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.
Why Crime Scene Clean-Up Isn't a DIY Project
If you find yourself looking at a crime scene, your initial reaction may be to clean it yourself. You may want it to be gone as soon as possible and that's completely understandable. Here's some reasons why you shouldn't do that.
1. Fluids! Coming into contact with bodily fluids, especially blood, can be harmful. It can carry disease and pathogens that you just don't want on or near your body!
2. Invisible to the eye! If you don't take care of all of it, you can still recieve harmful effects. This means if you try and clean it and leave behind any traces of the scene (even germs and pathogens you can't see), your home won't be as sanitary as you think it is. You know how they say won't you don't know won't hurt you? Well in this case, it can.
3. Don't stress! While you may be worried that you can't afford crime scene cleaners, your insurance will usually take care of it! Don't let this detail keep you from getting the professionals in the door! Our team will help you contact your insurance company, and find out if your policy helps to aide in the cost of the clean-up.
Never try to clean a crime scene yourself! You'll be happier, more sanitary, and less stressed when you let the professionals come take care of it. If you need help or contact us at 520-771-5960. Bio-One of Tucson is here to help.
The Facts of Biohazardous Waste Disposal
August 15, 2020 Amanda Perkins
Biohazardous waste is the subset waste accumulated at health care facilities like hospitals, blood banks, medical laboratories, nursing homes, crime scenes, and in home environments during unattended deaths. Usually, this waste settles while contaminated by blood, body fluids, and infected medical materials. Although other elements like household disinfectants, industrial fuels, fertilizers, and pesticides contain hazardous substances; medical waste is a more serious concern and must be disposed of properly to avoid potential serious consequences
Why is the disposal of biohazardous waste important?
Facts have proven that out of total medical waste 85% is non-hazardous and the remaining 15% is hazardous waste yet affects the most. The improper management of biohazardous waste would result in the following hazards:
CDC guideline states that, the dispose of medical waste should be properly packed in bio-waste containers, transferred by a certified company, and disposed of at a certified waste disposal facility. If the guidelines are not followed then that waste will not be collected and can potentially spread or cross contaminate environments not healthy for human occupation.
As per CDC Guidelines, Infections liberated by not disposing of the bio-hazardous waste could be:
Bio-One of Tucson is a certified biohazardous waste clean-up and transporter of biohazardous waste to secure disposal facilities within the Tucson and surrounding areas community. If you or someone you know encounters a biohazardous situation do not try to remediate the situation yourself. The CDC imposes large fines if biohazardous waste is not properly contained and disposed of in the correct manner. In making sure you have a certified company handle these matters you are not only protecting yourself from liability, but your responsible actions help to keep all those in your community safe. Click here for a full list of licensed transporters in Arizona.
Please call Bio-One of Tucson at 520-771-5960 if you need a free quote for a biohazard clean-up.
Your home should be your refuge. When we have an unpleasant odor in our home or business, and we can't pinpoint the location of it or what causes the smell it can often be very troubling and disrupts our quality of life.
Our sense of smell is very sharp. It's able to detect around 10000 different scents according to neuroscientists. Having an odor that you don't like can have a huge impact on your entire mood and state of mind, and it is best to get rid of it right away. If one thinks about how some smells can remind us of happy memories we can make a direct correlation to how a persistent unpleasant odor can have a negative impact on our well being.
Some odors can be easily eliminated with household cleaning products. However, what do we do with the persistent odors caused by food stains, smoking, mold, or pet feces over a period of time? If you are experiencing odor in your environment from these tough smells there's a high chance that they have attracted bacteria that are feeding them and that's the source of the unpleasant odor. If this is the case you should contact a certified professional to address the problem right away because that bacteria might be biohazardous and may endanger the well-being of yourself and those in your care.
It can be a daunting task to deal with unpleasant odors, and our team at Bio-One of Tucson is extremely committed to helping those that have issues with unpleasant odors under the motto "Help First, Business Second". Our approach is professional and respectful in every way and we are committed to restoring the safety of your home quickly and efficiently. If you need any help with removing unpleasant odors contact us at 520-771-5960 and schedule a free estimate of our services.
Digging Out of Hoarding
August 6, 2020 Amanda Perkins
Finding Help with Hoarding
When confronted with the reality of a hoarding situation many do not understand how a person living with the mental illness of hoarding can allow their environment to come to what it has. It is our goal to shed some light on what hoarding is, and what factors are important when approaching someone who needs help in cleaning up their environment.
Dr. William C. Shiel Jr. advises that, "Pathological hoarding is the excessive hoarding of material goods, and is a condition that affects up to 40% of those suffering from Obsessive Compulsion Disorder (OCD)." It can result in an extreme emotional attachment to personal goods that many would not deem of value and can ultimately manifest into an environment that is unsafe to continue to reside in for both those that are ill and their families. It is this inability to give away personal items that overtime can result in uninhabitable living environments that need to be remediated by a certified company.
When approaching the subject of cleaning up a hoarding environment, many that struggle with this disease are reluctant to reach out for help. There can be a degree of shame and guilt with allowing outsiders to see what their environment has accumulated too. However, many times the task of cleaning up the hoard can at the same time feel overwhelming and insurmountable. It is for these reasons that many times hoarders continue to live in a tough situation without seeking help. Bio-One of Tucson has committed to the service of helping these very people in our community. We understand the potential dangers to health and well-being that continuing to reside in these environments pose, and we approach each client with the dignity and respect that they deserve as we help them get back to a safe living environment.
Many times, there can be underlying health concerns related to a hoard such as biomedical waste, or additional hazards that need to be disposed of in the proper manner by a certified company to keep in compliance with state and federal regulations. It is important that the professional company that remediates the hoard is also certified to properly transport and dispose of biohazardous waste so that the liability of the homeowner is protected.
When one needs to dig out of hoard it can be an extremely emotional process. The team at Bio-One of Tucson is committed to our motto of, "Help First, Business Second." In that we approach the person, the personal effects, and the residence with the respect and dignity they deserve to return their home back to the safe place it should be. If you, or someone you know needs help with cleaning up a hoard please contact us at 520-771-5960 to schedule a free estimate of services.
What You Need To Know About Unattended Death Remediation
August 3, 2020
An unattended death often occurs in solitude. It can often take several days before somebody suspects that something is wrong. When phone calls, text messages and emails go unanswered, friends, family members and landlords check in on the person at home, only to find that they’ve passed. If you’ve been in this position, you’re not alone. Whether an intentional act, or due to living alone the reality of unattended death happens more often than you might think in our community.
Discovering an unattended death can be an emotionally wrenching experience. It’s even more traumatic when the victim is a loved one. Although you may feel obligated to clean up the remains yourself, it is in your best interest to protect yourself from possible disease and liability by allowing a certified company to assist you during this time.
For one, it’s dangerous. Body fluids from corpses can release dangerous pathogens into the immediate area, creating a hazard for anyone without personal protective gear. To understand why this happens, you need to know how the decomposition process of the human body works. When someone dies, bacteria in the body lose the nutrients that keep them sustained. They look for other food sources to nourish themselves, and end up settling on the organs. These organs, which include the liver, the pancreas and the intestinal tract, are broken down with remarkable speed. To put this feeding process into perspective, there are trillions of bacteria in our bodies. That averages to about four pounds of bacteria for a 200-pound adult. Operating all at once, bacteria remove all the organs from the body within a 48-hour window.
Depending on the temperature and humidity of the room, the skin will begin to tear within this timeframe, allowing biohazardous materials to seep from the body. Rising pressure from the body’s gasses will quicken the process, releasing a terrible odor that’s often referred to as the stench of death. Sometimes, these gases will even cause the body to explode. As harmful pathogens pool on the floor, they release noxious gasses into the air, which can be inhaled through the nose and mouth. People who haven’t been trained to deal with biohazard remediation should remove themselves from the scene to escape these fumes and other threats from the decomposing body. Although it may not be obvious, people who approach a body without safety equipment risk exposing themselves to disease. Proper precautions must be taken, which brings us to another reason you shouldn’t embark on this endeavor yourself. This is why it is important to ask a certified company to remediate it for you and to ask if their technicians have been certified in bloodborne pathogen training.
You likely don’t have the training, equipment, or certifications to safely and legally dispose of human remains. Gloves, goggles, respirators and body suits are necessary to protect yourself against airborne and bloodborne pathogens. But they’re not enough to keep you safe. Bio-One of Tucson follows a regimented process to disinfect the area safely and effectively. The chemicals allotted to clean decomposing bodies are regulated by the state. Thus, over-the-counter solutions simply aren’t powerful enough to remove and decontaminate body fluids soaked into the floor. While a surface may look clean, harmful pathogens will linger behind and pose a threat to others if the proper chemicals haven’t been used. Our certified technicians have the training and materials to thoroughly disinfect and disinfect an area contaminated by biohazardous waste. Moreover, they carry chemicals that can effectively deodorize the scene, which often proves difficult to do for death odors. Additionally, Biohazardous materials must be transported and disposed of in compliance with state and federal guidelines. It is imperative that you hire a company that is licensed to transport and disposed of correctly.
Additionally, many times the cost to remediate an unattended death is covered through Homeowners Insurance. We are experts in helping you navigate the insurance claim process to incur the least amount of financial stress during an already stressful time.
Bio-One is available 24 / 7 / 365 at (520)-771-5960 to speak with you regarding this or any of the services we provide. We pride ourselves in handling the hard part of the clean up so that you can focus on the happy memories of your loved one. We complete this work across the nation with compassion and confidentiality. Give us a call if you have any questions and we will help you.
3 Ways to Help Your Community Today during the Covid-19 Pandemic
July 28, 2020 By: Amanda Perkins
With all of us hunkering down at home practicing safe social distancing we may start to get a lil case of the grumps from being cooped up. However, I have always found that giving always seems to help bring perspective and lighten the heart. As leadership expert Robin Sharma says “Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” So here are three things that we can do today to help our Tucson Community.
Donate Blood or Plasma. Right now more than ever is a great time to donate blood or plasma. Many hospitals are experiencing blood shortages due to COVID-19. When COVID-19 hit our communities, schools, churches, dentists, doctors and so many other businesses had to shut their doors. And do you know where a lot of blood drives take place? In those same places. Because of that, many blood drives have been canceled for the foreseeable future. Blood transfusions are needed for premature babies, women in labor, people with blood disorders, people who have experienced a trauma, and so many more things. Blood saves lives. Please consider donating or even sponsoring and putting on a blood drive. CSL Plasma center typically compensates about $70.00 per donation, however, you can now not only donate plasma, but you can also choose to donate the compensation you would have received to front line health care workers! That's a double whammy of giving for just a small bit out of your day! There are 6 area locations you can donate plasma which you can access here.
What is also wonderful is that for those people who have contracted Covid-19 and recovered successfully and might be feeling at a loss on how to connect back with their community according to the American Red Cross they are a much needed asset. Those that have successfully recovered from the Covid-19 virus have much needed antibodies that can attack the active virus in those struggling with severe cases of Covid-19. To learn more about blood and plasma donation visit the American Red Cross for details.
Help take care of local animals. With the pandemic hitting hard on the economy many local animal shelters and rescue organizations are seeing a rise in the amount of animals that need help. This Wednesday July 29, 2020 is #Woofdown Wednesday! Where over 20 local restaurants have partnered with the Southern Arizona Humane Society to help raise funds to take care of our furry friends. Dine-in, Take-out a meal tomorrow and feel good about the fact that you are helping our community at the same time! Click the link above to find all participating restaurants! Additionally, the Southern Arizona Humane Society is providing free pet food assistance every Sunday morning from 8am-10am. Maybe take a Sunday morning to go grab some for a family you know in need, or an elderly neighbor that is having trouble getting out to get their own.
Get Ready to Walk! The Southern Arizona Aids Foundation has transitioned their annual benefit walk into a virtual event! Register your team (registration opened on July 1st) and then take a video of your team walking anywhere and upload it October 12th-18th. You can have fun with this! Make shirts for your team, make a fun playlist to walk too, find a great trail to hike and/or maybe bring it inside and do a crazy walk on treadmills. Whether you are a team of one, a family, or an office this is a great way to give back while still practicing social distancing. To register find more information here.
These are just 3 easy things we can do today to help the socially distanced person next to us. As always, we at Bio-One of Tucson, are here to help with any Covid-19 disinfection needs, or any of the additional services we provide. #TucsonTogether
COVID-19 Disinfection Expertise
Are you Hiring an Expert
SEP 01, 2017 by PAUL MARVEL
With COVID-19 cases on the rise here in Arizona, a lot of companies including Pest Control Companies, Dry Cleaners, General Contractors have been jumping on the bandwagon to offer disinfection services, however, are they qualified to perform this vital service.
Here are a few items to keep in mind when choosing a company to disinfect your home or business:
1. What experience do they have disinfecting for Viruses: Here at Bio-One, we have been disinfecting for Viruses for close to 20 years. We have worked with disinfecting homes and businesses for C-Diff, MRSA, HIV, H1N1, Ebola just to name a few.
2. Does the company you are hiring follow strict CDC and OSHA protocols when performing these important services: You can find OSHA's standards for disinfecting for COVID-19 here, https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/covid-19/standards.html . As these standards indicate, ask for a copy of their Respiratory Protection Plan, Copies of their Bloodborne Pathogens Certificates as well as what Personal Protective Equipment do their technicians wear.
3. Are they insured for doing this kind of work. Since the outbreak, all but 1 insurance carrier has put exclusions in their policies for doing any type of COVID-19 Disinfection Services. What this means is if they break or damage anything in your home or business while performing these services, they do not have any insurance coverage to protect you or cover the cost. We at Bio-One do carry this important coverage and can provide you with proof of coverage.
4. Is the company you are hiring making false claims about how long their Disinfection lasts on surfaces. In Houston TX there was a company making false claims about how long their disinfection lasts, read about their claims here: Houston Business Shut Down There aren't any procedures or chemicals that will last weeks or months. The disinfection services last as long as a carrier does not re-enter the space.
As you review these 4 points, you need to ask yourself if the least expensive service provider is the best. Here at Bio-One, we realize their are companies charging both less than we do as well as more than we do. However, with how unpredictable this virus has proven to be, don't you want to trust a company that has the experience, is knowledgeable about the correct procedures, follows OSHA and CDC protocols and does not try and make false claims about their services.
We are here to help you make your home of business safe again. We are open 24/7/365. Call us at 520.771.5960 or visit our website at www.bioonetucson.com to get a free no obligation quote and to discuss your individual needs.
