How to Protect Yourself during Suicide Scene Cleanup

Millions of people have lost their lives by committing suicide yet suicide rates keep climbing up the ladder today. Losing a loved one to suicide can be depressing not to mention cleaning the area where the body was collected from. Doing this can drain you mentally, psychologically, and emotionally. It is therefore best to let professional suicide scene cleanup service handle the job.
However, some individuals would like to do the cleanup themselves. Going the DIY cleaning approach helps you save more as you don’t need to hire professionals but it might lead to severe health complications if you fail to take necessary precautions. It is however recommended that you hire professional suicide scene cleanup service.
So what are the possible dangers of cleaning a suicide scene yourself? You are at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens like MRSA, HIV, and hepatitis. If blood or any other residue from an infected person comes in contact with your skin, you are likely to get infected. Hence, it is advisable that you take your time to learn ways to prevent exposure to harmful organisms during a suicide scene cleanup service.
Here are some helpful tips on how to prevent or reduce exposure to bloodborne pathogens
- First, get the right strategy in place. Do further research about the bloodborne pathogens that you may likely be exposed to. Get all protective gear handy including protective clothing that covers you from head to toe, gloves, facemask, goggle, and sturdy footwear. All these are a must-have if you are considering cleaning a suicide scene
- Take your personal hygiene seriously. This will go a long way in preventing infections. Wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling any contaminated material from the suicide scene. It doesn’t matter whether or not you wear gloves; make sure you wash your hands at all times. Gloves or protective clothing can never be as effective as hand washing. You could also get a hand sanitizer made of alcohol. Keep your hand sanitizers, tissues and paper towels close. These items should always be in your first aid box.
- If the suicide scene contains scissors, blades, and other sharp objects then you should consider double gloving. This gives you added protection.
- Make sure you have your mask, protective clothing, and goggle on. The goggle keeps your eyes protected. For extra protection, consider using the face shields.
- Your footwear matters a lot as well. You may step on blood spills or bodily tissues while cleaning. Not wearing the appropriate footwear puts you at risk of getting infected.
- Do not pick any item without wearing gloves.
- Use the best disinfectant to sanitize the environment
There is no guaranteed treatment for HIV or Hepatitis. Avoid the stress and resources by hiring a reputable suicide scene cleanup service. These experts have all the tools and equipment to deliver an outstanding job. Cleaning a crime scene yourself is actually not worth it. Instead, hire professionals to take care of the job.