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 ⋅A Family’s Terrible Tragedy⋅

We were recently called to the scene of a tragic accident in the quiet, upscale suburb of St. Andrews, just outside Columbia, South Carolina. This cleanup served as a sober reminder of how unprepared the average person is to deal with the aftermath of a sudden and violent tragedy.

Leading up to the Tragic Accident

Tragedy strikes at a birthday party, leaving a family in shock.
When tragedy strikes at home during a birthday party, a family is left in shock to deal with the after effects.

“THIS is exactly why I don’t let you take my kids anywhere by yourself!” Nate’s sister Bella snapped at Nate as she ran toward her SUV and grabbed 7-year-old Robbie, who was stubbornly sitting cross-legged on the SUV’s roof.

“But MOMMMMM!” whined Robbie.

“No but-moms!” Bella grabbed Robbie around the waist and pulled him to the ground and then toward the house.

Five minutes earlier, Bella had glanced out the kitchen window and saw the SUV descending the driveway on a return trip from a kids’ rock-climbing wall to which she had reluctantly allowed Nate to take the kids.

To her horror, she saw Robbie precariously balancing on the roof of the moving SUV, like a surfer on a surf board.

His two brothers were leaning out the windows cheering him on and Nate was giving him a thumbs-up in the side mirror as he edged the vehicle down the driveway.

According to Bella’s husband, this was a typical Nate-style stunt. The 32-year-old good-natured bachelor uncle was always full of fun and adventure, the kind of grown-up every kid adores. But his reckless disregard for safety was about to take a tragic turn.

 A Birthday Interrupted by Terrible Tragedy

 

The family was gathered at Bella’s home, which has a beautiful in-ground pool in the back yard, to celebrate Bella’s husband’s birthday.  Granddad was asleep in a poolside chair, Grandma was in the kitchen helping Bella with dinner, and Bella’s husband and brother-in-law were in the den watching baseball. Bella asked Nate to keep an eye on his three nephews in the pool.

Nate and his nephews – 7-year-old Robbie, 9-year-old Raleigh, and 10-year-old Teddy—spent the late afternoon competing in power-splash contests that did little more damage than create a tidal wave of water on the pool deck and annoy a sleeping grandfather—that is, until Raleigh dared Nate to jump into the pool from the roof of the split-level home and all three boys started chanting “Nate! Nate!” So Nate hopped up onto the picnic table and jumped from it to the edge of the lower roof, hoisted himself up, and then hoisted himself onto the upper roof and walked to the edge closest to the pool. This second-story roof was about 15 feet above the pool and not directly over the pool.

Nate missed the pool by about a foot and landed head-first on the cement pool deck. He died on impact.

At a Loss

Where to turn when tragedy strikes.
When tragedy strikes, many people expect that first responders, such as the police or EMT’s will clean up the scene, but this is something typically left to the homeowners.

After Nate’s body was removed by paramedics to the hospital for pronouncement, the traumatized family was left with a pretty horrific mess. Bella’s husband told one of the police officers that he had no idea what to do or where to turn for help removing the remains of this accident, which his wife, her family, and their children were emotionally unable to deal with. He, like many people who face violent accidents, thought the scene would be cleaned up by police personnel.

His first concern, of course, was his wife and the couple’s devastated children, whom the family had already whisked away.

Luckily, one of the paramedics suggested that he call Advanced Bio Treatment for help, which he immediately did. We were on the scene before dark the same evening and had the scene completely clean and decontaminated before morning. The family was deeply relieved that the children and Bella could return to their home the next day and see no reminders of the tragedy that took place there.

What You Should Know if Tragedy Strikes

Here are a few things you should know if you find yourself in the middle of a terrible tragedy like Nate’s family faced:

  • If police are investigating the death or accident, it is especially important not to enter the scene or touch anything until investigators complete their investigation and release the scene.

 

  • If crime-scene investigators use chemicals like fingerprint powder and luminol, these substances can be toxic and difficult to remove. You should not touch them, inhale them, or attempt to clean them.

 

  • If the police have not cordoned off the area, you should. Do not let anyone enter the area until it has been cleaned and decontaminated. It is important not only to protect others from the bio-hazards of bodily fluids but also to protect yourself from those hazards and also from legal culpability should someone else be exposed to a blood-borne pathogen on your property.

 

  • First responders, like paramedics and coroners, will remove the injured or deceased from the scene, but neither they nor police and other investigators will clean up or remove blood, tissue, or bodily fluids left by the victim. Removal and cleaning up the death or accident scene is, unfortunately, the family’s responsibility.

 

  • Blood and other bodily fluids can contain dangerous bacteria and blood-borne pathogens that transmit disease on contact. You should not attempt to remove or clean blood and other bodily fluids from any object.

 

  • You most likely do not have the hospital-grade decontaminants, the right protective clothing, or the professional equipment required to properly clean and decontaminate a death or accident scene that is contaminated with blood and bodily fluids. You therefore should not attempt to clean up any area visibly contaminated with blood or bodily fluids.

 

  • Blood and bodily fluids often seep into hidden areas and contaminate them or compromise the infrastructure of a home or appurtenant structure, requiring professional removal.

 

  • Call a professionalcrime- and death-scene cleaning company like Advanced Bio Treatment immediately.
    • The professionals at Advanced Bio Treatment will work with any investigators on the scene, and we will professionally clean and decontaminate the scene for you, making it safe for you and others to enter.
    • We know where to look for hidden damage and how to remediate and decontaminate those areas.
    • We can help you connect with other services like insurance, counseling, contractor, and funeral services.

 

  • Call your homeowner insurance company. Property insurance often covers part or all of accident and death-scene cleanups.

Of course, your first concern in such a tragedy is caring for your loved ones. The last thing you should have to worry about is cleaning up the scene where the tragedy happened. We at Advanced Bio Treatment hope you never find yourself in the midst of such a tragic accident. If you do, however, please call us and let us relieve you of the added heartbreak and stress of the cleanup. We are available 24/7, 365 days, and offer emergency service. We can be on the scene, in most cases, within an hour of your call.

 

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Ted Pelot Owner & President of Crime Scene Cleanup Company - Advanced Bio-Treatment