Why You Should Hire a Bio Company to Clean Up the Coronavirus
With the fear of a global pandemic spreading all over the world, the demand for cleanup services to disinfect homes and company spaces is growing. With the infection rate of COVID-19 being as high as it is, and how unfamiliar it remains, you need to make sure to take the necessary precautions and keep yourself and the people around you safe from the dangers of this virus.
One major disadvantage that many are facing during this pandemic is that often, the coronavirus does not show any symptoms until some time has passed. An infected person may spread the infection to others in their vicinity before their own infection is identified, and they begin seeking treatment.
Once they are tested positive, however, the problem doesn’t end. The fact remains that the virus is able to survive for quite a while on various surfaces and that unless effort is made to disinfect these surfaces, there is a high risk of others getting infected as well.
This, however, is not the job of an average person.
While there are no obvious signs of hazard in a space that has been contaminated by the coronavirus, it is still extremely dangerous to be in, and even more dangerous to risk cleaning it up on your own. The virus is able to survive on many different surfaces, and these could include the most mundane of items, such as the tea kettle or a doorknob.
If an infected person were to touch these and transmit the virus onto them, any non-infected person who touches them could get sick themselves. Because the virus does not have any apparent symptoms for the first two weeks, this person could then go around spreading the virus to even more people.
The danger of this virus does not lie in its mortality rate, but its spread – one person is capable of spreading the strain to multiple others, who are then able to spread it further, all without even knowing that they themselves are also infected.
While health professionals and authorities have provided several precautionary measures, the average person may not fully understand the extent of its importance, and many of the reported infection cases are due to negligence and lack of proper care taken.
Attempting to clean up a COVID-19 site on your own doesn’t just put you at risk for catching the virus from touching items where the virus may be, but proper care in this regard still doesn’t cut it. While you can wear gloves and masks while cleaning, you never know when you might accidentally breathe in the virus, or if you miss out on a spot and end up catching the virus yourself.
Once you do so, you are not just putting yourself at risk, but also everyone who comes in contact with you, as well as everyone who will be using that space after you. There is also always the possibility that a clean space may get infected by someone who comes in to clean it, not knowing that they are also a carrier of the virus.
Cleaning up such a site is best left to the professionals.
The coronavirus, like many other strains, is a biohazard and should be dealt with as such.
Biohazard companies like Bio-One Duval County are not just well-equipped to deal with such problems in terms of their equipment, but also the mindset needed to enter such a dangerous site and clean it up in a way that makes sure to disinfect it, and not just clean it cosmetically.
Biohazard cleanup companies hire professionals who are well-prepared and knowledgeable about how to deal with major health risks like the coronavirus and can make sure that they take the proper precautions not only to avoid the spread of the virus from the site, but also to make sure that any and all items within the site itself are cleaned up properly, and no traces of the strain are left behind.
Additionally, biohazard companies have the proper licensing and equipment to get rid of any contaminated objects as biohazard waste, which you may not be able to do properly.
Since homes and companies cannot be ‘ridden of,’ it is important that you clean up the site properly to avoid any future spread of the coronavirus.
Preventive measures are the first line of defense when dealing with the pandemic. The best way to protect yourself and others is to make sure you are practicing good hygiene and following the recommendations outlined by the authorities.
Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water as often as possible – every time you go to the bathroom, before and after eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
Use alcohol-based disinfectr often.
Avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth, and nose with unwashed hands, and don’t touch them unnecessarily at all.
If you think you are sick, avoid going outside, as this may increase the risk of spreading. Stay at home, and isolate yourself in a room to keep your family members or anyone else you may live with from getting sick as well.
Disease outbreak is a nerve-wracking time, and many people may be suffering from anxiety about their future and their conditions, and having to worry about a virus cleanup can be an additional burden, especially if you are not equipped or trained to do it properly.
Call Bio-One Duval County and get the professional help you need to get your home or office cleaned up properly, and avoid any biohazard risks.
Unattended Death: Check on Elderly Often
If you know someone who is extremely old and lives on their own, then it’s a good idea to check up on them often. The phrase unattended death is used in a situation when a body is not discovered for a long time. This could be days to weeks or, in rare cases, months. These deaths are common in the elderly. In rare cases, this also happens in the wake of a homicide or a suicide. That is why it’s important to check on elderly often.
The longer the remains of a person are unattended, the more advanced the decomposition process will be.
There are 3 stages of decomposition:
· Autolysis (self digestion): Because of the absence of oxygen and waste building up, the body's cells get stressed and the amount of intra-cellular pH falls. The low pH level transforms the corpse into an acidic location that causes rupture of the membranes and releases enzymes that assimilate the cell thoroughly.
· Bloat: During this, several gases are formed as fungi, protozoa, and bacteria attack the dead tissue, liquefying it.
· Active decay: This is the last stage. During this, the muscles and fat are reduced to a foul-smelling and paste-like matter, with the microorganisms being joined by flies and different insects that do away with the remaining soft tissue.
A decomposing cadaver releases toxins and bacteria that can harm people and cause major property harm. In fact, a decomposed body may affect the livability of a home in simply a few hours. Therefore, it is essential to fully clean and disinfect the unattended death scene.
Once an unattended body is found, the cleanup, which is difficult, is generally handled by the family. No one should go through the traumatic experience of having to see their family member in the decomposition stages, and the biological matter left behind by a body can be dangerous.
Dealing with unattended deaths is difficult and traumatic should never be done on your own. Even a cleanup service can face difficulties in the process. But death cleanup specialists are trained and know how to handle these situations so you should leave the matter in their hands. They wear the appropriate gear and disinfect following safety rules. They also know how to dispose of waste in the proper manner.
Bio-one Duval County can help you in the case of unattended deaths. We offer comprehensive services for trauma and biohazard scenes such as suicide cleanup, blood spill cleanup, and decomposition or undiscovered death cleanup. All these can pose serious health problems if not dealt with properly. We realize the extent of harm and trauma they can cause so we provide professional, thorough, and safe services.
Cleaning Up in the Wake of a Homicide
A homicide is arguably one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can have. It is the act of one human killing another. If you’ve lost someone close to you by homicide, you might find yourself with the difficult prospect of having to clean up the scene of the murder. You can avoid any associated health risks and trauma by hiring professionals for homicide cleanup.
Why You Should Hire Cleaning Up Services after a Homicide
One reason you shouldn't do such work is because it creates unmatchable emotional stress. Usually, the victim's loved ones are the people who are expected to clean up after the investigation. It can be very painful and traumatic to clean a loved one's blood. Blood stains and smell recall the event to the family members, making the cleaning process more stressful. In addition, other arrangements may need to be made by the relatives, such as funeral and last ceremonies. The extra stress can be prevented by getting a skilled crime scene cleaner do the work and you can concentrate on what's more crucial.
This is perhaps the most important reason why you shouldn’t attempt to clean up in the wake of a homicide.
Bodily fluids pose an immediate threat to your body as they have significant risks to your health including tissue harm, viral infection or allergies. Bio-hazardous materials can harm, infect or trigger severe discomfort to your body's tissue. Blood-borne diseases can lead to certain illnesses, including deadly ones. In addition, there is a possibility that in the process of cleaning the blood and tissue, you may spread the contaminants unintentionally instead of eliminating them. You should, therefore, call a skilled crime scene cleaner to do the work.
Without adequate cleaning chemicals, instruments and methods, biochemicals can leave residual stains behind. Even if you wash the area twice, some traces of it will remain. You should employ a bio-hazard cleaning company to guarantee a bio-hazard-free house. Crime and trauma cleanup companies have specialized facilities and knowledge in cleaning blood, tissue, and other biological substances with extreme precision. Their process is also non-invasive to the environment, so you have peace of mind that your home will be safer.
Blood removal may seem as simple as regular cleaning but because of the energy required, it is much harder. Cleaning the trauma scene may take several hours to finish. You'd probably want to save your time so you can attend other incident-related family and legal issues. Hiring a professional crime scene cleaner can save you a bunch of time.
Crime scenes are subject to legal consequences. In such instances, involving the police and getting authorization to clean up from there is wise. Crime scene cleaners are certified for the task and have extensive knowledge and experience of the protocols established by the institutions of government and law. Failure to comply with the laws may increase legal issues that should be avoided at all costs. Therefore, the best thing to do is to call a skilled crime scene cleaner.
Bio-one Duval County can help you when it comes to homicide cleanup. We are committed to returning your property to a safe and livable state. We offer comprehensive services, which include trauma and biohazard scenes such as suicide cleanup, blood spill cleanup, decomposition cleanup, and homicide
Dealing With Clean Up After Death –
And Why It’s Important
Death is an incredibly difficult reality to deal with. It affects you in so many emotional ways.
Not many people know that in certain circumstances, this tragic and traumatic occurrence can also jeopardize your health.
The natural decomposition process begins immediately once the person dies. The more delayed the biohazard clean up after death, the more difficult it becomes to keep your house and environment clean and your loved ones safe from the deadly hazards that ensue.
The decay that starts immediately after death is due to the trillions of bacteria residing in the human body. A BBC report describes decomposition as a process beginning “several minutes after death with a process called autolysis or self-digestion.”
As grotesque as the picture may be, the natural decomposition of the human body is something that demands immediate attention. It becomes an increasingly dangerous environment for anyone occupying the place.
The single most important thing after the body’s removal is the cleanup of the leftovers belonging to the deceased. These need to be handled very carefully since they can be hazardous or toxic.
Dealing with the cleanup of an unattended death can be a lot to handle for someone who has to:
A: do it alone and B, has no experience doing it!
This is why you should leave it to the experts.
Looking for reliable companies that clean up after a death?
Bio-One Inc. is a good option to consider for a variety of reasons. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, the company has expert knowledge in turning ‘the clutter to the cleanest’ in the event of a suicide, homicide, or traumatic death. With over 20 years of industry experience, the experts here know exactly what to do to help you out.
Bio-One also has expertise in crime scene cleanup and decontamination with a full license in biohazard cleanup after death.
While on many occasions, the family of a deceased one gathers to clean up after death, on their own, it is best to leave it up to the experts and let them do it for you.
As mentioned earlier, death is a traumatic experience and only those going through this trauma truly know what all it entails. With so many things to do, it is all too possible that cleaning up after the episode gets delayed.
But any delay, even unintentional in cleaning up may lead to severe consequences. Don’t put your or anyone else’s safety at risk! Get in touch with the professionals at Bio-Inc today and see how they can assist you.
How to Help Hoarders
Dealing with a hoarding disorder can be extremely difficult. It is a serious condition that can result in dangerous living conditions and even social isolation in some extreme cases. A small population of the world hoards, but an even lower percentage understands that their behavior is not rational.
You can’t force hoarders to get better, but you can provide support and encourage them to seek help and make their recovery easier and quicker.
Hoarding is a mental health condition that starts with delayed disposal of unwanted things while at the same time accumulating new items. Not only do these items start occupying ample amounts of space within the house, but they could also be a waste of money and even cause biohazards for anyone who lives in the house.
Hoarding is similar to clutter and collecting, but it is not the same. Clutter could eventually lead to hoarding, but collectors tend to look for particular items that they display in an organized manner. Hoarders often haphazardly save random things that others may feel are not worthwhile.
At some point, this hoarding habit becomes a disorder in that the person begins to believe that one day, these unused items will be needed. In other cases, the person may be unable to dispose of things that they think have sentimental value, or feel safer when they are surrounded by the items they have saved up.
Hoarding can have several consequences. First and foremost, it could raise many health concerns since it can be a cause of biohazards in the home. It also takes up a large amount of space and increases the person’s dependency on their belongings, which could be harmful in the long run.
Hoarding can also be an extremely costly condition since purchasing so many things you don’t need leads to wasted money as well. It also puts a strain on interpersonal relationships, since hoarding can not only lead to self-isolation but even cause conflicts between people living in the same house.
Hoarders who feel attacked for their habit may be unwilling to meet people or let them enter the house. Sometimes, the problem can be so extensive that performing daily life tasks, such as cooking and walking, around becomes impossible. In such cases, it is crucial to find help immediately.
Even if their house is covered in old clothes and unread books, trying to ‘cure’ them by taking away the items they hoard is not the solution. Taking away their things is a temporary solution, which could even cause psychological harm. Many people get severely emotionally distressed if their possessions are taken away, so even though you have good intentions, you could be doing more harm than good.
While stopping hoarding behavior is not within your control, you can avoid enabling hoarders. If you know someone is a hoarder, avoid inviting them on shopping trips where they will be encouraged to buy more things, or avoid adding to their collection with gifts.
To an outsider, hoarding behavior may not make much sense. If you know a hoarder and want to help them, do as much as you can to learn about the issue. You can use verified resources on the internet that can be accessed freely by anyone. You can also consult mental health professionals who can educate you on the condition. Once you understand what the hoarder is going through, you can better help them by offering empathy and support.
Although offering to provide help in sorting out items can be useful for the hoarder, doing it for them entirely is not. You cannot expect hoarders to make progress with recovering from their problem if you are forcing them into treatment or if you are not allowing them to make their own independent decisions. Sometimes, you might have to wait till they are willing to take a step on their own before you come forward to offer them a hand, but don’t take the job of hoarding clean up on yourself.
Hoarding is a serious condition that can take months or even years to overcome. Often, with all their hoarded possessions, getting rid of all of them can take a very long time, and even longer for the progress to be visible. If they don’t feel like their small victories matter, they may not have any motivation or incentive to keep it up. When you see progress, even if it’s small, like throwing out an item or two, make sure to acknowledge and appreciate it.
Hoarding isn’t a problem that goes away on its own. In many cases, hoarding isn’t a standalone problem either and is a co-morbid condition due to other, deep-seated issues. Make sure to help the person find treatment, but don’t force them into it. This problem requires behavioral therapy, and if they are forced into it, it may even have the opposite effect. Instead, research as much as possible and provide information. Wait until they are ready to make their own independent decision.
Sometimes, the problem is so extreme that hoarders accumulate enough things to fill up an entire house. In cases like these, a person may have a whole house full of items to sort through. Instead, research as much as possible and provide information.
You can help them out by offering a hand. However, cleaning up after hoarding is an extremely tricky and challenging job. In such cases, you can hire hoarding cleanup services, such as Duval County Hoarding, who have the expertise for the task.
What Counts as Biohazard Waste?
Conventionally, biohazard waste is categorized as anything that has the risk of carrying human pathogens. Keeping that in mind, we can then assume that biohazard waste is all around us: at school, at work, in public toilets, and even in dustbins in malls and other buildings.
Fred Hutchinson’s Cancer Research center defines biohazard waste as “any waste containing infectious materials or potentially infectious substances.” This includes substances like blood and any items that could cause injury in handling such as needles, blades, and broken pieces of glass.
Falling under multiple categories, handling biohazard waste should be left up to the professionals.
All human blood and blood products (such as plasma, serum, and other components) are all part of the category of biohazard waste, whether they are in liquid or semi-liquid form. Any items that could be contaminated with blood in that if they are compressed or squeezes, they would release liquid, or semi-liquid blood is also considered biohazard waste. An example of this could be porous materials like cloth and carpet that absorbed blood. Items caked with dried blood that could come loose upon handling as well as any other bodily tissues or fluids that visibly contain blood are also considered biohazard waste.
All human bodily fluids, whether in a liquid or semi-liquid state, are considered biohazard waste. This includes anything from cerebral spinal fluid to saliva from dental procedures. Any human bodily fluids that are contaminated by blood, as well as any fluids that are difficult to differentiate between, are biohazard waste.
Waste from laboratories that could contain or are contaminated with infectious agents is also biohazardous. This includes specimen cultures that have been discarded, live and attenuated viruses, any fluids that are known to hold infectious pathogens and waste from the production of biological material such as serums.
Any human tissue, organs, or body parts are biohazard waste. This includes waste from procedures like surgeries, autopsies and biopsies, and any unfixed human tissue besides the skin.
Animal carcasses and body parts are also biohazardous, as well as any bedding material from any animal that was infected with or treated with pathogenic microorganisms that are known to be infectious for humans all fall in the category of biohazard waste.
This includes any sharp material that could cause damage or injury during handling such as needles, IV tubing, glass pieces, scalpels, razor blades, etc. Sharps are further divided into:
· Regular sharps waste, which could or could not be contaminated with biological substances
· Radioactive sharps that are contaminated by radioactive material
· Chemical sharps that have been in contact with toxic chemicals such as chemotherapy drugs or broken mercury thermometers.
Unlike radioactive or chemical waste, no agency regulates how biohazard waste is to be handled or disposed of. However, there are some universal precautions to turn to if you face handling biohazardous substances. This would imply handling all materials as if they are carriers of infections.
Biohazards can pose a significant threat to our health, so they must be handled carefully, especially when disposing of them. For many people, disposal implies getting a problem off their hands, but biohazardous materials cannot be treated the same way as other kinds of waste. If they are not delicately handled, they may cause severe health problems not just for you but for anyone else who may come in contact with it down the line.
If the material in question is solid, such as sharps or any contaminated personal protective equipment, this should be collected into a designated container (such as a box or a bag). The container is marked with the biohazard symbol to let everyone who may come in contact with the container know that it contains dangerous substances. This can then be disposed of in the same way medical waste is by sending it to a landfill that is pre-approved.
Liquid biohazard waste is to be disposed of in a leak-proof container so that it does not spill if the container tips over. This container must also be labeled as a biohazard. Usually, liquid containers of biohazard waste should be placed in a secondary container for added safety.
For sharps waste, since most sharps items are medical tools, the healthcare industry specifies special containers for collecting them. These containers have to be resistant to puncturing and leaking and should be safe to handle. These containers must then be labeled with the symbol for biohazard waste, as well as specify that they hold sharp items.
Pathological waste must be double-bagged to prevent leaking, and then for further protection, store it in a secondary container. Pathological waste should be disposed of by incinerating or treating it with chemical substances, since autoclaving (a sterilization procedure using high-pressure steam) is not sufficient.
Microbiological waste, which includes specimen cultures and infectious agents etc. is very common for laboratories, is often autoclaved, and then stored in the lab’s waste storage. However, this usually depends on what category the waste falls under. If the material happens to be sharp, it is treated as a sharp waste. Similarly, solid and liquid forms of microbiological wastes are treated accordingly.
Although there are some basic guidelines for how to get rid of biohazard waste, it is never advisable for you to handle it on your own. You must be able to identify different kinds of biohazard waste to be able to protect yourself if you ever come across any. Still, it is best to leave disposal and handling up to professionals, such as crime scene cleanup services, who are skilled at handling biohazard waste and disposing of it cleanly and appropriately to prevent it from causing any harm.
In the Wake of a Suicide
There is nothing more painful than losing a loved one to death, and even more so as a suicide. The incident is often sudden, leaving you stunned in its wake, and as a result, your life could get suspended in ways you could never have imagined. In such a situation, it is understandably challenging to handle practical matters such as figuring out what to do with the person’s belongings.
However, moving on is an integral part of healing, as painful as it can be, and if you are going through this process, you need to understand that you are not going it alone. There are people to take you through the emotional healing process and professionals who will help you with the physical process, and that you can rely on them to help you continue with your life.
Few people get through life without experiencing some trauma. Whether this is a violent incident or losing a loved one, most people go through difficult situations. However, the reality is that few things could be more traumatic than having to face the fact that someone important to you took their own life.
Depending on how the suicide happened, the scene of the incident can be quite gruesome, and if it is discovered after a bit of time has passed, the decomposition could make it much more horrific than it initially was.
Processing the loss of a loved one to their hand is already an emotionally and mentally taxing process, and it can be worsened by having to see their remains. It can be made even more complicated by recognizing the fact that the scene will have to be cleaned up. Most likely, in such a scenario, there is no prior experience to use as a reference.
You may think, ‘well, how do I clean this up?’ but there are several reasons you should not take on the job yourself. The three main reasons are:
· It can have a very severe effect on your emotional and psychological wellbeing
· It can be unsafe for you in the short-term because of the exposure to all sorts of biohazards
· If you do not clean up properly and thoroughly, you may be putting at risk anyone who comes onto the scene for many years in the future.
If you discover that a loved one has committed suicide, you must not stay on the scene longer than necessary and immediately contact first responders to come and help you. Emergency personnel will arrive as soon as possible to deal with the scene and the body.
Once the remains have been removed, the scene has to be cleaned up for it to be inhabitable again. Families don’t necessarily move out, and if the suicide happened in a building where many people come and go, such as an office, this activity is not going to change. Cleaning up the site involves a process called biohazard remediation, and is usually carried out by crime scene cleanup services who are trained to carry out the job.
It involves the cleanup, sanitization, deodorizing, and restoration of the scene. Cleanup consists of the elimination of any biohazard waste that could be on the scene, such as bodily fluids and pathological matter. It has to be carried out carefully, not just to ensure the safety of the people who may have access to the room in the future, but also for the personnel involved in the cleanup.
For this, they will require personal protection equipment, which would include, at minimum, goggles, masks, aprons or smocks, and gloves.
Sanitization involves using chemicals to get rid of pathogens and bacteria that could be lurking around the scene, especially if the body has already started decomposing. A decomposing body also releases an overpowering and persistent smell, which can be extremely foul and even frightening. Deodorizing involves permanently getting rid of this smell.
Restoration of the scene to its prior state ensures that it is inhabitable again.
The grieving process after losing a loved one to suicide is different than losing a loved one to accidental or natural death. Losing a person to suicide often brings grief that is accompanied by guilt, anger, shame, and a sense of failure.
It is important for you to understand that your feelings are natural and appropriate and that you should recognize them to be able to move on towards mental and emotional healing.
If you are grieving, you do not have to face the horror of the death site on your own. There are multiple support services and resources for people in your position who can help you out and give you the psychological care you need. If you are suffering from the trauma, don’t try and face it alone, and reach out for help when you need it.
Safety risks aside, the emotional risk attached to taking on the responsibility of cleanup is also very high. Following the death of a loved one, particularly to something as horrifying as a suicide, you should spend your time in a way that it restores your emotional health and helps you move on from the incident.
There are often other important things to take care of as well, such as funerals, and handling the effects of the deceased. It is best that you leave the physical cleanup process to trained professionals instead.
Crime scene cleanup services are also there for you to hand over the responsibility of cleaning up the scene. Bio-One, for example, operates with the motto Help First, Business Second, and ensures that the work is carried out in a caring and respectful way, to allow you to move on with the trauma without having to worry about the cleanup process.
Most Common Bloodborne Pathogens
Most people are probably familiar with the fact that blood can be a biohazard, but many do not know why. Learning about bloodborne pathogens and how exposure to blood can be risky is essential for anyone, not just those who may have to clean up after accidents, but for regular people as well.
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms present in human blood and can cause diseases. The most common bloodborne pathogens are Hepatitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV).
Hepatitis A is a severe, highly contagious infection of the liver that can result in inflammation and impair liver functioning. It is transmitted in several ways, which include contact with an infected person’s blood or through sexual contact. It can also be transmitted through contaminated food.
The symptoms for Hepatitis A include:
· Fatigue
· Nausea
· Vomiting
· Abdominal pain
· Loss of appetite
· Joint pain
· Itching
Fortunately, Hepatitis A is usually not chronic and does not cause long-term liver damage. However, without treatment, it could get severe. Since the most common method of transmission is contaminated food, it can be controlled with good hygiene. Since the infection is also bloodborne, you should avoid coming in contact with human blood without proper protective gear.
Hepatitis B is also a liver infection, but a much stronger and severe one. There is no known cure for a Hepatitis B infection, and it can become chronic as well. This can cause serious medical issues, such as liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis.
Hepatitis B is most commonly transmitted through sharing needles, accidental needle sticks, during childbirth, and sexual contact.
The symptoms of Hepatitis B are similar to those of Hepatitis A.They can be avoided by practicing universal precautions when it comes to blood, blood products, and needles.
Hepatitis C is transmitted through bodily fluids, as well as through childbirth, and has a much higher likelihood of becoming chronic. This puts individuals at risk of liver cancer and cirrhosis. Although this disease is not rare, the symptoms it poses are so few that many people are unaware that they are infected. There are no vaccines for the disease, so it can only be avoided by practicing universal precautions when handling blood and safe sex.
This disease is one that can only be contracted by those who are already infected by Hepatitis B. It aggravates the condition. However, it often resolves itself within the year. However, it is also capable of becoming fatal. It is transmitted through the passing of blood from infected individuals to others, which often happens via needle sharing. As such, it can be avoided by practicing safety when it comes to blood, making sure you are vaccinated for Hepatitis B.
The human immunodeficiency virus, better known as HIV, is a lentivirus, which is a medical subgroup of a retrovirus. A retrovirus is one that is able to replicate by converting its RNA into DNA and using the host cell to reproduce this DNA. Without being treated, HIV can result in AIDS and reduce the expected lifespan of an infected person down to 9 years.
Since the disease causes the human immune system to fail, it is hazardous and can be fatal. Currently, there is no known cure for HIV. Still, the treatment allows the virus to be kept under control, so it is best to adopt safety measures and get treatment as soon as possible if you happen to be infected.
HIV is most commonly transmitted through sexual contact and blood. Sharing needles or being accidentally pricked by one can transmit HIV.
Symptoms for HIV include:
· Fever
· Sore throats
· Rashes
· Nausea
· Diarrhea
· Fatigue
· Vomiting
· Joint pains
· Headaches
HIV can be controlled by controlling the exposure to blood and blood products and practicing safety when needing to handle them as well as by practicing safe sex.
HTLV is also a retrovirus, which can cause cancer in humans called Adult T-cell leukemia or Adult T-Cell lymphoma. There is no known cure for HTLV. It is a lifelong condition, though many infected people are known to remain asymptomatic throughout their lives.
HTLV is transmitted through blood, which can occur through transfusion or needles.
Symptoms of HTLV include:
· Stiff muscles
· Leg spasms
· Uncontrollable muscle contractions in ankles and the lower back
The most effective way to control HTLV is to make sure to practice safety when it comes to handling blood, making sure to wear gloves, aprons, and goggles.
Blood can pose so many biohazard risks. Universal precautions, according to the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, requires that all blood and other potentially infectious materials should all be treated as if they are carriers of infections. Hence, it is important to use personal protective equipment when handling or coming in contact with all of it.
In many cases, differentiating between the types of bodily fluids is also tricky. They are also treated as though they are all infected.
Thus, to protect oneself against these pathogens, you must make sure to avoid contact with all such bodily fluids, disinfect all equipment after use, and dispose of all biohazard waste properly, when required. When you expect to enter an environment where there has been blood exposure, you should cover up all cuts, sores, and scrapes, and thoroughly wash your hands after you engage in any cleanup.
However, you should leave such cleanup tasks to crime scene cleanup services, who are experts in the efficient and proper cleanup of such biohazards and can do the job for you.
How Crime Scene Cleanup Works
For most of us, the exposure we get to crime scenes is via TV shows and movies; so, we know the basics – police officers and paramedics checking the scene of a violent incident, collecting evidence and trying to figure out how it happened. What we don’t know is that none of these people clean up the scene they’re working on, leaving behind all the evidence of death to grieving family members.
This is where crime scene cleanup services come in. A more accurate name for this service is Crime and Trauma Scene Decontamination since not all cases are crime-related. Regardless, whether the death occurred was due to criminal activity or not, the fact remains that cleaning up for this kind of scenario is a difficult task that not everyone can do.
Crime scene cleanup is a niche service that involves cleaning up a lot of dangerous substances. The cleanup can involve anything — from the contaminated scene of death (regardless of the cause of death) to sites where chemical accidents have taken place.
The job of crime scene cleaners is to restore the site the way it was before the incident took place. This is called remediation.
When deaths occur in anyone’s house, the family doesn’t necessarily move out. The cleaners are expected to remove any signs of the incident and any biohazards that may have resulted. All bodily fluids are considered to be biohazards since they could be a potential infectious source. To be able to handle all these bodily substances safely, you need specialized knowledge so that you can identify what you need to keep an eye out for.
You would also need special permits to be able to transport and get rid of biohazard waste, and crime scene cleaners often have all the required licenses, training, and willingness to do this. These cleaners know what to do in particular situations since each different kind of incident implies different levels of cleaning. For example, a suicide where one is shot in the head means a lot of blood, while being shot in the chest means less blood.
However, crime scene cleanups always look at each of these cases in the same way: as a potential carrier of bloodborne pathogens. Because many pathogens do not just go away from surface-level cleanups, crime scene restoration is an essential aspect of the cleaning industry, because it goes beyond just cosmetic cleaning.
Messy deaths and accidents pose many risks that are not visible to the naked eye often. Besides the infections that can be caused by bloodborne pathogens, bodily fluids that may be left behind between floorboards or walls can make people sick years later as well. The area being cleaned must not be just ‘apparently’ cleaned but should be clean at a microscopic level.
The process of crime scene cleanup can take from one hour to a few days, depending on the incident and the amount of biohazard waste on the site. Cleaners often use hospital-grade disinfecting substances to get rid of all the blood and bodily fluids from every surface. In some cases, they have to get rid of brain matter from the walls and bone fragments that are stuck in the walls.
Sometimes, they also have to collect small pieces of the body that may have been left behind in a particularly violent death.
In cases of unattended deaths, where the body is found after it has started decomposing, the scene may not be as spread out as in violent cases, but it can be even worse to clean up.
After death, the body undergoes some change, such as swelling, insects coming in to feed on the remains, and organs digesting themselves. Skin starts to liquefy, and it releases an unbearably foul smell. Although coroners usually remove the body, what’s left behind is a lot of liquefied matter and maggots that have consumed the blood of the deceased.
Crime scene cleaners will not only have to clean up the site itself but also hunt down and burn maggots that have left the body since the blood they have consumed carries pathogens.
Many times, since these fluids and pathogens seep and absorb into the flooring and structure, crime scene cleaners have to uproot structures to get rid of them.
Crime scene cleaners have three major necessities: the ability to stomach the gore of the scene, the compassion to be able to support grieving victims of incidents while getting the important job done, and the ability to detach themselves from their work.
Since the job itself involves treading over the skinny line of sensitivity and detachment, it is not something everyone can do. This is why companies make their candidates go through rough psychological and physical tests to make sure that they can stomach the implications of the job.
Of course, the task of cleaning up a crime scene is not for everyone, and not everyone is willing to take up such an occupation either. However, the job itself is important for a number of reasons.
If your building has become a crime scene, it is difficult to figure out what to do – that is, when to start cleaning and how without causing trouble for investigators. Professional crime scene cleaners coordinate these issues with investigations and get to work only after the scene has been released. When you hire professionals, you don’t have to worry about accidentally messing up an investigation.
Since crime scene cleanup is hazardous work, professional cleaners go through extremely rigorous training before they are sent to work on the scene. They use personal protective equipment and follow strict protocols to protect themselves and the people who would be entering the vicinity later. Failing to eliminate biohazard waste can cause extremely harsh medical problems later to anyone who may live or work in the building.
Bio-One is a professional crime scene cleanup service that can contain and disinfect all biohazard substances from the environment, in a way that is respectful for the family of the deceased.
Dangers of Residual Pet Urine
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that pet urine is a biohazard waste that could cause severe problems if not dealt with correctly and on time.
Sometimes, cats and dogs end up urinating around the house, and this could be for many reasons. Whatever the reason may be, if pet urine is left unattended for too long, it can give rise to several environmental and health issues.
You may want to take your pet to the vet in case they have any urinary tract issues that could be causing them to urinate in the wrong place. Bladder stones and idiopathic cystitis is also common in cats and dogs, which could cause them to pee around your house.
If there are no health issues, your pet may be peeing due to behavioral problems. This behavior could occur if the pet is marking its territory or experiencing excitement or stress.
If your pet has urinated at an inappropriate place, you should clean up immediately to avoid any of the significant health risks that exposure to pet urine could pose. If not cleaned quickly, pet urine can get absorbed in different pieces of furniture in your home as well as carpeting and other areas.
The most apparent effect of pet urine is the smell of ammonia. All urine contains ammonia, and its concentration in pet urine is especially high. Furthermore, if the urine is not cleaned immediately and thoroughly, the water in the urine starts to evaporate, leaving behind a concentrated solution of ammonia that gives off fumes.
When you breathe in these ammonia fumes, not only does it smell bad, but it can cause some severe problems as well. If your pet has urinated in a place with reduced ventilation such as a room or even in the house, it could trigger issues like asthma, pneumonia, and in some cases, even suffocation.
Inhaling ammonia fumes can cause lightheadedness and fainting, making it difficult to breathe normally because of irritated airways.
Exposure to ammonia fumes can also cause eye and skin irritation, and if this is prolonged, it can even cause permanent eye damage and skin burns.
Children are usually at the most risk of problems that arise from ammonia inhalation. This is because they have a lower body weight than adults do.
Problems caused by ammonia inhalation include:
· Damage to the airways. This includes tracheal burns, alveolar edema, nasopharyngeal, and bronchiolar edema, which could result in breathing problems and respiratory fatigue.
· Cough phlegm, which can add to breathing problems
· Respiratory infections
The bacteria that grow in pet urine stains are not particularly dangerous to regular, healthy people. However, getting rid of these stains can be quite bothersome. For people with healthy immune systems, these bacteria can cause problems like sinusitis, allergies, and airway inflammation. In people with weaker immune systems, such as children or older people, these bacteria can cause noteworthy health problems.
When it comes to the growth of molds, one or two accidents that can be cleaned up quickly and easily are not often a cause for concern. However, if pet urine stains are not cleaned up immediately and have soaked into carpeting or mattresses, the lingering smell could cause pets to repeat urination in such places.
The composition of urine is such that some components can attract moisture, which can cause numerous kinds of molds growing under the surface of your carpet. Some of these include dangerous varieties of penicillium, which can cause milder respiratory problems. Others, such as aspergillus, can have long-term effects on your lungs with extended exposure.
Animals’ sense of smell is much more enhanced than humans’. Even if you think you’ve cleaned up any accidents, the smell may remain and cause pets to pee again in the same spot or nearby. This can cause problems of having to clean up often and can provide a feeding ground for germs and bacteria.
After cleaning after your pet, you want to remove the pet odor and ammonia in the air quickly. Sometimes, if the problem isn’t persistent, you can use DIY methods, but other times, you may have to get urine removal help.
Of course, you can’t completely solve the problem unless you train your pets not to urinate in inappropriate places. However, sometimes your pet is unable to control their urine and may cause accidents. In those cases, you will have to keep an eye out and make sure to be regular in your cleanups.
These will break down the molecules of the urine to remove the pet odor. These should be used as quickly as possible to get rid of lasting stains or smells effectively.
Urine odor is much stronger when the surface is damp, which is not only irritable to your nose but also attracts bacteria faster. If your pet has peed on any fabric or soft surface like a carpet, after cleaning it up, make sure to dry them out.
Old stains you missed out on not only spread the pet odor but can also cause infections by attracting harmful microorganisms. Find older stains and clean them out.
No matter how many DIY hacks you try, you can always miss something or the other. By hiring professionals for urine removal help, you can not only ensure the removal of all urine stains and smells but also the removal of harmful microorganisms and bacteria from the air and other surfaces that were not apparent.
Bio-One has services to help rid of biohazard waste, including expert pet urine removal. Their experts have the skills and safety equipment for the job, so you can be sure that the risk of infections and diseases will be removed completely. Contact them today!
