Should Your Housekeeper Handle your Blood Spill?
When a blood spill or other biohazard event occurs it may be tempting to clean the spill up yourself, or to hire a standard housekeeping service to do the cleaning for you. However, it is important to understand that these types of events may expose you or your family members to bloodborne pathogens.
Bloodborne pathogens are microscopic organisms that are infectious and can cause disease in humans. These pathogens can contain dangerous diseases including but not limited to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and MRSA. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that blood clean up, and other regulated wastes that may contain blood be disposed of in a way that protects the family, the custodian, and the environment.
The procedures to dispose of these hazards is much more detailed than having a standard housekeeping service clean up the mess. To make sure that everyone involved is protected there are some questions you should ask when preparing to clean up a biohazard that may contain blood.
1. Is the custodian bloodborne pathogen certified? OSHA requires that those that are responsible to properly dispose of bloodborne pathogens be certified annually. It is important to ask if the technician being dispatched to your home is certified in bloodborne pathogen controls and proper disposal procedures.
2. Is the company certified to transport and dispose of biohazardous waste? Inquire of the company if they are legally able to transport and dispose of the biohazardous waste. Ask what type of container the biohazard will be taken away in. There are certain requirements that a certified company will have in place to make sure that biohazardous waste is marked and disposed of at a certified facility.
3. What protective equipment will be used by the company that will be dispatched to your clean up? To eliminate and properly disinfect an area from bloodborne pathogens it is important that the technician on site wears and operates the required personal protective equipment in a way that protects themselves, and eliminates cross contamination of the area that was potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens.
The desire to want to quickly clean up a blood spill is understandable, however, without asking the necessary questions you may risk exposure to yourself, your family, or others of bloodborne pathogens. Bio-One of Tucson technicians are certified in Bloodborne pathogen training, they are certified to legally transport and dispose of the hazardous material, and they are equipped with top of the line personal property equipment to make sure every effort is made to maintain the safety of everyone involved. If you need a free estimate for biohazardous removal services please contact our office at (520) 771-5960 today.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. According to a CDC survey 20 Americans experience intimate partner physical abuse every minute in the United States. This equates to approximately 10,000 victims each year, and these are just the numbers of reported cases. However, we know there are thousands of silent stories that go untold and are not reported upon each year.
Unless experienced, to adequately explain the fear and shame that can surround those that find themselves in the position of living in these conditions from the person that they thought loved them can be difficult. When found in this position the opposing emotions of loyalty, shame, and self-preservation can compete in a way that makes clear thinking incredibly difficult. Additionally, for partners that have children and/or shared finances together the ability to leave and find safety is not always an easy path. Furthermore, Domestic Violence is not always physical, and the comprehension of the resulting impacts of emotional, sexual, economic, and mental abuse are sometimes not as widely accepted. Domestic Violence is a pattern of abusive behavior that surpasses boundaries of socioeconomic lines, race, sexual orientation, and/or gender. It permeates into our society at every level, and the resulting damages remain imprinted on the generations that remain.
If you know of someone that is experiencing Domestic Violence the first thing you can do is be a safe place for them to be able to share their story. When you make yourself available as a safe harbor you may need to approach with the understanding that they need a listening ear, but may also not yet be ready to leave their situation. This will require having composure to offer the victims unconditional support as they work through the feelings of finding an appropriate solution.
Secondly, you can provide them access to resources. Emerge Center is the largest domestic abuse shelter in Southern Arizona and can be reached at www.emergecenter.org.
Bio-One of Tucson advocates for the education and awareness of Domestic Violence in our community as we see the unfortunate circumstances that can result. We specialize in crime scene and trauma clean up, and have held the hands of those that have been affected in these situations. We encourage all of our Tucson community to be a voice to end Domestic Violence, and to stand in solidarity with the victims as a safe haven of support.
Hoarding and Fire Hazards
On a recent episode of Hoarders on A&E the spotlight was shone on how hoarding situations can quickly become life threatening situations. A fire ignited in the home of Laura due to stacks of newspapers and cooking oil positioned around the kitchen oven, and someone unknowingly engaging the burner on top of the oven that was surrounded by clutter. Thankfully, this fire was able to be quickly extinguished, but if a fire had occurred when less people were present in the home the potential of the danger could have been much greater. The flames could have quickly overcome the structure of the home and any occupants inside. This example gives us a moment to highlight some of the concerns for hoarding homes, and the loved ones that live inside that can sometimes be overlooked.
Hoarding is a compulsive disorder that many times accumulates into the cumulation of large piles of debris within a home. This can create several fire hazards for the occupants of the home:
· Buried surge protectors and/other engaged electrical sockets surrounded by paper and debris
· Sparks from older or faulty electrical appliances that may be plugged in nearby debris
· Papers and other flammable items positioned around areas of open flame or atop stoves
· Frayed or chewed electrical cords due to vermin
· Clothes or fabric atop of lamps, space heaters, or radiators
· Smoking cigarettes in ashtrays near flammable materials
Homes affected by hoarding can pose significant fire hazards. According to the National Fire Protection Association, homes that have hoarding situations can pose significant threat to not only the occupants of the home but to the first responders who are brought on scene to extinguish the flames. Many times homes in this condition have windows and doors that are not easily accessible or that may be blocked The amount of fuel a fire may have in these conditions may allow a fire to become large and difficult to attack as the amount of paper, boxes, and other items for the fire to consume are readily available. Additionally, with blocked areas of access fire fighters may not be able to easily bring in the necessary equipment to combat fires quickly which pose a risk for not only the homeowners that may be inside, but the first responders, and the neighbors of those that live next to these homes. Due to these reasons many fire professionals across the nation are providing additional training to their teams to learn how to best react to fires within homes affected by hoarding.
Bio-One of Tucson is committed to serving our community to help prevent the catastrophic loss that could occur from a hoarding related fire by helping reduce hoarding on the front end. If you, or someone you know is struggling with hoarding, please contact us at 520-771-5960 for a free estimate of services so that we can help prevent unimaginable loss.
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
