What to Do First After an Unattended Death at Home
Last updated 2026-05-22
Let Authorities Release the Scene First
Before anything else can happen, authorities first need to complete their review of the scene, and the coroner's office is frequently involved in that process as well. This step exists to protect the family and to ensure the situation gets properly documented, and it has to take place before any cleanup can legally begin. The waiting period that follows can feel genuinely unbearable, especially while a family is still working through grief, but it remains a necessary part of the overall process. Once the property is formally released, cleanup can be scheduled right away. Families in Hermitage are not always familiar with how this particular step works, so understanding it ahead of time tends to help.
Do Not Attempt to Clean It Yourself
It feels natural to want to handle things quickly on your own, but the affected area should not be touched, moved, or cleaned by anyone other than a properly trained crew. Bloodborne pathogens are not always visible to the eye, and typical household cleaners were never designed to eliminate them or achieve real decontamination of a space. Attempting cleanup without the right training and equipment risks spreading contamination further and creating additional health concerns for anyone remaining in the home. It is also emotionally difficult in a way most people never expect until they are actually facing it themselves, firsthand. Stepping back and waiting for professional help protects both your physical health and your overall peace of mind.
Make the Call When You Are Ready
Once the scene has been officially released, the next step is simply picking up the phone whenever your family genuinely feels ready to make that call. Our team answers any hour, day or night, and asks a handful of gentle questions so the right crew can be scheduled quickly and without delay. Every vehicle we send stays unmarked, and our crew works quietly and respectfully from the very moment they arrive on scene. There is no need to explain more than feels comfortable sharing, and no detail we hear gets treated as routine or unimportant. We handle everything from there, decontamination through final documentation, so your family can begin moving forward without ever having to face the scene yourselves.