Free suicide cleanup tool
Suicide Cleanup First 24 Hours Planner
Tell the planner a few facts about the situation and get an ordered list of who to call, what not to touch, and what to photograph.
The first day after a suicide is a blur of phone calls, visitors, and questions nobody is ready to answer. This planner gives you a short, ordered list of what truly needs to happen with the property. That way you can set everything else aside. It asks whether investigators have released the scene and whether anyone still lives in the home. It asks if there is a strong odor and whether sharp items or broken glass may be present. It also asks whether pets are in the house and whether the property is a rental. From those answers it builds a plan. It shows who to call and in what order, and what to leave alone. It shows what to photograph and what not to. It also shows when it is fine to step away and let others take over.
Everything in this planner assumes that no family member will enter the affected room. That is not a judgment of anyone's strength. Blood and body fluids carry a real risk of infection, and images seen in that room tend to stay. The planner also makes room for the emotional side of the day. At the right moments, it reminds you to name a helper and to keep children and pets somewhere else. It reminds you to reach the 988 Lifeline if anyone in the home is in danger. The list is short on purpose. It is ordered so the most protective steps come first. If you finish only the first few items today, you have done enough.
How to use it
- 1Answer each question honestly based on what the officers or the medical examiner told you. Do not go into the room to check.
- 2Read the ordered action list from the top and complete items in sequence, since each one depends on the previous.
- 3Use the do-not-touch and photograph guidance to brief anyone else who is in the house so no one undoes a step.
- 4Copy the list and share it with your designated helper so the phone calls can be split up or handed off entirely.
Prefer to ask a person?
Your request is sent to the follow-up inbox. A coordinator can reply by email. Not for emergencies; call 911 first if anyone is in danger.
Plan the first 24 hours
Suicide Cleanup: first 24 hours planner
Answer a few questions and the planner orders the next steps. It does not dispatch help and cannot replace emergency services.
Your ordered plan (6 steps)
- 1
Keep people and pets out of the affected area
Close the door and keep the area sealed until a qualified provider assesses it.
- 2
Photograph from the doorway before anything moves
Take wide shots first, then closer shots of stains, damage and belongings. Do not step into the area to do it. These photos support insurance and estate records.
- 3
Report the loss to your insurer and get a claim number
Ask the adjuster whether they need to inspect before materials are removed, and whether they have a list of approved remediation providers. Coverage depends on the policy and the cause of loss.
- 4
Call a qualified remediation provider for an assessment
Describe what happened, the rooms involved, and any odor, fluids or sharps. Ask which OSHA standards apply to suicide cleanup and for proof of training and insurance before work starts.
- 5
Start a written log
Record who you spoke to, when, and what they said. Keep receipts for lodging, boarding, locks and any emergency purchases.
- 6
Look after the people involved
If a death or violent event is involved, victim assistance programs, hospice bereavement teams and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can help. You do not need to manage this alone.
A worked example
Here is a made-up evening. A man comes home from work to find that his roommate has died in their shared apartment. Police and the medical examiner have come and gone. Before leaving, an officer told him the scene was released. He is alone with the family cat, and he feels strongly that he cannot stay in the unit tonight. In the planner he marks the scene as released, people living there, no strong odor, sharp items unknown, a pet present, and a rental. The list starts by telling him to close the bedroom door and keep the cat out of that room. Next, it tells him to contact the property manager, because the lease decides who approves the cleanup. It advises him to photograph the closed door and the hallway from outside only, for the file. He should not take photos inside. Then it suggests he pack a bag, arrange to stay somewhere else, and take the cat with him. It notes that officers may already have reached the roommate's next of kin. It reminds him to confirm who will sign for the work. The last item is for him. It names the 988 Lifeline and suggests he tell a friend before the night gets long. He copies the list and sends it to his sister, who takes over the calls.
Numbers behind 24-hour planner decisions
- 616,000
U.S. emergency departments recorded about 616,000 visits for self-harm injuries in 2022.
Read with care: Survey-based estimate; excludes people who did not seek care.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics (2022)United States, 2022, emergency department visits
- 2–5x
EPA reports that concentrations of some indoor pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.
Read with care: Refers to common pollutants such as VOCs, not specifically to drug or chemical residues.
Source: US EPA (2026)US indoor environments, general
- 16-21%
Handwashing reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21%, per the CDC.
Read with care: Effect sizes come from community studies and vary by setting; handwashing alone does not prevent all respiratory infections.
Source: CDC (2024)General population, CDC summary of published studies
- 24–48 hours
EPA advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Read with care: The window is shorter in warm, humid conditions.
Source: US EPA (2026)Residential guidance, United States
These figures are public research and agency data, not this network's own job records. Keep each number with its population, year and limits; none of them predicts cost, timing or outcome at a specific property.
First 24 Hours Planner questions for suicide cleanup
Who confirms that police or the medical examiner are finished with the room?
Usually the officer who came or the medical examiner's office tells the person in charge of the home. You can ask for the case number and the name of the person who released it. If nobody has said so clearly, call the non-emergency line of the agency that came. Hold off on any cleaning until the release is confirmed. Disturbing the room too early can get in the way of the death investigation.
Should I photograph the room for insurance before the crew arrives?
No family member should enter the room to take pictures. For your file, photograph the closed door, the hallway, and any outside conditions from outside the affected area. Cleanup providers record the inside of the room as part of their work. They can give those images to an insurer. Protecting yourself from the sight of the room matters more than a photo you can get another way.
What should I do with pets that were in the house?
Move them out of the affected room right away. If you can, move them out of the home until the work is done. Animals track material on their paws, and they may be upset by the odor or activity. Check them for any stains. Call a vet if they may have touched soiled material. Arrange care with a friend or a boarding place so you are not looking after an animal while also dealing with the crew.
We live in a rental. Can I call a remediation company myself?
You can gather quotes, but the lease usually decides who authorizes and pays for work on the unit. Contact the landlord or property manager as one of your first calls and ask them to confirm in writing who will sign the work order. Some landlords will hire the crew directly; others will ask the tenant's family to. Rules vary by state and county, so verify locally if the lease is silent.
What if I cannot bring myself to make any of these calls?
Then hand the list to someone else. The planner produces a copyable summary precisely so a friend, relative, or clergy member can take it and act on your behalf. Tell them who has authority over the property and let them handle the rest. If the reason you cannot act is that you are in crisis yourself, contact the 988 Lifeline first; the property can wait a few more hours.
Can I pause the planner and come back to it later?
Yes. The planner is meant to be used at whatever pace you can manage. Many families complete a step or two, rest, and return hours or days later. Nothing is lost by stopping. If you need to step away, you might ask a trusted person to continue from where you left off, so the next practical steps keep moving while you take care of yourself.
What if the steps happen in a different order for our family?
That is completely normal. Every situation is different, and the planner is a guide rather than a strict sequence. You might speak with an insurer before a provider, or arrange care for children before anything else. What matters is that the essential steps, such as confirming release, keeping the room closed, and finding support, are covered in the order that works for you.
Related community polls
Every count is a real visitor vote; nothing is seeded or padded. One vote per poll per device, and you can change your answer.
If you were coordinating cleanup after a suicide loss, who would you want to make the first call to a provider?
How important is it to you that a cleanup crew arrives in unmarked vehicles and plain clothing?
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Insurance and payment
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