly mitigate a biohazard from suicide. The topic of suicide is not a topic that we enjoy talking about, but we want our local Atlanta residents to know that there is a resource during traumatic events. 

5 SERVPRO Guidelines for Safe Suicide Cleaning 

It is best to always leave the cleaning to professionals due to the health hazards that come along with suicide cleanup. A dead body's bodily components can pose serious health threats such as HIV and hepatitis, and other viruses that are not necessarily apparent. Trained professionals know that it is vital to protect yourself from exposure to any biohazardous materials when cleaning after a suicide occurs. These following five guidelines are what the professionals at SERVPRO of South Cobb adhere to when performing suicide cleanup.  

1) Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE)

An industry-standard PPE includes coveralls, disposable gloves, respirators, safety shoes, and goggles.

2) Only use industry-standard cleaning products

SERVPRO only uses the top of the line cleaning products that are registered disinfectant products. Registered cleaning products have a broad spectrum to kill all pathogens and viruses. For safety precautions, it is always best to NEVER mix cleaning agents and follow the instructions written on the back of the container carefully.

3) Use biohazard containers

Contaminated materials need to be disposed of in marked biohazard bags that are securely closed. Biohazard waste management is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Only dispose of biohazard waste at locations that are registered with these regulating authorities.  

4) Disinfect all suicide cleaning equipment

In all suicide cleanup jobs, we will use a wide array of equipment, including mops, brooms, and buckets. All of the pieces of equipment used in a suicide cleanup should be effectively sanitized with a solution designed for killing viruses and pathogens. 

5) Seek medical attention if exposure occurs 

It is still possible to be exposed to blood from the suicide cleaning even with PPE. If this occurs, it is best to rinse the exposed areas and seek medical attention. 

SERVPRO Suicide Cleanup Division

SERVPRO of South Cobb specializes in crime scene cleanup and has helped thousands of families, property owners, and businesses handle suicide cleanup.  

All of our crew members here at SERVPRO have gone through extensive training to ensure that a home is properly disinfected from all biohazardous materials. SERVPRO is known in the industry as a leader in biohazard remediation.