La Quinta is a resort community in the Coachella Valley. La Quinta has become particularly known as a destination for golfers. The community has some of the finest golf courses in the country, indeed in the world.
La Quinta has a growing population, which currently is at about 40,000. La Quinta is a popular community for snowbirds, people who spend the winter months in the city but reside elsewhere the remainder of the year. In addition, over 20 percent of the population consists of people in their Golden Years. About one-third of the population are families with children under the age of 18.
La Quinta has a fairly average crime rate. The property crime rate is slightly above the national average while the violent crime rate is a bit below the national average.
Unattended Deaths in La Quinta
Due to the larger population of older people who live in La Quinta, one recurring issue is what is known as an unattended death. This is an issue in the community because of the percentage of older residents who live alone.
An unattended death is one in which a person dies alone. In addition, the death is not immediately discovered. The remains of the deceased person might not be discovered for days, weeks, or even months.
The most common types of unattended deaths that occur in La Quinta involving older residents are:
- Accidents
- Accidental medication overdoses
- Disease
- Natural Causes
- Sudden medical event (heart attack or stroke)
Unattended deaths are not limited to senior citizens. There are other types of situations in which a person dies and his or her remains are not discovered for some period of time. These situations are:
- Suicides
- Homicides
The aftermath of an unattended death presents a potentially dangerous situation for a person who discovers the remains of an individual who died in this manner or who must clean up after the passing. The stark reality is that when human remains are discovered much beyond two or three days after death, there likely will be what are known as dangerous biohazards at the scene. If blood is lost at the time of death, dangerous pathogens may immediately be present at the scene.
The human decomposition process commences immediately upon a person’s death. When blood starts flowing through the body, bacteria that are present in the body lose their nutrient supply. As a consequence, they turn to consume the body itself, initially particularly the intestines and pancreas. Within a couple of days, these organs break open, causing bacteria to spread throughout the body.
As the decomposition process continues, blood and other bodily fluids are released into the surrounding area. In addition, various gases are also released from the body. Both liquids and gases can contain dangerous biohazards. These biohazards can include:
- HIV
- MRSA
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
- Other viruses
- Other bacteria
What Occurs After the Discovery of an Unattended Death
The first step that must be taken when an unattended death occurs is to call 911. Even if the person who discovers an unattended death thinks he or she can surmise what occurred, the La Quinta Police Department and the Riverside County Coroner need to come to the scene. These agencies conduct an investigation at the scene of the death. The coroner will transport the remains to the coroner’s office for an autopsy.
Once the investigation at the scene is completed, the premises are turned over to the owner or other family members. Typically, the forensic examination and autopsy of the body are completed in 24 to 48 hours. A family has up to 72 hours to arrange for the remains to be transported from the coroner’s office when the forensics examination is concluded. A funeral home typically is charged with the task of undertaking the transport.
Biohazard Cleanup in La Quinta
Surviving family members or the owner of the property where an unattended death occurred bear responsibility for biohazard cleanup in La Quinta. Although these individuals bear responsibility for biohazard cleanup, the safety risks involved with this type of remediation underscores the importance of seeking assistance from a biohazard remediation professional.
In addition, losing a loved one by some type of unattended death is an emotionally devastating experience. The bereavement process need not be made even more challenging by personally taking on the unattended death cleanup process.
La Quinta Grief Therapists
Oftentimes when a person loses a loved one suddenly, unexpectedly, or through an unattended death, they need additional support during the bereavement process. These are La Quinta grief therapists that can provide assistance in these types of situations:
Ari Regar
78370 Highway 111, Suite 215
La Quinta, California 92253
(760) 348-8677
Donna Kay Pillow
La Quinta, California 92253
(760) 913-9610
Robert Sawicky
78060 Calle Estado
La Quinta, California 92253
(760) 712-4073