Immediate guidance after a traumatic event

You do not have to know every next step right now.

Q: When can a cleanup company enter?

A cleanup company should enter only after the appropriate authority releases the scene and an authorized property, estate, business or vehicle contact grants access.

After a death, crime, medical emergency, assault, accident, or other traumatic event, people are often expected to make decisions while shocked, grieving, exhausted, or overwhelmed.

Begin with immediate safety. Allow emergency responders and investigators to complete their work. After the scene is released, CSI can help explain the physical cleanup process, affected materials, property access, documentation, payment, and appropriate next steps.

Call CSI: 940-654-6334 Request Confidential Help

Emergency and crisis support

Contact emergency services before contacting a cleanup company.

Call 911 when someone may be injured, in immediate danger, missing, unresponsive, or when a crime, fire, hazardous condition, or medical emergency may still be active.

For immediate suicide, mental-health, or emotional-crisis support in the United States, call or text 988. Do not remain alone with an immediate safety concern.

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The first four priorities

Address safety before property cleanup.

Get to Safety

Move away from immediate danger and prevent children, visitors, employees, tenants, and animals from entering the area.

Contact Authorities

Allow emergency services, law enforcement, medical personnel, fire personnel, or other appropriate authorities to respond.

Wait for Scene Release

Do not enter, move property, clean surfaces, or disturb the scene until the appropriate authority confirms it has been released.

Identify the Authorized Contact

Determine who may approve property access, cleanup services, personal-property decisions, documentation, and payment.

What not to do

Avoid actions that could create additional exposure or interfere with the scene.

Families, employees, landlords, tenants, and maintenance personnel should not be expected to perform traumatic or biologically hazardous cleanup without the appropriate systems and equipment.

Do not enter an active or unreleased scene
Do not touch blood, bodily fluids, tissues, or unknown substances
Do not pick up needles, blades, glass, or unidentified sharp objects
Do not wash contaminated bedding or clothing in a household machine
Do not use a household vacuum on affected materials
Do not rely on bleach alone to resolve hidden contamination
Do not remove flooring, walls, furniture, or belongings prematurely
Do not post photographs, addresses, or private scene details online
Do not allow children, pets, tenants, or visitors into the area
Do not promise insurance coverage or reimbursement

Possible exposure

Seek medical guidance promptly after contact with blood, bodily fluids, or a sharp object.

Wash affected skin with soap and water. Flush the eyes, nose, or mouth with water after a splash. Do not squeeze, cut, scrub aggressively, or apply harsh chemicals to a puncture or exposure site.

Contact a medical professional, emergency department, occupational-health provider, or other appropriate healthcare resource for individualized evaluation. Cleanup contractors do not diagnose infections or replace medical care.

Information that helps

You do not need every answer before calling CSI.

Share only what is known and what you are comfortable providing. Graphic photographs and detailed explanations are not required for the first conversation.

City and general property location
House, apartment, hotel, business, or vehicle
Broad incident or cleanup category
Whether emergency services have responded
Whether the scene has been released
Room, area, or vehicle location involved
Known blood, bodily fluid, decomposition, or odor concerns
Whether children, pets, tenants, guests, or employees are present
Property owner, estate, landlord, or management contact
Insurance carrier and claim number when available
Known access requirements, keys, codes, or security
Safe telephone number and preferred contact method

Who may need to be contacted

Different professionals handle different parts of the situation.

Emergency Services

For immediate danger, medical emergencies, crimes in progress, fire, hazardous conditions, or an unresponsive person.

Call 911

Property or Estate Contact

The owner, landlord, property manager, executor, administrator, employer, or authorized representative may need to approve access.

Insurance Carrier

Report a possible loss and request the claim number, adjuster contact, deductible, and documentation instructions.

Insurance Help

Specialized Cleanup

Contact CSI after scene release for contamination assessment, service options, estimates, access planning, and next steps.

Call CSI

What happens after contacting CSI

A clear process for a situation that may feel overwhelming.

Confidential Consultation

CSI gathers the location, property type, broad situation, scene-release status, affected area, and authorized contact.

Access Planning

Keys, codes, security, elevators, parking, escorts, ownership, estate, management, and tenant access are coordinated.

Assessment

Visible and potential contamination, porous materials, belongings, flooring, furniture, adjoining areas, and odor are evaluated.

Approved Cleanup

CSI performs the approved cleaning, treatment, removal, packaging, odor control, and waste-handling services.

Closeout Guidance

The authorized contact receives information about completed work, remaining repairs, replacement needs, documentation, and billing.

Personal property and belongings

Do not make irreversible decisions while still in shock.

Belongings may have emotional, legal, financial, evidentiary, cultural, or family significance. Their material and condition also affect whether treatment or recovery may be appropriate.

Wait for Authorization

Do not remove belongings from an active or unreleased scene.

Identify Important Items

Tell CSI about documents, jewelry, photographs, electronics, keepsakes, medication, firearms, keys, and estate property.

Evaluate the Material

Hard, soft, porous, absorbent, electronic, paper, upholstered, and structural items may require different decisions.

Approve Before Removal

The authorized contact should understand proposed removal, treatment, disposal, and replacement decisions.

The emotional aftermath

Trauma can affect memory, concentration, sleep, decision-making, and the ability to process information.

Ask a trusted person to take notes, help manage telephone calls, organize documents, care for children or animals, arrange transportation, and sit with you while decisions are made.

For immediate emotional-crisis or suicide-related support in the United States, call or text 988 or use the 988 Lifeline’s online chat. For immediate physical danger, call 911.

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Important limitations

CSI handles the physical cleanup environment after appropriate release and authorization.

CSI is not emergency medical services, law enforcement, a crisis center, a mental-health provider, an attorney, an insurance company, a public adjuster, or a funeral home.

This page provides general guidance and cannot determine whether a scene is safe, released, legally accessible, medically urgent, covered by insurance, or appropriate for a specific service.

Immediate guidance questions

Frequently asked questions after a traumatic event.

Who should I call first?

Contact 911 first when someone may be injured, in immediate danger, unresponsive, missing, or when a crime, fire, medical emergency, or hazardous condition may still be active.

When can the cleanup company enter?

CSI should enter only after the appropriate authority releases the scene and an authorized property, estate, business, or vehicle contact grants access.

Should I start cleaning while I wait?

No. Avoid touching, washing, moving, vacuuming, transporting, or removing affected materials until the scene is released and you receive appropriate guidance.

What should I do after contact with blood or bodily fluids?

Wash affected skin with soap and water, flush splashes with water, and seek prompt medical guidance. Contact emergency or occupational medical care after a needlestick, sharp injury, or significant exposure.

Will law enforcement clean the property?

Emergency personnel and law enforcement manage the emergency or investigation. Property cleanup is generally coordinated separately by the authorized owner, family, estate, business, or property contact.

Should I photograph the scene?

Do not enter an unsafe or unreleased scene to take photographs. Ask the investigating authority, insurer, attorney, or cleanup provider what documentation is appropriate.

Can insurance help pay for cleanup?

Some policies may provide benefits depending on the event, policy language, exclusions, deductible, authorization, documentation, and insurer decision. Coverage is not guaranteed.

What information does CSI need from me?

Begin with the city, property type, broad situation, affected area, scene-release status, authorized contact, safe contact information, and preferred timing.

Confidential help across Dallas–Fort Worth

You do not have to do this alone.

Contact CSI with the city, property type, affected area, scene-release status, and authorized contact information. Share only what you are comfortable providing.

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