What is an Unattended Death?

What Is An Unattended Death?

Death is challenging when it’s unexpected and is even more traumatizing when a body remains undiscovered for days, weeks, or even months following the death. Such cases are referred to as unattended deaths.

What Defines an Unattended Death? 

An unattended death takes place when someone dies alone and is not immediately discovered. In many cases, this happens when an older person dies of natural causes, and because they live alone and aren’t checked on regularly, days or weeks may pass before their bodies are found.

Other times the cause of death could be a sudden health issue such as a heart attack or stroke, or if someone has an accident at home and is not found for some time. Other less common but still possible causes of unattended deaths include homicide and suicide.

Regardless of the cause of death, it’s ultimately deemed “unattended” when the person dies alone and isn’t discovered the same day. An autopsy is often required to determine the cause of an unattended death.

How is an Unattended Death Different From an Attended Death?

An attended death is exactly how it sounds. It’s when a person doesn’t die alone. Typically someone is at their side during their final breaths. When someone dies attended, there’s no need for a further investigation or autopsy as long as it’s considered legally attended. 

Most commonly, an attended death includes patients that die in a hospital, at a long-term care facility, under the supervision of hospice care, at home under a doctor’s care, or at home in the presence of others within 30 days of seeing a doctor. 

Why Unattended Deaths Require Professional Cleanup 

When someone experiences an attended death, the body is quickly removed to be embalmed or cremated and therefore is not a health hazard. On the other hand, when a body is left to decompose, it can be hazardous to your health to come into contact with it. 

There are more bacteria in the human body than cells. Bacteria get their nutrients from our blood supply, and when the blood supply is cut off at the point of death, it begins to feed on the body’s organs. As this happens, dangerous toxins are released that are harmful to humans and can even cause physical damage to the environment around them. 

A body decomposes in three stages. 

  1. The pH level of the body becomes acidic, causing membranes to burst and enzymes to release. These enzymes then begin to digest the cells. 
  2. Gases are produced by bacteria, fungi, and protozoa that start to liquefy the dead tissue. 
  3. Insects join microorganisms to remove any remaining soft tissue. 

Unattended deaths need to be taken seriously. They are messy and discovering a body can be traumatizing as well. Leaving the cleanup to the family is physically harmful, and it can be emotionally damaging to see a family member go through the stages of decomposition. 

That’s why hiring a team of trained decomposition cleanup professionals is your best option. At Austin Bio Clean, we sanitize, deodorize, and restore the area to its original state. Contact us to learn more.

Share:

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
LinkedIn

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

related posts

Crime Scene Cleanup

What Type of Skills Does Crime Scene Cleanup Require?

Crime scene cleanup is not like any other routine cleaning task. Where home cleaning or any type of regular cleaning can be completed by most people, crime scene cleanup requires specific skills and certifications. This guide gives you a quick overview of what skills you need for crime scene cleanup. Specific Training Training includes many

forensic cleaning

Is Disclosing a Death Required When You Sell Your Home?

When it comes to selling your home, there are some odd requirements. One of those requirements can be to disclose when forensic cleaning was required in the home. It’s unfortunate that a tragic situation might have to be shared with another party. The question is, do you really have to disclose that there was a

Sewage Backup Cleanup in Austin and Round Rock

Dealing with a sewage backup is never fun. There are certain safety concerns that come into play. If you’re facing sewage backup cleanup in Austin, Round Rock, or surrounding areas, read this guide to understand just what to expect. What Causes Sewage Backup? There are some things you can do to be proactive about preventing

What Do You Do When Someone Dies?

What Do You Do When Someone Dies?

Losing a loved one is never easy. Not only do you have to go through a personal grieving process, but there are dozens of legal steps you must complete after their passing. You might be at a loss as to what to do first and how to go about settling your loved one’s assets.  What

Scroll to Top