Written By Don M. McNulty © COPYRIGHT 2024 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The psychological impact of crime and trauma scene cleanup (CTS) is often overlooked. The media might highlight the gory reality of these professionals’ work, but we rarely hear about the emotional toll it takes on them. Each cleanup is a dual challenge: managing the physical aftermath of violence while navigating the labyrinth of trauma it leaves behind. The memories of the stories, the scenes—every aspect shapes their future experiences in ways few of us can comprehend.

Understanding the Emotional Impact:

These professionals walk into spaces where life’s fragility markedly clashes with its rawness. The silent screams of despair and the physical reminders of tragedy mark their work—every job carving a new niche in their emotional landscape.

Imagine entering a room where life once thrived, now reduced to a shell of what it used to be. The sights, sounds, and smells don’t fade with the door closing; they linger.

They return in quiet moments, challenging the boundaries of personal peace.

Many technicians state after doing this work, they have a different view of death. Most can’t describe how it’s different; it just is.

Coping Strategies:

Acknowledging these challenges is the first step. For many in the field, debriefing sessions are anchors on the tumultuous seas of their experiences.

Organized or informal, these gatherings offer the understanding only peers in their field can provide. Beyond structured support, many professionals lean on their spirituality, turning to faith leaders for solace in emotional wreckage.

However, the waves of these feelings often ebb and flow unpredictably, which requires a continuous commitment to self-care.

Personal Stories – A Glimpse Behind the Curtain:

A professional bio-technician of crime and trauma scene cleanup shared a poignant realization that changed the course of their perspective.

They spoke openly about their initial struggles, laced with anger towards the victims, feeling the weight of the survivors’ grief.

However, he experienced an epiphany that changed his views in a scene featuring countless books on mental illness in a darkened room.

A voice from deep inside him spoke to reveal the victim’s struggle to stay alive and lose the emotional battle. It became a symbol of a struggle that some lost despite their efforts.

It was this moment of understanding that realigned their Emotional journey, releasing a flood of empathy in the place of rage.

Another recounted anecdote warned of the peril of taking on jobs involving family to acquaintances. A personal connection amplifies the grief, stirring emotional turmoil that took months to settle from one colleague who didn’t heed the warning.

One must maintain boundaries between personal and professional connections to safeguard the delicate balance of emotional well-being.

One company’s motto is “No one should be victimized twice.” They came up with that motto to reflect family members attempting the cleanup. But, as you read above, it’s a message that can apply to everyone in these situations.

It’s important to recognize the potential emotional toll of any job, whether it involves family or not. The effects of stress and trauma can be long-lasting if not managed properly.

That’s why self-care is crucial for anyone in a demanding or emotionally taxing job. Taking breaks, seeking support from colleagues or mental health professionals, and finding healthy outlets for stress are all critical steps in maintaining emotional well-being.

A Case Study:

During a training session, the instructor asked the employees if they would like an impromptu Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. The owner was present and agreed to stay for the meeting.

As employees shared incidents that affected them emotionally, the owner was asked if he would like to share any experiences.

He was also an ex-marine and volunteer EMT/Firefighter for their small community.

He reported that he wasn’t really affected by trauma and didn’t have anything to share. The instructor was skeptical but proceeded with another employee who wanted to share.

In the middle of the conversation with others in the room, the owner spoke up to recount a situation involving an auto accident and a young child being injured.

The owner interrupted three times during the meeting to recount other incidents.

The instructor stopped and pointed out that the owner strongly suggested he was never affected by the trauma he was involved with, yet he had recounted those three stories.

Everyone in the room was silent for several minutes. With tears in his eyes and a shaky voice, the owner replied, I was affected more than I realized. I’ve been lying to myself and can now see how it has affected my dealings with people.

It turned out to be a refreshing time of healing.

Companies should also prioritize creating a supportive and understanding work culture. CTS companies should provide resources for employees to manage their emotions.

They should promote open communication and empathy among team members and take proactive measures to prevent burnout and secondary trauma.

By implementing these strategies, both individuals and organizations can work toward reducing them.

The Way Forward:

As we shed light on the psychological landscapes of those who undertake crime and trauma scene cleanup, it’s clear that advocating for their mental health stands paramount.

Ongoing dialogue within the CTS community, supported by mental health professionals who understand this nuanced trauma, can pave the way for robust support systems.

Organizations that offer trauma-informed care could be pivotal in addressing these professionals’ unique challenges.

The conversation must expand to create a comprehensive, nationwide strategy supporting mental well-being in this field.

In conclusion, the stories of those who stand at the intersections of pain and peace, grappling with the vestiges of violence and trauma, remind us of the complex web woven by human emotions.

Their tales of resilience and renewal mark a hopeful path forward as they include themselves in a collective of support, understanding, and healing.

They deserve nothing less than their compassion and unwavering support in navigating the intricate emotional terrains they inhabit.

How Crime and Trauma Scene Cleanup Companies Help Communities Heal through what they provide, Care, Compassion, and Peace of Mind.

From The Life of a Death Scene Cleaner.

Written by Don M. McNulty — © copyright 2024. All rights reserved.

Suicide produces one of the loneliest times for everyone involved with the person who took their own life. No one wants to discuss the death in those terms.

Suicide, even to this day, seems to carry a sigma of shame with it. Those living feel shame even though they were not the ones who committed suicide. So, once I thought about it, I wondered where the shame came from?

I believe our moral and spiritual beliefs contribute to the shame associated with suicide, as society views it as a sin. Some individuals perceive suicide as a mental illness that can run in families, like certain other types of mental illnesses.

But there is no proof of those beliefs, and those left behind should feel nothing other than the same grief they bear with any type of death.

Still, others feel a sense of shame and guilt because they believe they could have done more, said something different, or devised a clever scenario that would instantly dispel any thought of self-harm and answer all the questions leading to the demise of their loved one.

When someone takes their own life, they obviously are not thinking right. They’re not stopping to think about what they’re leaving behind, relationally, mentally, or physically.

When the police arrived to complete their investigation, making sure this wasn’t a homicide, the process usually takes five to six hours. The police typically inform the family that the cleanup is their responsibility once they decide and hand over the scene.

The responsibility to clean up does not lie with the government but with the property owner, which surprises people. Now, they face the questions of how this gets done and who does it work?

Crime and Trauma Scene Cleanup (CTS) companies or some call Biohazard Cleaning now do that job. Many companies nationwide have taken on the physical and emotional burden and liabilities of doing this work. The good news is they are usually a short distance away, and property insurance usually pays for this work. The insurance providers treat this similarly to fire and storm damage.

We help the community heal through what we provide. Our company’s culture sets us apart from everyone else in that we believe first and foremost we provide Care, Compassion, and Peace of Mind, through our work.

When our companies didn’t exist, families and business owners would be left to beg, borrow, or steal anyone they could to help with the cleanup. Our motto is, “No One Should be Victimized Twice.” The last thing a person wants is to be the one to clean up a trauma death scene from a loved one. We wouldn’t — if it were us.

Many times, there is always this nagging question given to us as to why someone would take their own life? For many years, I would ask myself the same question. My answer is this: suicide is an irrational act, and you have a rational mind. A rational mind cannot understand an irrational act.

Whatever excuse a victim is using, we can devise a logical counter, but that’s not the problem, and none of that would matter. Have you ever smashed your finger with a hammer or slammed it between a car door? At that moment, where is all your attention? On the hurt finger.

I could put a dancing bear in front of you, and you would not notice because all your attention is focused on the hurt, and you cannot focus elsewhere. Are you beginning to see the true picture? Watch this Awareness test:

I’ve learned a long time ago. It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have said anything to make much of a difference if the victim’s mind can’t see beyond the pain.

Suicide affects the immediate community. I remember one case when a husband, father, and neighbor who lived in a small neighborhood took his own life. This neighborhood was built as a circle of 22 homes with only one street entering and leaving. Almost everyone living there knew their neighbors.

Their kids went to the same schools, played on the same sports team, or attended dance classes together; many attended the same church. Most of those people had lived in the neighborhood for many years, raising their families.

I, with one employee, was called to the job. I spoke to his wife, who was this beautiful but very broken by grief women. In the home, I saw many framed photographs of their family having fun at ball games, backyard bar-b-ques, and the traditional poses as the kids aged.

While loading the truck at the end of my day, a neighbor gave me a waive, and I waived back. He felt I was giving him permission to approach and have a conversation. Normally, I don’t speak with anyone other than who my contact gives me permission to speak with.

He started with, that was quite a mess in there. Not wanting to detail the work, I said, generally, that’s why we were called.

He continued by telling me how bad he felt for his friend. He knew he was struggling but didn’t want to talk about it much, so I rarely asked how he was doing? I saw him this morning, and all I did was waive before I left for work. I should have said something, walked across the street, and had a conversation. He may have opened up to me. But lately, he seemed better.

It’s been my experience; anything you could have said or done would have made a difference. Another thing you might want to know about the reason a person who is contemplating suicide seems better is that he’s arrived at his decision and just waiting for the right time and place.

We spoke a few more sentences and I begged off to finish loading. But when I arrived at my truck, there was yet another neighbor. Before leaving that day, I spoke with three neighbors, all having the same questions. Each one is broken and grieving in their own way.

I did suggest to the last one that he call a meeting before the funeral with a counselor from the local Suicide hotline or a pastor present. This would help them to better understand how to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors cope. Also, how to better offer solace to the man’s grieving widow and children, because these are the conversations that seem the most awkward, so many never approach. When asked why they say, I just didn’t know what to say, it’s different than a normal death.

The physical damage to the structure left behind can be extensive. Because the names of most CTS companies have the word cleaning in their title, people need to understand that although cleaning is part of what we do, we perform what I call deconstruction, which is the other part.

We don’t call it demolition since we remove structure in a precise way. We are not taking sledgehammers into a space and knocking out walls like we were remodeling an area. We set up safety zones and construct negative air chambers and use HEPA Vacuums to contain and capture contamination during the remediation process. Our technicians dress in Level 3 PPE and double glove for protection according to OSHA Regulations.

The work is more like peeling an onion. We carefully remove the top layer, and if we find further damage, we remove the second and third until all biohazards have been removed or contained.

Over the years, we have developed procedures and processes that allow us to remove the damage which allows the build-back crew to have an easier job replacing what was removed.

If supporting structures are affected, our technicians are trained in construction methods. Hence, they know how to safely perform any task necessary. We also know when it may be necessary to call in a Class A Contractor or Architect Engineer when we’ve determined we are dealing with a load-bearing wall.

We help heal the communities we serve by knowing our job and what it takes to safely remove biohazards from the structure and bring those areas back to sanitary conditions for handling, use, or disposal.

We further help them heal emotionally by offering the care and compassion they need. We are not there to judge; we are there to serve. Through all these years, we’ve learned that the best gift we can give is two ears to listen when they want to speak and an understanding heart.

We also know they want us to do our job correctly and efficiently and leave as soon as possible to finish the job. I’ll add one more note to finish with. Very few families remain in the home. Many never return except to pack up and move.

But on rare occasions, I hear that friends who were once neighbors have stayed in touch and maintained their close relationships. As an once Pastor and Counselor, I can tell you those have become the most cherished relationships.

By Don McNulty © COPYRIGHT 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

While the Holiday season is typically joyful, it can also bring the “Holiday Blues.”

Around 65% of people experience the Holiday Blues, as per a survey by the American Psychological Association. This phenomenon results from several triggers that are heightened during this season. Financial pressures, family issues, and personal health can all contribute to feelings of stress and sadness.

Financial stress is a significant contributor to the Holiday Blues. According to a Gallup Poll, people planned to spend about $992 on gifts and holiday items in 2023. This is the same amount spent in 2022. However, with inflation over the past two years, the purchasing power will be less than in previous years. With the added inflation, this amount can represent a significant financial burden for many families and individuals.

Family dynamics can also add to the holiday stress. While some enjoy reuniting with family members, this forced interaction can lead to tension and conflict for others. The American Psychological Association states that 38% of people feel more stressed during holiday family gatherings.

Personal health is another factor that could contribute to feelings of stress and sadness during the holiday season. Unhealthy habits like eating junk food, not working out, having poor sleep, and drinking alcohol can cause physical discomfort and stress.
It’s important to remember that if you or someone you know is experiencing the Holiday Blues, you’re not alone, and help is available. To handle these emotions, mental health experts advise realistic expectations, taking care of oneself, volunteering, keeping a regular sleep and eating routine, and seeking support from others.

Remember, it’s completely normal to experience stress and sadness during the holiday season. However, if you feel these feelings are intense or lasting for long periods, seeking professional help is advisable. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and tending to it is crucial, especially during stressful times.

In North America, people seem to believe the myth that suicide increases during the holiday season. Suicide rates remain consistently low during the holiday season and the two months that follow.

However, if you are an individual having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please call 988 right now. You will find compassionate help every day of the year.

Just to clarify, I am not suicidal. I have no one to talk to, no family, no friends. I’m mainly stuck at home. Is there someone I can call?

The answer to your question is YES; you can text HOME to 741741. Ten thousand volunteers are waiting to have a conversation and listen to your concerns or talk about whatever you want.

Facebook has several Groups dedicated to lonely people of every age or gender. We’ve researched just a few, but there are more. Find one that fits you. If you start with any suggestions I’ve shown below, and if they work for you, great! But if something feels wrong or doesn’t provide you the companionship you need, delete the group and find another. I know everyone has to start small, but we saw some groups with ten or twelve in the group, and it would be harder to have anonymity with a small group. If you’re sharing some of your private feelings and emotions, you’ll want to keep it anonymous.

Here is a small list of the Facebook Groups we suggest you begin with;

• Lonely Ladies Support Group
• Lonely Souls
• Alone, Empty, Lonely Confused

By Don M. McNulty © 2023 COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The effects of suicide devastate those loved ones and those left behind to pick up the pieces. It is an issue that can take a severe toll on any individual or family, leaving behind emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial destruction.

Dealing with the death of someone by suicide can be tough for their family and friends, as they face a mix of emotions like shock, guilt, grief, and anger. The constant reminders of the person’s death can make it hard to move forward and heal from the tragedy. Feelings of betrayal or abandonment will affect these people for months and years after the fact.

Those affected by suicide may struggle with depression or anxiety because the death created a sudden void in their life. Experiencing a death like this can make it hard for people to trust or form close connections from fears of a repeat occurrence.

Financially, suicide can present many roadblocks as well. The costs of funerals and medical expenses can be overwhelming. We often forget about the damage to the home where the death happened, especially if it was a traumatic event involving a gunshot.
A persistent myth that insurance doesn’t pay for anything related to suicide isn’t true.

Life Insurance won’t pay if the suicide occurs within the specific time frames stated in the policy. If the policy coverage is $200,000 or more, the time frame mentioned is six months, up to two years, but it can be three years if the decedent had coverage ranging from $500,000 to one million or more.
But any death by suicide after those requirements will be paid by the insurance provider, with no questions or delays.
Most homeowner policies pay for the structural damage to be remediated, cleaned, and repaired.

One type of policy doesn’t pay for the indemnification of the property. A Named Peril Policy, Ho2 only pays for what is named as covered, and they never name death and mayhem. These policies are rare compared to an Ho3 homeowner or an Ho6 Condo owner’s policy. The latter two types of policies should pay for the structure to be restored, less the deductible.

If the deceased was a main economic supporter for their family, this could leave them without the proper income resources when needed.

When it comes to suicides, there may be Spiritual questions about why and confusion regarding forgiveness for everyone involved. It’s hard for many to balance honoring memories of the deceased and finding inner peace.

It is possible to heal from a loved one’s suicide with time, patience, and support from loved ones. You don’t have to go through it alone – help is available, there are counseling services and support groups.

I always urge families and friends to attend support groups as a bare minimum to help cope with these events. I strongly suggest counseling because I’ve seen it help individuals come to terms with their resulting hurt and anguish and the ability to move on with their lives more quickly.

THE LAGECY OF SUICIDE

Studies have shown that suicide can increase the probability of another close family member taking their life by more than two and a half times than other families who have no history of suicide.

The cause can be many things, from a family history of mental illness to the ideation of suicide to escape the pressures of life, many times stemming from unresolved issues from the initial suicide the family suffered. These feelings of self-demise are among the most significant reasons to follow through with counseling and support groups. Everyone needs to be aware of these very real statistics and ensure we support close family and friends who may give thought to self-harm.

How might you know if these thoughts are in their minds? Warning signs that a family member might contemplate suicide can be subtle and complex to detect. It is essential to look for signs of pervasive sadness, isolation, withdrawal from activities that used to bring joy, reckless behavior, substance abuse, or talking about death or wanting to die. Straight talk is also essential. We cower many times at the thought of having these conversations, but I assure you that if you feel you should and don’t speak and that person either attempts or successfully commits suicide, you’ll live with regret most of your life.
If you think someone in your life is at risk of taking their own life, getting them the help, they need, is essential.

The Remediation of the Structure

For example, the damage to the structure left behind from blood and bodily fluids can be extensive, including the contents inside the damaged area.
Our work is like an onion, where we peel back the layers until there is no further damage.

In most of our work, we are removing carpet and pad. If there happens to be a hardwood floor with damage, that flooring area will usually be removed, too. If the damage is heavy or we have evidence fluids have gone beyond the subflooring, we will remove that section of the subfloor. The remaining structure, such as floor joists, can be sanded or plane it to remove contamination.

Another example today is that many floors are covered in plank floor covering, either vinyl or composite flooring. Even though this floor is supposed to be waterproof, it doesn’t perform as a waterproof barrier, and on most occasions, we must remove the flooring.

CRIME SCENE CLEANERS, LLC

The Crime and Trauma Scene Cleanup (CTS) Industry exists to help families and businesses in these situations. Speaking for Crime Scene Cleaners, LLC, our company culture carries our belief that we sell Care — Compassion — and Peace of Mind; our work is how we express it. We do this work because we believe no one should be victimized twice. The family has been victimized once through the incident, but it would be wrong to allow more emotional harm if they had to go into the area to remediate and clean it themselves.

If you or your know of someone who needs our services, please call 1-800-909-2939.

If you work in an industry that comes into contact regularly with individuals and families who experience this type of loss creating damage within their homes, please contact our office. We would like to speak with you on how help can be given to these families in faster terms. The last ting anyone wants would be leaving a family struggling to search for help during a time like this. Our services area covers the states of Missouri and Kansas, the adjacent areas of Omaha, NE, and the top northern counties of Arkansas.

By Don M. McNulty © 2023 COPYRIGHTS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The information and the stories below are accurate. I have removed the names of the victims for privacy reasons.

Oh my gosh! Are you telling me I must worry about pigeon poop? Look — we’ll all die of something sometime, but this is beyond the pale. I can’t bother dodging bird spatter while walking along the sidewalk.

Nope, that’s different from what I’m talking about. I’m talking about larger nesting areas. Places where you have twenty, thirty, or fifty pigeons. I notice a large flock of pigeons flying around the parking garage whenever I visit this building. Most nest on the south side, but others are on the west.

But they’re not hurting anything. No one says anything about it unless they have to park their car near those areas, and they need to wash their car now and then.

Listen, with pigeons, the amount of pigeon dung grows when there is a large group of birds. It doesn’t take so long before enough dung grows that it grows a fungus or mold for another name, called Histoplasma. As it grows, it is constantly being disturbed by the pigeons flying in and out of the nesting area, and they routinely walk back and forth over their nest areas. This causes the mold spores to break loose and become airborne. These mold spores float in the air and eventually land on any surface. The more significant amount of dung causes greater amounts of fungus floating in the air. Everyone using the garage will breathe in the mold spores. Most of the time, nothing comes of it. But that doesn’t negate the real danger.

If someone routinely exposes you to the spores, you have a greater chance of becoming infected, and that’s called Histoplasmosis. The spores usually enter the pulmonary system and grow in the lungs.

If this happens, then there is even greater danger lurking.

What’s that?

The disease will first present to its victim as a chest cold, with the usual fever, cough, chills, fatigue, body aches, and chest pain. When patients see the Doctor, they are unaware of any reason to suspect a fungal infection, so the Doctor will treat them for the flu or bronchitis. I the person has waited to go to the Doctor, they may have a mild case of pneumonia, and the physician will treat them accordingly.

Why doesn’t the Doc see the infection on the chest X-ray?

At this stage, they can’t see it. All they see is the fluid building up in the lungs. The danger increases because the Doctor’s treatment won’t work against the growing fungal infection.

Well, what should the Doctor do to diagnose the problem?

The simplest way to diagnose is through a urine, blood, or sputum test and sending it to a laboratory to be cultured. This will give the best diagnosis, but it can take up to six weeks to receive the results. If the Doctor isn’t taking preventative measures by this time, the fungus will continue to grow. Even treatment for pneumonia will not reverse the fungal infection, and I’ve had friends die from misdiagnosis.

Seriously? Have you known people to die from mold?

Yes, one of my friends brought a parrot and a cockatoo into his home; he took them in from a friend who was moving and couldn’t care for the birds. My friend didn’t take care of the aviary as he should have, and the fungus grew; the birds disturbed the fungus and floated throughout the home through the central HVAC system. Just purely by chance, my friend was the only one in his family to end up with Histoplasmosis and died in two and a half years. He was 61 years old when he passed away.

Another friend was from an office sharing situation. He lived the longest with the disease. This renowned forensic anthropologist was working in a Mexico City garbage dump. His task was to find the remains of a local politician. Unfortunately, he realized he had left his respirator in the truck one morning. In a crucial moment, he went without his respirator until lunch break, then retrieved it for use the rest of the day.

According to my friend, that one decision would cost him his life and several years of misery living with the disease.

But the story of Histoplasma continues. There is such a thing as Ocular Histoplasmosis, and a relative of mine attending college got up one morning and had no balance. She could hardly walk. They discovered she had ocular Histoplasmosis. According to her Doctor, she likely felt something in her eye while walking around the college campus. Like anyone, our response is to rub our eye, which usually flushes out the minute spec. But this time, it forced the spore behind the eye orbit. It grew to a size that pushed against the retina of her eye, thus giving her distorted vision and interrupting her balance.

Okay, go on, what happened to her?

She was lucky; they used a cold laser that could shoot through her eye. If this had happened three years earlier, they would have had to remove her eye surgically and treat it with chemicals, then place a blind eye back into the socket. They only had this treatment available for a short while and stated it worked eight seven percent of the time. My relative was fortunate that it worked, and she’s fine now.

Yet another case where the wife of a student of mine had Ocular Histoplasmosis, which caused scarring in her left eye. She could barely see out of that eye, but the retina had tiny holes, making it look like Swiss cheese.

I did not know that bird poop could do that.

Remember, it isn’t the tiny, scattered spats of poop but a buildup in their nesting area. It’s the same for pigeons, chickens, and even bat guano.

Bats too?

Yep, bats as well.

If you’re reading this story and know of an area where pigeons gather, or bats reside, please pass on our information.
Crime Scene Cleaners, LLC remediates those biohazards from the living and work areas, returning them to a safe environment. I state our contact information below.

CRIME SCENE CLEANERS, LLC
WWW.CRIMESCENECLEANERSKC.COM — WE SERVE THE ENTIRE STATES OF MISSOURI AND KANSAS, INCLUDING OMAHA, NE, AND THE NORTHERNMOST COUNTIES OF ARKANSAS THAT BORDER MISSOURI.
(913) 808-7642 — (816) 808-7642 — (800) 909-2939
CONTACT US NOW.

By Don M. McNulty

No one knows when tragedy may strike our families. When it does, it leaves us confused, trying to understand everything. Dealing with confusion and grief is overwhelming and impossible. Suicide, homicide, or unattended death can frequently leave psychological trauma. Crime Scene Cleaners emphasizes, “No one should be victimized twice.”
That is why we exist to provide care, compassion, and peace of mind during this extreme stress.

As a leader in the industry, we have developed professional methods to remediate any structure type properly. Whether residential, commercial, industrial, vehicle, or train, we have the knowledge and experience to do the job right. In addition, we are adept at remediating a single residence to mass casualty incidents.

Crime Scene Cleaners, LLC is the premier company in the Midwest, established in 1999. We are the oldest and largest company of its kind in the Kansas City Region. We thoroughly train and certify our technicians as Bio-Technicians and Master Technicians.
Safety is essential for our technicians and clients, so our staff regularly attends OSHA-based safety meetings.

Are You Aware That Your Property Insurance May Cover Our Work?

We routinely work with every insurance provider within our Missouri and Kansas coverage area. We can help walk you through that process if necessary. Start by calling our office so we can help with this process.

If insurance is unavailable, other avenues may be in place to help with part or all the cost, including funeral expenses. Amounts available may depend on the situation and the State of the incident. Again, we can help walk you through this process if necessary.
If you have a need, call us. You will find compassionate people who are well-qualified to handle any incident. We are available 24/7/365. Call 1-800-909-2939.

By Don M. McNulty

We’ve been cleaning up after our dead since Cane and Abel. But it wasn’t until 1993 that the first company began as a dedicated service to the community. At first it was a dedicated service born from a janitorial company that received many calls for help from people mainly for cleanup services mainly for suicides. Research for these types of companies within the city the janitorial company was operating, they found no one that would be able to help.

Further research could not find any companies in the United States dedicated to this work.

What he did find the victims of traumatic death were left to beg, borrow, or steal anyone they could press into service. Usually, those were friends, friends of friends, or more distant relatives. If those contacts couldn’t be found willing, then the family members had to perform the cleanup themselves. Even if they found someone not connected to the immediate family to help — most only did what we call the gross removal. There was still plenty of work left for the family to do to finish the job. 

One can only imagine the toll on the family involved in this cleanup and restoration of the structure.

Over the years I’ve been able to interview family members who had to do their own cleaning and restoration and I would always walk away with a sense of sadness about what they went through.

At first the original company was born from a profit motive. But it wasn’t long before the owner realized — as most company owners now have found — this is a community service to help hurting families and not just a job to be done.

Unlike the helpful folks who tried to help families if they could, this industry had to develop procedures and protocols to make sure the work was complete, leaving no trace of the incident to further traumatize the loved ones. 

We found early on most of the work is covered by property insurance that covered not only the remediation and cleaning of the incident but the restoration of the damaged area(s). 

Nothing in the world dealing with human trauma is inexpensive and it can be a hardship for some to cover the whole cost of cleanup and restoration. 

Most people believe that these crime and trauma death scene cleaning (CTS) companies just clean. It was unfortunate that the beginning companies had the term cleaning attached to the name. Hence the misunderstanding of what work is really performed. 

Blood and bodily fluids move mush like water damage. But much of the work isn’t connected to cleaning. Most of the time I describe it as controlled demolition. Usually, carpet and pad need removal, as it cannot be cleaned. Carpet is a wick. When liquid hits the top the carpet fiber begins to wick the liquid down into the carpet. 

Once it hits the primary backing it wicks laterally and spreads out. Many times, this spreading can’t be seen from the top. But I’ve seen a spot on the top of the carpet that appears to be no larger than a dinner plate, whereas underneath there’s a pool of blood and bodily fluids four or more feet in diameter. In most of those cases the blood has traveled on to the subfloor or many times a hardwood floor then down to the subfloor.

Now the technicians will have to remove the affected carpet and pad and place it in a biohazard container. Then they set up containments to create and negative air chamber of the room and using saws cutting and removing the hardwood flooring. One some occasions they even remove subflooring so they can remediate floor joist. 

If this area has an apartment or another level under this primary floor, they will investigate to make sure the contamination hasn’t proceeded down to the lower levels.

At times there are surfaces that make it difficult to see the blood and bodily fluids on the surface. We’ve discovered we could use an inexpensive blood indicator that will show exactly where the blood or any bodily fluid containing blood serum is so we can find every small spec of contamination.

CTS companies may use different methods to clean and remediate walls and ceilings, but the result is usually the same. All traces of contamination are wholly removed. 

If the area of concern incorporates concrete substrates in the early days this was a problem but over time the industry developed products and utilized them so we can remove the blood staining in concrete and many other substrates that were problematic in the beginning.

Movies can be very entertaining, but they are not reality. In one movie called the Cleaner with Samuel L. Jackson as the leading star in the opening scene he called to clean a white sofa covered in blood. Lo and behold he returns it to its former beauty, a pristine white sofa.

Like I said, it’s not reality. Those pieces of upholstered furniture will be slashed and trashed, with the contaminated areas placed in a biohazard container. 

There are occasions where the contamination is very slight and on the surface of an upholstered piece, on occasion the technicians may be able to recover such a piece for the family. Antiques, art, and jewelry are handled differently. As is anything else that holds real or perceived value to the family. Even though the family may be reeling with grief — the industry standard dictates all things that may be recognized to hold some intrinsic value will be set aside until a determination can be made by the responsible person. 

Our technicians are trained in many things to do this work properly and keep themselves and everyone else who comes into the work site safe.

Because our technicians come into contact daily with Bloodborne Pathogens and other Infectious materials they are trained in various OSHA Standards such as.

The Bloodborne Pathogen Rule 1910.1030

      Subsets
        Biohazard containment
        Proper biohazard Disposal
        Epidemiology (how disease Transfers
        Sharps
        Proper cleaning and disinfection techniques
Personal Protective Equipment 1910.132
The Respiratory Rule 1910.134
The Hazardous Material Right-to-Know Rule 1910.1200
Fall Protection 1926.500

Plus, several others such as, General Safety and Health, Work surfaces, Care and handling of Tools, Ladders and Scaffolds, Hearing Protection, etc. 

How to properly dismantle and remove flooring of every type.

American Architecture Standards for building and construction materials and substrates for residential and commercial construction.
Placing proper containment and creating Negative air chambers to minimize cross contamination.
Proper removal techniques of biohazards from the structure.

Dealing with the bereaved and handling stressful situations.

Of course, there are a hundred other things to know that come from experience in the field. 

This article has given you the basis of a professional Crime and Trauma Scene Cleanup Company. Don’t try to handle these incidents on your own. Turning to a professional in these situations is really the best thing to do.

If you find yourself or someone close to you dealing with a traumatic loss, please give us a call at 1-800-909-2939 or contact us through this website.