What NOT to Do Before Cleanup Professionals Arrive
Last updated 2020-09-23
Stay Out of the Affected Area
It is a natural instinct to check on the space or start straightening up nearby rooms, but the safest choice by far is to stay completely away from the affected area until a trained crew arrives. Contaminants like bloodborne pathogens are not always visible to the eye, and simply walking through the space can carry them to other rooms, onto clothing, or onto shoes without anyone realizing it happened. Keep children and pets away from the area as well, for the same reason. If closing the space off with a door or a sheet feels like a reasonable interim step, it is. The real goal in the meantime is containment, holding the situation steady until a trained crew can properly assess it and begin the actual work.
Do Not Use Household Cleaners
Grabbing bleach, disinfecting wipes, or a mop and bucket feels like the obvious response, but ordinary cleaning products were never designed to eliminate bloodborne pathogens or achieve real decontamination. Using them beforehand can actually complicate the professional cleanup that follows, since leftover chemical residue interferes with proper testing and disinfection later on. It can also spread contamination even further if the wrong products or techniques get used along the way. Certified technicians bring hospital-grade equipment and products built specifically for this exact kind of work, along with the training needed to apply them correctly and safely across every type of surface involved in the situation, from fabric to tile to drywall.
Let Authorities Release the Scene First
When police or the coroner become involved, the scene has to be formally released before any cleanup can legally start. This requirement exists to protect the integrity of any investigation and to make sure nothing gets disturbed before it needs to be examined. Waiting through this stage can feel almost unbearable, particularly for a Smyrna family already working through shock or grief, but it remains a necessary part of the overall process. The moment the release comes through, call a certified crew right away so cleanup can begin without any further delay. Staying patient here, difficult as it genuinely is, protects both the investigation itself and your family's ability to move forward safely once the work begins.