If you are having thoughts of suicide, or you are worried about someone else, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is free and open all day and all night. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
What is suicide cleanup?
When someone dies by suicide at home, there is often blood or other fluids in the room. Cleanup is the work of removing them, treating the area and disposing of what cannot be saved, so that the home can be used again and so the family is not left to do it. The work follows the same safety rules as other biohazard scenes, and the providers who do it are used to working with people in the first days of grief.
You do not have to look at the room. You do not have to go in. Most families never see it after the investigation ends, and that is how it should be.
What happens before cleanup?
- Call 911. Do not touch or move anything.
- Police and the medical examiner respond. In Polk County that is the Lakeland Police Department or the Sheriff's Office, and the Tenth District medical examiner. They document the scene and decide whether more investigation is needed. The body is removed by the examiner or a funeral home.
- The property is released. Once the agency tells you the scene is released, you can arrange cleanup.
- Arrange for someone else to do it. Please do not clean it yourself, and ask other relatives not to either.
Funeral homes, police and the medical examiner do not clean the room. That falls to the owner or whoever has legal authority over the home, which is a hard thing to be told on that day. A trusted friend or relative can make the call for you.
What gets removed?
A suicide scene often involves less contamination than a long-delayed discovery, but it varies. Typical work includes:
- Blood and tissue from floors, walls, furniture and bedding
- Carpet, padding and mattresses that fluid reached
- Material that traveled into walls or flooring after a firearm injury, which may require removal of affected drywall or flooring
- Medical waste such as needles, if present
- Odor, if the person was not found right away
Some items may be returned to the family, and others have to be discarded. A good provider asks what matters to you before they start: photographs, jewelry, letters, a favorite chair. Tell them. Many families want that conversation to happen without them present, and providers are used to arranging it.
How do providers keep it respectful?
Discretion is part of the job. Ask whether the crew will:
- Arrive in an unmarked vehicle if you want that
- Talk to you or a relative rather than to neighbors
- Keep the property private from nearby residents
- Explain the work in plain words without graphic detail
- Set aside belongings for you to review
Providers vary on these points, so ask them directly. The work follows OSHA's Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030) for worker safety and the Florida Department of Health's biomedical waste rules in Chapter 64E-16 for disposal. You can ask for the provider's DOH ID, and you should get a written estimate before the work begins.
What does it cost, and will insurance help?
Cost depends on the amount of material that has to be removed. A single room with a limited area is a smaller job than a scene with extensive soaking. A written estimate from a provider who has seen the property is the only reliable number.
Insurance questions are different from case to case. Homeowners and landlord policies often cover cleanup after a sudden loss, subject to exclusions and a deductible, and some life insurance or accidental death policies are separate. Do not assume. Call the carrier, tell them what you need, and ask what documents to bring. If you are overwhelmed, ask a family member, an attorney or the funeral director to help you make those calls.
How should I take care of myself?
Being the one who found the person is a heavy thing to carry. It is normal to feel numb, angry, guilty or all of those. Help exists: 988 is available for people grieving a suicide as well as people in crisis, and your doctor, a counselor or a faith community can help. Some families also find survivor support groups useful. None of this has to happen this week.
Is there anything specific about Lakeland?
Lakeland and Polk County are close enough to Tampa and Orlando that funeral homes, counselors and support services are within an hour's drive for most people, and the Sheriff's Office non-emergency line is 863-298-6200 if you need to confirm that a scene has been released. In Florida heat, a room that has been closed up can develop an odor within a day or two, and it is a reason not to leave cleanup for weeks.
When should I call?
Call after the scene is released, or earlier if you want to arrange help while you wait. We connect you with an independent provider that serves your ZIP code, including South Lakeland and Highland Fairways. The unattended death cleanup page covers situations where the person was not found right away. The biohazard cleanup in Lakeland, FL homepage explains how the call works.
Frequently asked questions
Who cleans up after a suicide in Florida?
The owner of the property or the person with legal authority over it arranges the cleanup, and it is done by a private cleanup provider. Police, the medical examiner and funeral homes do not clean the room.
How soon can cleanup begin?
After law enforcement and the medical examiner release the property. Ask the investigating agency whether the scene is released before anyone enters.
Do I have to see the room?
No. Most families do not. A relative, friend or attorney can meet the provider, and you can tell the provider ahead of time what items you want kept.
Will neighbors know?
A provider can usually arrive discreetly, but you should ask about unmarked vehicles and how the crew will present itself. Not every provider offers the same level of privacy.
Does insurance cover suicide cleanup?
Often, depending on the policy. Homeowners and landlord insurance may cover cleanup after a sudden loss, subject to exclusions and a deductible. Call the carrier before work begins.
Where can I get support after a suicide?
Call or text 988 any time. Your doctor, a counselor or a faith community can also help, and survivor support groups exist for people who have lost someone to suicide.