NOVEMBER 10, 2019 by DAVID SCOTT
Some think for one to be a great first responder that it’s more of a calling than it is a job. Imagine delivering tragic news to a broken-hearted family, talking a suicidal person from taking their own life, or working to save someone who has OD’d…and then being haunted forever when the efforts don’t work.
Those are a few of the many examples of the things that first responders do every day, but when it comes to helping a family try to move on after a tragedy that took place in their home, the first responders can’t do it all.
They can provide words of comfort and offer to send for the chaplain, but then they have to walk away to help the next person—and they leave behind a family to figure out how to deal with the physical mess left behind by a suicide, unattended death, or other situation.
Bio-One’s job begins where the first responders’ jobs end. We provide compassionate and thorough trauma and crime scene cleanup services throughout the Tucson area. Our services include:
· Decomposition/Undiscovered Death Cleanup
· And More
When the police move on and the coroner has done his job, we come in and do our part to restore your home to its pre-event condition.
We truly care about our customers, and we do our best to provide compassionate service and fast response times. Typically, we arrive within an hour, and most jobs are completed in just a few hours.
When you call us—anytime, day or night—you don’t get a receptionist or a call center; you get the owner. That’s because we understand if you’re calling that you’re likely dealing with a very difficult situation, so we want to be there for you.
You won’t have to worry about discussing payments until after the work is done. Our first priority is restoring your home. The Bio-One team says it all the time: We hope you never need our services, but you can count on us to be here if you ever do.
Dangers of
DIY Hoarding Cleanup
November 4, 2019 by David Scott
The television show Hoarders has shed light on an important issue, but it has also caused a serious and sad disorder to become a morbid fascination for many. In reality, those that suffer from hoarding or associated disorders need professional help—both to treat the causes for the behavior and with hoarding cleaning services that will make their homes safe and healthy.
Family members and friends of a hoarder may want to help by trying to clean out the home. This is not a good idea for many reasons. First, hoarding isn’t just failure to clean. The hoarder needs help dealing with the issues that led to the hoarding. Without that, cleanup can be very traumatic and even serve to make the situation worse.
Once the therapist believes the person is ready for cleanup, it’s best to call on the help of professional trauma and hoarding cleaners. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is that cleaning out a hoarder’s home can be dangerous.
Some of the things you may come across during hoarding cleanup include:
· Human Waste
· Blood
· Animals
· Broken Glass
· Used Needles
· Serious Insect Infestations
· Mold and Mildew
· Rotting Food
· Structural Damage
· And many other dangers
It’s for that reason that experts recommend those providing hoarding cleanup services don protective gear such as masks, respirators, heavy-duty, puncture-resistant gloves, and even biohazard suits.
General rule of a thumb: If a job requires the use of a biohazard suit, that’s a good indication it should be left to the professionals.
There can even be hidden hazards in mild hoarding situations. Rather than taking chances, call on the proven Tucson area hoarder cleaning services of a reputable company like Bio-One. We provide professional, compassionate services, and our team has the training to do the job safely.
Contact us today for more information, to discuss your needs relating to hoarder cleaning services, and to schedule a consultation. We’ve helped many people start over after a hoarding situation, and we can do the same for you.
Worried about how to pay, we have you covered. We now offer financing through Lendvious.
Potential Dangers
Of Blood Cleanup
October 31, 2019 by DAVID SCOTT
Blood cleanup is usually discussed as it pertains to a hospital or other public facility. There are very specific and highly regulated laws for such cleanup situations—and with good reason. The dangers of improper blood cleanup are very real.
For example:
· Certain strains of E coli can survive for nearly four months on damp surfaces and for about four days on dry surfaces.
· Norovirus can be transmitted by simply touching a contaminated surface, and the virus can survive for weeks.
· MRSA, a dangerous, antibiotic-resistant Super Bug, can live for weeks outside of the body.
And the list goes on.
Failing to properly follow protocols or failing to don proper gear before beginning blood cleanup not only puts you at risk, but it poses a potential risk to anyone who enters a space where blood was not handled correctly.
You might change your mind when you see the extensive list of actions required to do it properly. While all of the same strict guidelines may not apply to your home, they are implemented in public spaces for a reason: to reduce the chances of infection being spread to the person doing the cleanup and to others through minute traces of blood left behind.
That means if you want to eliminate those risks in your home, you’ll need to follow similar protocols.
Instead of taking chances and doing it yourself, hire the professional services of Bio-One. Our highly trained, certified technicians follow all guidelines pertaining to blood spills and we dispose of all biohazard materials according to federal and state regulations.
Whether the blood in your home is from an unattended death, suicide, or other incident, you can count on Bio-One to provide thorough, compassionate, and affordable cleanup services.
Contact us for more information about our blood cleanup and other services or to schedule a free consultation. Call Bio-One today or fill out our online contact form now to get started.
What to Look For
In a Biohazard Cleanup Company
SEP 01, 2019 by David Scott
If you find yourself in need of a biohazard cleaning company, it’s important to know what to look for when deciding which provider to hire.
The problem is that many people have never even heard of such a service—until the day they need one following an unattended death, suicide or homicide cleanup, to handle a hoarding situation, or other event.
When you consider that the quality of the work could impact the health of others who spend time in the home or business, it’s easy to understand why selecting a fully qualified company is a must.
Here are few things to look for:
Licenses and Certifications
Crime scene and trauma cleanup is much different than normal janitorial services. Companies that perform such services must comply with OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard and the best companies will have completed relevant training in order to provide thorough and effective services.
Bio-One employees receive in-depth and ongoing training, and we hold full licensing in biohazard services.
Experience
Biohazard cleanup is not the kind of job you want to trust to a novice. Instead, find a provider with significant experience who will be able to handle any type of cleanup situation.
Our technicians have the experience they need to get the job done right.
References
Check references and read reviews to see what past customers have to say about the work performed.
Bio-One is happy to provide references, and we do what it takes to earn 100% customer satisfaction.
Quick Response Times
When you need trauma cleanup, you can’t wait. Choose a company that responds quickly to return your home or business to its pre-event condition.
Bio-One answers your call 24/7, and we respond fast with our compassionate, expert services. In fact, you can reach the owner directly at any time of day, and we’ll typically have a team on the job within an hour.
We hope you’ll never need biohazard cleanup services. If you ever do, Bio-One is the smart choice. Contact us today for a free consultation and to get the fast, fairly priced, expert services that have made us the trusted choice for Tucson-area trauma cleanup.
OUT OF THE DARKNESS
Southern Arizona Walk
October 14, 2019 by David Scott
As the most trusted trauma cleanup specialists in the Tucson area, the team at Bio-One sees close up the impact that suicide has on a family. We’d happily shutter our business if it meant another family would never have to live through the despair of knowing a loved one took their own life.
As the suicide rate continues to rise, it becomes the job of all us to look for ways to help those who are unable to, at the moment, help themselves.
One way we can all help is by taking part in an Out of the Darkness Community Walk put on by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP.)
The purpose of these walks, which take place in cities throughout the country, is to raise awareness of suicide and to help raise much-needed funds that are used by the AFSP to conduct research, create educational programs, and provide support to families who have lost someone to suicide.
They have lofty goals: The AFSP wants to reduce the suicide rate by 20% by 2025. If they are able to achieve that goal, 9,500 lives would be saved. You can help make that goal a reality by walking in the Tucson walk, which will take place on October 19th at Reid Park.
Gather sponsors to support your walk and then gather with those who have suffered a loss, who struggle with suicidal thoughts, or who simply understand the urgency of supporting this important cause.
Registration is free, and participants must register by October 18th at noon. The sooner you register, however, the more time you’ll have to get sponsors.
Consider setting aside a few hours to lend your support to those mourning a loved one or struggling to not give in to the temptation to take their life.
Together, we can make a difference.
Details
· Date: 10/19/19
· Time: Check in – 9:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies – 10:30 a.m.
· Location: Reid Park, Tucson
For more information call Gina Gillis at 520.329.0099 or email regina_gillis@hotmail.com
Suicide Prevention
It's everyone's business
July 16, 2019 By David Scott
This may be something you don’t expect a business to say, but there are portions of our business for which we hope we never make another sale.
One type of call we never want to receive is for suicide cleanup. Unfortunately, those calls come far too often. Statistics from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention paint a grim picture:
· There are 129 Suicides Per Day
· Suicide is the 10th Leading Cause of Death in the United States
Another alarming statistic comes from the Center for Disease Control:
· The Suicide Rate has Increased 30% Since 2000
While part of our business is helping families deal with the aftermath of this tragedy, we’d much rather that suicide prevention programs find a way to reverse the sad trends we’ve seen and that lives could be saved as a result.
Following a suicide, those left behind often feel guilty about not having done more to help the person who had been threatening to or showing signs that they were going to take their own life.
Guilt has no place at the table. Loved ones do their best with the information they have, but the sad reality is that if someone is truly determined to take their life, they will find a way to do it.
That being said, the front lines of suicide prevention are with those who interact with the person day in and day out. The person may not call a suicide hotline. They might not seek professional mental health care—but if they live in your home, work with you, attend classes with you, or see you at church, you have a chance to make a difference once you detect a potential problem.
Hera are some tips from Front Line Service, a community behavioral health organization, when dealing with a person you believe is in crisis:
· Be Willing to Listen
· Don’t Be Judgmental
· Avoid Lecturing on How Precious Life Is (they don’t feel that way right now)
· Don’t Make Promises Not to Share the Information
· Offer Hope by Discussing Alternatives
· Remove Firearms, Pills, and Other Methods of Suicide
Most importantly: If you think someone you know is thinking about suicide, call a suicide prevention hotline in your area for advice specific to your situation.
If you’re a child or teen who has a friend that has mentioned suicide, tell a school counselor, your parents, or another adult you can trust.
Don’t worry about whether or not you’re over reacting. If you’re wrong, that’s great, and no harm is done. If you’re right, your actions just might save a life.
Our hearts break as we watch families go through this type of tragic event. While we can put their homes back together, we know their lives and hearts will never be the same.
If you see something, say something. We’re all on the front lines of suicide prevention.
As trusted Tucson extreme cleaning specialists, we’re able to help people return their homes to normal after events such as a robbery, unattended death, and more. We are available 24/7 365 days a year. When you need us we are here within the Tucson Community, call us at 520-771-5960.
If you are in Arizona and need immediate help, call EMPACT:
480.784.1500 or 866.205.5229
Arizona teens can call Teen Lifeline:
602.248.TEEN (8336) or 800.248 TEEN
Protect your Pets
With Professional Parvo Sanitation
August 18, 2019 by David Scott
Rachel had only had her puppy, Indie, for a few weeks when she noticed she wasn’t acting right. The usually always hungry pup refused to eat; he wasn’t even interested in his favorite treat. He was also lethargic, had diarrhea, and was vomiting.
After 24 hours with no improvement, Rachel took Indie to the vet where he was diagnosed with Parvo. Rachel had heard of parvo, but didn’t really know what it was—but she was about to find out. After two weeks in the doggy hospital, nearly $6,000 in vet’s bills, and a close call where the vet didn’t think Indie would make it through the night, the dog was finally able to come home.
While she was worried about Indie fighting for her life in the hospital, Rachel also had another concern: protecting her other pets from also catching parvo.
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a very highly contagious viral disease of which there are two forms. The cardiac form is much less common. This type of CPV attacks the heart muscles of very young dogs, and usually leads to their death.
The other is the intestinal form which, unfortunately, is also often fatal. Symptoms include:
· Severe Diarrhea that is Often Bloody and Very Foul Smelling
· Extreme Lethargy
· Refusing to Eat or Drink
· Fever
· Vomiting
· Weight Loss
There is no cure for CPV, but intervention by a vet is a must in order to try and save the dog’s life. Even with treatment, some dogs will not survive.
Rachel had another puppy at home, so she sent that puppy to board at a vet clinic to minimize the chances of her also getting the disease. She looked up as much as she could about disinfecting her home, but realized how daunting the task was since the parvo virus can survive in the home and the yard for up to one year.
What she didn’t know was that professional parvo sanitization services are available to help eliminate the virus from the home’s interior.
Bio-One offers these services at affordable prices, so you can protect the other pets in your home from this potentially life-threatening disease.
The Bio-One team responds quickly and provides thorough, effective services. We can also disinfect the car used to transport your pet to the vet.
Fortunately, Rachel’s other puppy didn’t contract CPV, but she would have had much greater peace of mind knowing that her home had been professionally disinfectd by professionals like those at Bio-One.
If your pet suffered from parvo, call us right away to get to work eliminating the virus from your home and car. Call today or fill out our online form now to get started.
Mold Prevention Tips
For Your Arizona Home
August 3, 2019 by David Scott
“You’ve got mold.” Those are words no homeowner wants to hear as it usually conjures up images of walls being ripped out and tens of thousands of dollars spent on remediation.
Fortunately, there are mold removal methods today that are far less intrusive and expensive—but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Since Arizona has low humidity and little rainfall, some homeowners think that mold prevention isn’t needed.
That’s a mistake.
Mold is a very real problem in Arizona, and there are several ways mold can take hold in your home. Examples include:
· A Leaking Roof
· Plumbing Leaks
· Running a Humidifier
· Damp Crawlspaces
· Steam from Showering or Cooking
Now that you know your Arizona home is susceptible to mold, let’s look at some steps you can take to prevent it.
Keep Your Home Cool
The ideal temperature for mold is 77° and 86°. While you home’s AC probably keeps the main living areas below this temperature, some spaces, such as closets and cabinets, may stay warmer. That’s why you should check such areas regularly for signs of mold.
Keep Air Circulating
Mold likes stagnant air, so if you can keep the air flowing that can help to prevent an infestation even in warmer temperatures. Run fans in parts of the home that don’t stay as cool as the main living areas. If you’ve had a problem with mold in a particular area, install a vent to allow for constant circulation.
Do Spot Checks for Moisture Damage
Since mold thrives in moist areas, spotting moistures issues early can help you prevent an infestation.
Here are some spots in your Arizona home to check regularly for excess moisture:
· Under Sinks in Kitchens and Bathrooms
· The Attic
· AC Drip Pans and Lines
· Around Dishwasher and Washing Machine
Sometimes even the best laid mold prevention plans are unsuccessful, but don’t worry! It’s possible to find effective, reasonably priced mold remediation services. We should know! Bio-One uses state-of-the-art mold removal techniques.
In most cases, we can take care of the problem without the need for any demolition. In the rare cases when demolition is required, our team will take care of everything including reconstruction.
Once you have a mold infestation, the most important thing you can do to prevent a recurrence is to ensure a thorough, proper cleaning—and that’s very difficult to achieve on your own. Just a small amount of mold left behind is all it takes for the mold to take over again in just a few days.
Instead, let the highly skilled, experienced Bio-One team take care of your problem quickly, effectively, and affordably.
Do you suspect a mold problem? Contact Bio-One today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
Why Do It Yourself Cleaning
Isn't Good Enough
July 28, 2019 by David Scott
After the tragic mass shooting that took place in Virginia Beach that took place on May 31, 2019, the City paid a company $500,000 to clean up the aftermath of the incident that left 13 dead and 4 wounded.
While that staggering amount is a reminder of how horrific that shooting was, even a much smaller event requires professional cleaning services.
If a suicide, unattended death, or other tragedy takes place in your home, you may have the urge to start cleaning as soon as possible. You might even think that the space that needs cleaning isn’t in bad enough condition to require a professional clean up company—but you’d be wrong.
The goal in this type of cleaning is to remove all biohazard materials, and that’s extremely difficult to accomplish with DIY cleaning. Body fluids and other matter can be difficult to see or can be hidden under flooring or in cracks and crevices.
While an untrained person could easily leave such matter behind, highly trained extreme cleaners will remove it all safely and thoroughly.
Speaking of safety, coming into contact with blood and other body fluids is a concern when considering a DIY cleanup. Just wearing a pair of rubber gloves isn’t enough to protect you from infection, hepatitis, and other blood borne illnesses.
Biohazard cleanup specialists don’t wear special suits because they think they look great in yellow; it’s because that’s what’s require to avoid contact with potentially dangerous fluids.
Instead of taking chances with your safety and possibly leaving biohazard material behind, choose a qualified extreme cleaning company with the knowledge and experience to complete the job thoroughly and safely.
Bio-One is the Tucson area’s trusted choice for all types of extreme cleaning services. Benefits of working with us include:
· We work with all major home insurance companies.
· Insurance covers 95% of the work we do.
· Our team provides compassionate, non-judgmental, and discreet services.
· We offer competitive prices.
· You can reach the owner directly 24/7.
· We have the proper training, licenses, insurance to handle biohazard materials.
We hope you’ll never need our services, but we’re here for you if you do. Call Bio-One today at 520-771-5960 to learn more or fill out our online contact form now to get in touch.
How to Help an Elderly or Shut-In Neighbor
July 22, 2019 by DAVID SCOTT
When the stories hit the paper about a person dying and not being found for weeks or even months, many people wonder how that could happen. Unfortunately, it’s more common that you might think.
Elderly people and those who live alone without a local support system may not be soon missed. A quick Google search for something like “shut-ins in Tucson” gives you a glimpse into the scope of the problem as many organizations are dedicated to bringing food to, spending holidays with, and checking on those who may have no one else.
At Bio-One, we receive more calls than we’d like about unattended deaths. It’s always sad to think of someone dying alone, but is there anything we can do to prevent it and to ensure that someone notices when these valuable members of our society are missing?
This problem is an example of one that is best solved on an individual level.
If everyone who had an elderly neighbor who lived alone took just a few minutes each day to check on them, it would safeguard against no one noticing if they were missing for weeks.
Here are some ways you can help your neighbors who are elderly or shut-ins:
· Make friends with your neighbor and let them know you’re available to run to the grocery store. Of course, you have your own life to live, but offer to pick up some things for her when you make your normal grocery run.
· Once a friendship is established, ask if they’d mind if you called once or twice a day just to see if they’re doing OK. A quick two or three minute call will not only allow you to make sure your neighbor is OK, but will help them feel connected to the outside world—and that’s a bigger deal than you might think.
· Keep it light and happy when you’re around them. This is your chance to be a bright spot in the life of someone who needs it—and you should never miss such a chance.
· If possible, invite them to share a meal on significant holidays and try to learn their birthday so you can acknowledge it in some small way.
· If you’re unable to reach your neighbor during one of your regular phone calls, go to her house to check on her. If she doesn’t answer the door, call the police to do a wellness check.
Those are just a few examples of the ways that giving just a little of your time can make a huge difference in the lives of others and prevent the scenes that Bio-One is called upon to cleanup far too often.
If you have need of extreme cleaning services, contact us for more information or to schedule a free consultation.
