Why You Should Not Tackle Trauma Clean-Up On Your Own

The scene of a violent crime or traumatic accident can be harrowing to witness. If you are in a situation like this, your automatic reaction might be to clean the wreckage, but even with helpful intentions, that can lead to harmful consequences. Instead of tackling an emergency clean-up on your own, it’s essential to call in authorities and technicians with the training to do it correctly. Here are some compelling reasons to leave this job in professional hands.  

Trauma Clean-Up Can Risk Your Health and Safety

Crime and trauma scenes leave behind all sorts of contaminants from blood, tissues, or other fluids. Exposure to these pathogens can cause serious viral infections such as hepatitis and HIV. But trauma clean-up technicians have the necessary protective gear to minimize any risk of direct contact with pathogenic substances, and they also know how to eliminate biohazardous materials from the premises altogether. So don’t threaten your own health — trust a professional to disinfect the area in a safe and thorough manner.  

Trauma Clean-Up Requires Specialized Equipment

Not only will biohazards put your health at risk — they can also lead to permanent cosmetic and structural damage of the site. Without correct removal, bloodborne stains can seep into floors, walls, furniture, and porous surfaces. This, in turn, will cause discoloration and noxious odors to settle in, while also weakening the structure’s integrity. In order to prevent that, trauma clean-up technicians utilize industrial-strength equipment and chemical solutions to entirely wipe out all odors, stains, or other residue at a microscopic level. 

Trauma Clean-Up Must Not Hamper an Investigation

In many cases, crime or trauma scene clean-ups run concurrently with forensic investigations. As such, law enforcement personnel must have unmitigated access to inspect the area and collect evidence. Attempting to clean on your own could interfere with this process — or even taint valuable information necessary to solve the crime. Whereas trauma clean-up technicians have the right skills and experience to restore the site to its prior condition without causing any issues to slow down or obstruct a police investigation.   

Trauma Clean-Up Is a Disturbing and Jarring Ordeal

Whether it’s an act of criminal violence or a tragic accident, exposure to the aftermath of this ordeal can cause long-term mental and emotional impacts. This is especially true for someone who has a personal connection to the traumatic event itself. There is no reason to force that on yourself — it’s too overwhelming for most civilians to handle. On the flipside, crime scene first responders and clean-up technicians have the training to maintain composure, resilience, and emotional regulation in these situations, which can lower their risk of anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health conditions as a result of the job.

It’s Vital to Call a Professional Trauma Clean-Up Service

The average person is not qualified to tackle a crime or trauma scene clean-up. Without the correct skills and training, you could place yourself (or others) in harm’s way — so that’s what the professionals are for. A certified specialist knows how to perform this job efficiently, while adhering to crucial safety measures and saving you from the mental impacts that often come with prolonged crime or trauma scene exposure.   

From the elimination of biohazards, to the removal of odors or structural damage, to the sanitation of all surface areas, not everyone is cut out for this work. So rather than attempting to take matters into your own hands, it’s always vital to call in an expert crew of trauma clean-up technicians, who can restore the contaminated environment back to its optimal condition.