Bed Bugs Can Be Tough To Kill
At the size of an apple seed bed bugs are a small parasitic insect that bite the exposed skin of sleeping humans and animals to feed on their blood that require professional extermination. Due to the small size of these parasites most people are unaware that they may have them in their home until they begin to notice the tell tale sign of the bed bug’s bites along on their skin.
Bed bug bites appear small red in size with a darker red center, typically cause itching, and appear in a cluster or line. Bed bugs can crawl as fast as a lady bug and and can easily transport themselves between floors or rooms. This makes eradication of these insects in multi-family housing, apartments, or hotels a necessity. These insects typically make their homes within mattresses, bed frames, bed springs, and in clutter on or around beds. They can also be found behind peeling wallpaper, in carpeted areas, and in furniture.
In the past many looked to professional pest control companies to kill off bed bugs using pesticides. However, current research shows that pesticides along have become ineffective as bed bugs have developed resistance to pesticides. This combined with their ability to multiply at a high rate have made eradicating bed bugs a tough task.
However, new technology and testing has determined that there is a better way to kill these harmful pests. Bio-One of Tucson exterminates bed bugs using a heat extermination process. The infested space and surrounding walls are heated to a temperature above 125°F, killing all bed bugs and their eggs. Bed bugs cannot become resistant to it, and heat waves get everywhere.
Bio-One of Tucson uses specialized equipment that is customized to the needs of each space. Our heating tools are designed specifically to spread, control, and monitor heat -getting it into hard to reach spaces inside walls and mattresses. Depending upon the size of the space, it will take between 8-12 hours to heat the premises. It will be necessary to vacate the space during this time. Opposed to pesticides very minimal prep work is needed to prepare the home for this type of treatment. Therefore, this has become a more effective and faster way for bed bugs to be killed and to prevent them from coming back.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with eradicating bed bugs from their home or business please give Bio-One of Tucson a call at 520-771-5960 for a free estimate for services, or visit us at www.bioonetucson.com.
Biohazards come in many forms. Blood, body tissue, some bodily fluids, and pathogens are a few general examples. These hazardous materials generally take more to clean up than your typical cleaning supplies will be able to safely handle. Here are some reasons why you should call a biohazard cleanup crew instead of trying to handle it yourself.
Biohazardous material has the potential to do some impressively extensive damage. A sewage backup, for example, can cause your property to become flooded with black water. Black water is wastewater from toilets, and contains everything that gets flushed down the toilet from paper to fecal matter. It can be very dangerous and pose a serious health risk. Black water irreversibly damages a lot of what it comes into contact with. You're potentially looking at a renovation project—not something you want to be tackling on your own.
Professional biohazard cleaners have been trained and properly equipped to deal with the fallout of biohazardous materials. Cleanup requires more specialized tools than your typical cleaning supplies. Biohazard cleaning requires protective equipment that needs to be disposed of properly after use. Protective equipment can become health hazards once used to clean up biohazard materials, so just throwing it away in the garbage can really isn't a good idea. Cleaning up biohazards is a pretty involved process from start to finish. Best to leave it to those with the proper tools and training.
Biohazards are just that—hazardous. They are capable of carrying some very dangerous infectious diseases. This is why having the proper training and equipment is so important. You don't want to inadvertently expose yourself or anyone else to these nasty diseases by trying to clean up a mess you aren't equipped to deal with properly. Calling a biohazard clean up crew helps ensure that the mess is cleaned up and disposed of properly, which protects the safety of the cleaners and everyone else on the premises.
It's not usually a good idea to try to clean up biohazard messes on your own. You could be looking at very extensive damage. Professionals have the proper tools to handle these hazardous materials, and know how to dispose of it in such a way that keeps everyone safe. If you have a biohazard spill, your best bet is to call a professional biohazard cleanup crew.
With the pandemic happening, keeping things clean is more important than ever. If you need your workplace or home cleaned, we can help! Contact us today to schedule a service.
How To Protect Yourself from Blood Borne Pathogens
Every single one of us will have to deal with some sort of accident at one point in our lives because accidents happen. When an accident happens it helps to be educated and prepared on how to properly respond and safely clean-up the bodily fluids that come along with it. However, different from putting a band aide on a small cut, when you encounter yourself in the presence of a large blood spill it is important to understand how to properly protect yourself while getting help to clean it up.
Blood is one of the most dangerous spills that you could encounter when cleaning up bodily fluids because it can transmit diseases and pathogens like HIV, hepatitis, and countless others. Because it can be a very dangerous substance it's of great importance that you protect yourself when you're in a situation that requires a proper sanitization of where the blood spill occurred.
Blood is considered a biohazardous waste and must be disposed of properly in biohazard approved containers and disposed of at a licensed biohazard disposal site. It is recommended to prohibit foot traffic to the area of the blood spill and to call a remediation specialist. The equipment you must have to protect yourself when cleaning up a blood spill includes personal protective equipment, gloves, buckets, mops, and the CDC approved cleaning agents.
The procedures you need to follow for your safety is to take care of the spill as soon as possible using the equipment listed above. Due to the severity of risk and complicated remediation efforts most people look to professionals to help clean large blood spills. It is important to ask your remediation company if they are certified in blood borne pathogens, and if they are licensed to carry and dispose of biohazardous waste.
Blood spills can be dangerous to deal with, and that is why many in our Tucson community reach out to Bio-One of Tucson as we are extremely committed to helping anyone that is in need of quickly and safely removing blood spills. We stick to the motto "Help First, Business Second". If you need any help with blood spill cleanup contact us at 520-771-5960 and schedule a free estimate of our services.
The Aging Population and Hoarding
Sept 17, 2020
As we are get older we naturally have more memories and most of them are connected to places or items that we own. The more memories we have, the more items we have that remind us of those happy memories and people can sometime struggle when these items accumulate and begin to overwhelm their homes. As people age it can become even harder to mitigate the clutter due to a lack of ability to do the clean up themselves, or the increased emotional attachment to sentimental items.
One of the first warning signs that appear when people are suffering from hoarding illness is a degree of indifference to the clutter in their environment. As their environment builds up they may stop allowing friends and family to visit their homes, however, they may be overwhelmed or at a loss on how to do the clean-up themselves. This can begin to create a sense of embarrassment or shame in the person who is struggling.
Overtime, additional concerns can arise such as the appearance of hazards. With an excessive buildup of clutter it can quickly turn into an unsafe environment, especially for our aging population. When piles of items build up into the living space tripping over an object that blocks the path from free movement is a major concern.
One of the final warning signs of hoarding is when one starts to place a lot of worth into the objects they own or have collected, even if they are not highly valuable. They tend to feel very connected to them, may not stop talking about them, and may even be purchasing them at the risk of their own financial detriment. When older members of our community live alone it can be very difficult to have visibility to the level of excess that may be happening. For this reason it is important that home checks be conducted on a regular basis to prevent the feeling of isolation that may contribute to hoarding illness.
Hoarding issues can manifest with common symptoms and recognizing them early can save someone from time, expense, and health concerns that can occur from hoarding over time. The first most noticeable symptom is the excessive acquirement of unnecessary items disregarding the fact that there is no more space. Another common symptom is the inability to get rid of items you don't need anymore due to an unreasonable amount of fear associated with the loss of said item. The third symptom is an increased emotional response or getting upset when they are asked to throw out something that they don't need anymore. However, people are different and the signs and symptoms may vary from one person to another so if you suspect someone is suffering try to observe their behavioral patterns more closely and spot any of the symptoms above.
Hoarding can be dangerous toward the mental and physical health of an individual so it's imperative that we try to help that person. The progressive decline of a hoarding situation can accumulate into a biohazardous environment. We are here to help with a team that is careful, professional, and discreet. Our teams at Bio-One of Tucson are completely committed to our motto "Help First, Business Second". If you need any help with hoarding clean up or you know someone who needs help, contact us at 520-771-5960 and schedule a free estimate of our services.
Cleaning Up Homeless Encampments and Covid-19
SEP 10, 2020
With ongoing global pandemic, the homeless encampments and concerns surrounding COVID-19 have turned into a complex and a large issue for all major cities, including Tucson.
As our city looks to clean up homeless encampment sites in our current pandemic environment one would find many additional factors surrounding the number of people living without shelter. Keeping up with an adequate health and hygiene system in the community, the importance of cleaning up homeless encampments from debris and COVID disinfection has taken a whole new level of necessity. Due to the nature of homeless encampments whether enclosed or outdoors, the lack of running water, hand-washing capabilities, and increase exposure to confined spaces and transient camp members can pose for fertile ground for infections to spread.
Without access to sanitation services, trash services or even water services, the camps are already in a vulnerable stage. As a result, the outbreak highlights the hygiene and sanitation concerns for those living there, and those that are commissioned to assist in the sanitation of those areas.
The conditions of unmanaged homeless encampments and COVID infection promote the spread of this deadly virus. Additionally, unsafe environments and structures create their own hazards. Being in the midst of a global pandemic, homeless encampments pose a substantial risk to the spreading of and exposure to biohazards. Some of the major threats through homeless encampment are:
● Bloodborne Pathogens include hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, and others.
● Biohazards as well as health dangers due to solid waste.
● Rodents as rats can carry another lethal virus, hantavirus resulting in failure of the kidney.
However, now another crucial element is the cleanup of homeless encampments from contaminated debris and the need for COVID disinfection services. Be it couple tents at a lane or homeless dwelling space, cleaning up with the right professionals and equipment is a must to deal with toxic matter to help ensure the safety of the members of the community living there, and those members of the community that may come in contact with those living there.
Bio-One of Tucson is honored to have been selected by the City of Tucson to assist in the clean-up and disinfection efforts of the City of Tucson for several homeless encampments throughout the city during this pandemic, and we will continue to do so. This is additional proof that the City of Tucson is working hard to keep the safety of all community members at the forefront. Offering professionalism with the utmost kindness and respect at any time of need, Bio-One of Tucson is proud to be a contributing member to our Tucson Community.
Bio-One of Tucson backs the Blue, including our four legged officers. This past week on late Thursday August Third our four legged K9 officer Tango was shot in a during a pursuit involving a teen suspect that local authorities noted was wanted on several felony charges. Although injured in the line of duty "Tango" was still able to apprehend his suspect.
Bio-One of Tucson is a major supportive of all of our local Police and Fire Departments. Many of our Biohazard technicians are retired of active duty military or police/fire professionals. We encourage our Tucson Community to show support for the recovery of Tango and his medical needs. The cost of Tango's recovery needs are over $4,000.00. Right now, there has been over $1,600.00 raised to help support these costs, but more is needed. Join Bio-One of Tucson in raising additional funds for Tangos needs here.
We are sensitive during these economic times that financial support of a cause as even as worthy as this may be difficult for some. However, there are additional ways you can help. Volunteer some time at the local animal shelter! The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is always needing volunteers! Connect here for additional information on how you can contribute. You can also donate extra dog food or supplies in tribute of "Tango" to the local animal shelter in your show of support. Our own fur baby "Daisy" is such an intricate part of our lives and business that we know the importance of taking care of not only our K9 officers, but all the animals that are part of our Tucson Community.
For us, at Bio-One Tucson Hoarding issues are a daily occurrence, but for those dealing with the resulting damages after a loved one who has passed away with a hoarding disorder it may feel insurmountable. Many times the surviving members had no idea to the extent of the property damage involved as hoarding disorder is many times kept separate from all other interactions with the family. It is important that you know that you are not alone and that we are here to help.
When a family member has passed away very rarely does a family member anticipate that they may be walking into a hoarding situation when we are called upon to assist. However, we find that this is many times the case. Many family members find themselves faced with an overwhelming task of not only handling estate matters, but also putting a home back into livable conditions after the death of a loved one. Bio-One of Tucson is here to help.
We specialize in taking the insurmountable to manageable. We provide a level of cleanliness to the clients desire, and we handle all aspects of the job from start to finish with the utmost respect to the deceased, the property, and the family involved. If you are finding yourself faced with the task of helping a family member dig out of hoarding please do not hesitate to contact Bio-One of Tucson for assistance. We are open 24/7 520-771-5960. www.bioonetucson.com
National Suicide Prevention Month and How We Can All Contribute
SEP 01, 2020 Amanda Perkins
As September ushers in our Fall months many of us that transplanted to the Tucson area from other states may find ourselves fondly reminiscing of leaves falling to be raked, warm apple cider, and apple picking season when thinking of September. However, the month of September also poignantly reminds us be deliberate in our self-care and to be vigilant in suicide prevention as September holds the mantle for National Self-Care and National Suicide Prevention Month across our great nation.
Being a company that has visibility into the tragic repercussions of suicide, Bio-One of Tucson advocates strongly to open the dialogue and visibility to self-care and suicide prevention platforms available to our Tucson community. A recent study released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (August 20, 2020) noted that, “over a quarter of youth ages 18-24 seriously considered suicide in June of 2020, but that data was not segmented by sexual orientation or gender identity.” Taking that information a step further on a national level, over 1.8 million LBGTQ+ youth specifically consider suicide a year as data collected supports that they have a higher exposure to violence victimization and suicide risk. The current conditions of our stay at home mandates and social distancing put additional strains on our community youth regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity as they may not have the same access as they may have had to access support networks, and some may be feeling isolated in current home conditions.
Many times, when we hear the magnitude of these numbers, we think that we do not have individual power to help affect change. We encourage our Tucson community to participate in National Self-Care Month and National Suicide Prevention Month in any way they deem significant to contribute to continuing to save lives in our community.
We can all start with administering self-care. We can better help others if we first help ourselves. Self-care means taking specific actions to protect and nurture our mental health. Modeling great self-care routines is a powerful tool to our community youth. This could be simply taking time to mediate daily, journal, exercise, connect online with friends and family, or by making sure that we are taking care of our mental health needs either in either virtual or physical appointments.
Additionally, we can acknowledge the prevalence of suicide and understand the warning signs and available resources. Warning signs for suicide can manifest in a variety of ways. Some of the most common can be but are not limited to the following:
· Sleeping too little or too much
· Talking about being in unbearable pain or feeling trapped
· Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves
· Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
· Increasing the use of alcohol or drug use
· Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless
· Withdrawing from usual activities or making oneself isolated
· Displaying extreme mood swings (rage, depression, sadness)
We can also make ourselves accessible to anyone to talk to if they have need or to provide them guidance to resources. Some great resources available right now are Lifeline (any age) 1-800-273-8255 or text SIGNS to 741741. Additionally, specific for youth of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning community there is the trevorproject.org. Youth under age 25 can reach guidance at Trevorproject.org 24/7 by contacting 1-866-488-7386 or texting START to 678678. Trevorproject.org also provides educational resources to train counselors, educators, administrators, school nurses, social workers in LGBTQ competent suicide prevention. In honor of National Suicide Prevention Month Bio-One of Tucson will be donating a portion of their profits to Trevorproject.org in the month of September to continue to support the innovative research that brings new knowledge to the field of suicidology.
What to Ask When Looking for Trauma Clean-Up Services
Misfortune strikes when a person least expects it. The tragedy can shake one to the core, and added stress of having to clean up after an unattended death can seem insurrmountable. Whether one is a commercial property owner or private homeowner, being prepared for the unexpected can help save time, money, and stress in case of a tragedy.
We have penned down a few qualities to look for while you search for the most professional and compassionate biohazard scene clean-up company.
Things to consider before finalizing a trauma clean-up company
1. Certification
Trauma clean service certifications and licensing vary by state. While you look for a company to assist you in making sure that you handle a biohazardous scene correctly you first want to verify that the company you choose are legally certified to do the job. To remove any prospective health hazards, and to protect the health of all involved, complying with government standards is a must.
2. Expertise, Training & Professionalism
Professional training and expertise are critical elements while you make a choice. A trauma clean-up is not the time to try to take matters into your own hands. For the safety of yourself and others trauma remediation requires professional help. Choosing one with professional training and expertise for all of their field technicians helps protect your health.
3. Safety and Standards
The trauma clean-up company you choose should be a subject matter expert in biohazard cleaning. As you interview potential companies for their services ask as many questions as you feel necessary to determine the company’s knowledge on safety and standards, ask about the whole remediation process from beginning to end, and ensure that they set clear expectations of the service you will receive. Types of questions you can ask are, “What is your process for containment and disposal of biohazardous waste?” or “What can we do to eliminate the odor from the trauma scene?” “Where do you dispose of your biohazardous waste, and are you licensed to transport it?” “How much liability insurance do you carry as a company for your technicians while they are on-site at my property?” Knowing the questions to ask ahead of time (we encourage you to print this page out and keep it in a safe place so that you don’t have to try to remember at an already stressful time on what to ask!)
4. Testimonials and Customer References
While you are dealing with a tragedy, it is better to read a bit about others’ experiences with respect to the prospective company. Through this, you will be able to know the best in business in terms of training, professionalism, and expertise. No one company is going to have all great reviews, even Disney World (the happiest place on Earth!) has negative reviews! However, through reviews and references you can gather whether the collective whole of customer experiences has been positive or negative, and can also glean if there are additional questions you might like to get clarification on before retaining services.
Coping up with traumatic loss is not easy. It is the reason that we at Bio-One of Tucson say that we hope we are the company that you never have to call. However, if you find yourself in need of biohazardous clean-up services. When it comes to choosing compassionate certified technicians we hope to help you find a clear path. For a free estimate of services please contact Bio-One of Tucson at (520) 771-5960 day or night.
Disinfecting From Covid-19 For Small Business Owners
The importance of COVID Disinfection for Small Businesses Looking to Reopen Safely
Small business entrepreneurs are used to setting objectives and also solving economic problems at the micro-level. The global pandemic due to COVID-19 has forced several small businesses into an unenviable position where they need to decide when and how to reopen their businesses safely while working through the state and local regulations surrounding reopening. Many times the solutions are not a clear path for many local business owners to answer. In an effort to keep their customers, locations, and employees safe small business owners are working to follow the guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, state, and local regulations.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) developed a helpful decision tree with which small businesses can solve their overall problems.
Key Tips
It is smart to have your place of business disinfected. Bio-One of Tucson provides Covid-19 Disinfection services in which the location of your business can be fogged with CDC approved chemicals which kill the Coronavirus on contact. This allows the disinfection of every touched surface. Additionally once on site the technicians will provide additional measures to light switches, handles, doorknobs, keyboards, tables, desks, remote controls, toilets along with handles, elevator buttons, sinks, faucets, POS (point of sale) or cash registers, phones and other equipment. Once the treatment is completed you will be provided with a certificate of disinfection in which you can display at your place of business to let your customers and employees know how much you value their health and safety.
Call Bio-One of Tucson today at 520-771-5960 to schedule your Covid-19 disinfection service. We operate 24 hours a day and we have the ability of flexible service outside of regular business hours to help you maintain your regular service hours as not to impede your business.
