Dealing With an Undiscovered Death

People sometimes die alone, whether because of natural causes or something else. You might find out that a friend or family member has died after worrying about them for a while and not hearing from them. Or maybe you see something strange at a neighbor’s house, like packages left on the front porch. Or even as a landlord checking on a renter. 

Finding someone who has died away in their home may be startling, and the shock can make it challenging to know what to do next. All these events are stressful or traumatic, so be gentle with yourself. 

What to do next after discovering? 

Your immediate response to the scenario may put you at risk, so understanding what to do in this case is essential. You must take several critical actions if you are in this situation. These actions are done to protect not just yourself but also the people around you.

1. Stay away from the area. 

You may instinctively hurry to the deceased to check on them if you’re in shock. Even the most sensitive individuals might be thrown off their game by shock. Clear the location as soon as possible if you can confirm that they are deceased or if you see that they look to be dead. In the case of an unattended death, mainly if it has been a long time after the decedent died, you may have to worry about infections spreading as gasses and fluids are expelled.

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2. Call the authority. 

The body should be carefully cared for and examined as soon as possible so that any infections or illnesses that may be present may be contained before anybody in the region becomes at risk. It may take some time for the appropriate equipment and staff to move the corpse, and you may be requested to keep bystanders away from the scene.

3. Clean the area thoroughly.

Even after disinfection, scents may persist, and mold can build up if the deceased was not located for some time; thus, it is crucial to thoroughly clean the area once infections and diseases have been eradicated. Although a professional cleaning service may still be necessary to ensure that the house is returned to normal and there is no lingering illness, any remaining occupants can safely handle this final step if they remember to protect themselves as they clean adequately.

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4. Hire a professional cleanup service. 

It would help if you thought about hiring a cleaning service. Any airborne infections or illnesses in any blood that may be left behind might still be contaminated if the crew who removed the corpse didn’t thoroughly clean up the area afterward. 

Even if they did, it is still a good idea to hire professional cleaners for their biohazard cleanup services to clean the scene. If you try to clean without the proper training, safety gear, or cleaning supplies, you could get very sick, or the area might not be adequately decontaminated.

5. Keep people away from the area. 

Keeping people away from the site is critical until the corpse can be moved. Safeguarding the deceased’s residence may be difficult if the venue is an apartment building. Broadcasting the fact that there is a dead person in the vicinity may backfire and attract some of the more curious neighbors to see what is going on. 

Maintaining watch and ensuring that people do not loiter in the area or try to enter the room before it is emptied of the deceased and decontaminated will help keep everyone safe.