Cleaning Trauma Scenes – Seven Facts That May Surprise You!

Cleaning a trauma scene is a skilled profession requiring specialist knowledge, sensitivity and attention to detail. Unlike routine cleaning which can be managed with rubber gloves and bleach, trauma scene cleaning demands a comprehensive and professional approach to ensure the area is thoroughly sanitised and safe for use.

Many individuals may have preconceptions about trauma scene cleaning based on crime thrillers on TV and in films. However, these dramatised scenes often paint a very different picture to the reality of trauma cleaning.

To dispel myths and separate fact from fiction, we are sharing seven surprising facts about cleaning trauma scenes.

Seven Facts on Cleaning Trauma Scenes

1. Trauma scene cleaning is not the responsibility of the police. If you haven’t experienced an incident before, you might not realise that organising the clean-up after a traumatic event is actually the responsibility of the business or individuals involved.
   The police will only attend the scene when required, where they may then take photos, retrieve evidence and collect samples depending on the nature of the incident. Unless the incident is a significant threat to general public health in which governing bodies may intervene, it is your responsibility to seek professional assistance for the clean-up.
2. In biohazard and trauma scene cleaning, a body is considered hazardous due to the potential threat it poses to the health of living organisms.
   There are many different types of fluid which may be involved in a trauma scene clean. Some of the more commonly known examples include blood, vomit, bile, sweat, faeces, saliva and genital secretions.
   However, some of the lesser known bodily fluids that could carry disease include peritoneal fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, gastric fluid, pericardial fluid and amniotic fluid.
   Bodily fluids carry a high risk of infection, as they may harbour harmful viruses and bacteria that can be transmitted to individuals who come into contact with them. Various illnesses can be contracted, including Hepatitis, HPV, Salmonella, Influenza (flu), several STDs such as HIV and COVID-19, to name just a few.
   Biohazards, such as bodily fluids, are not always visible; even a shoe in an infected area can be teeming with bacteria. This highlights the importance of using adequate PPE and following stringent Health and Safety procedures during a trauma scene clean, with strict legislation under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) governing the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH 2002).
3. Many may not realise that a dead animal is also considered a biohazard, as it can produce toxic fumes that may lead to serious illness if inhaled. Research suggests the decomposition of an animal carcass produces over 400 chemical compounds and by-products during putrefaction, which occurs as bacteria proliferate after death.
   The foul odour associated with a cadaver is attributed to several of these chemical compounds, such as methanethiol, hydrogen sulphide, cadaverine, putrescine and ammonia.
   Many of the compounds emitted are considered Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which emit vapours into the atmosphere at ambient temperatures. These vapours are considered air pollutants and can be toxic to living organisms.
   If an animal carcass has been left to decompose, it’s best to seek professional help to ensure the area is properly decontaminated.
4. Bleach and elbow grease are often insufficient for effectively cleaning blood, fluids and tissue left behind by a decomposing body. In trauma scene cleaning, a solution similar to hydrogen peroxide but significantly more potent is commonly used; when it comes into contact with bodily fluids, it foams and turns bright white.
5. In extreme cases, trauma scene cleaning may necessitate the use of demolition tools such as crowbars, circular saws and weighted hammers to reach areas where bodily fluids have seeped through cracks in the floorboards. An expert trauma scene cleaner will only employ these methods when absolutely necessary to maintain health standards, ensuring that as little damage as possible is done during the decontamination process.
6. To ensure that technicians are trained to the highest standards, specialised cleaning companies often recreate crime scenes for practice, typically using staged blood or pig’s blood.
7. Cat urine is widely regarded as one of the most challenging odours to eliminate from a property. It releases ammonia and uric acid, which contribute to its foul, long-lasting smell.
   When cat urine dries it crystallises and ineffective cleaning can lead to recrystallisation on humid days – perpetuating the persistent odour. Enzyme cleaners are crucial for effectively breaking down the organic matter and eliminating the smell.

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Rainbows’ experienced technical teams are fully qualified in Chemical Biohazard and Trauma Scene cleaning, ensuring thorough decontamination of the area and its safe return for general, public or private use. With over 50 locations nationwide, there is a local branch within just 23 miles of any postcode in the UK.

Please contact us or call our 24 hour National Helpline on 01623 422488 today.

Updated: 26th July 2024