Chesapeake, Virginia, is one of the largest cities in the United States, the 11th largest actually, and holds more deepwater canals than any other place within the country. This lovely city has a healthy population of people from all works of life.
As with most modern-day cities in the United States and indeed the world, it sees its fair share of crime and death. That’s why every now and again, there arises the need for Blood Cleanup Services in Chesapeake and its surrounding environs. Such a service is required when there’s a need for the professional removal of every trace of blood and debris from a location to make the property livable again.
Let’s discuss what the cleanup service is and why it’s important.
What Is Blood Cleanup?
Blood cleanup refers to the process of cleaning and removing of blood following a death, an accident, or any other type of method through which blood can be spilled in large quantities. The primary risk of having a spill is the release of blood-borne pathogens.
When released, they increase the chances of infecting people, especially viruses and bacteria. While you can clean the spill with bleach and other strong cleaning agents, they might not be enough to remove the microorganisms and other pathogens.
Why Is a Blood Cleanup Service Important?
When there is a significant amount of spill or bodily fluid after an unattended death or an accident, there is a need to do a thorough cleaning job, not just the usual wipe down. But while there are several cleaning agents to use for the job, none of them can properly remove blood.
That is why a cleanup service is required to do the job. It has the equipment and cleaning supplies to ensure there are no leftover contaminants in the area or surfaces. Another reason this service is important is the possible presence of blood-borne pathogens. These are microorganisms in the blood that could prove infectious if left unattended.
Common ones include hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Massive spills are not the only way to transmit these organisms; simple cuts and bruises can also release blood and other bodily fluids to increase the chances of infection.
It’s important not to attempt to clean a spill on your own, especially if you are unsure of the health and lifestyle of the patient or victim. Instead, you will need a professional service to do the job. Otherwise, you increase the risk of contracting a disease or spreading it to others. Find a comprehensive study on how to efficiently clean these bodily fluids here.
Reasons you should consider hiring a cleanup service are:
- To Eliminate Psychological Upheaval
Death has a way of deeply affecting friends and loved ones of the victim. This is even truer if the victim committed suicide. If you’re in this situation, taking all the steps to grieve and recover is more important than cleaning up. Moreover, doing it yourself might cause more emotional upheaval than you can handle.
Therefore, it is best that a third party handles the cleaning process so you can focus on recovering and moving on with life. Besides, they will do a much better and professional job of removing every trace of blood and microorganisms.
- To Handle Professional Biohazard Materials
The ordinary person doesn’t know how to handle biohazardous materials to prevent contamination and cross-contamination. Biohazardous materials are waste products that are contaminated with potentially hazardous materials. This means the materials have infectious agents that, if not properly cleaned and disposed of, can infect the environment and become a health threat to the public.
The right blood cleanup service will use full personal protective equipment (PPE), biohazard bags and other materials to ensure proper cleaning and disposal of the materials. That way, there is no threat of contamination, leading to a widespread health risk.
- To Properly Decontaminate the Area
Another key reason to hire this service is to properly decontaminate the area and ensure there’s no leftover microorganism. You would be amazed to know how difficult it is to clean blood. There are usually large traces that will not be visible to the naked eye, even after the blood appears to be all gone visually.
Using the right viewing equipment, you will see patches and splotches in every nook and cranny. It takes training and practice to know what to use and how to properly clean such a spill and that is where a professional service comes into the picture. It will perform a thorough microscopic decontamination to reduce the chances of infections and other hazards.
4. To Comply with Regulations
The Department of Health and Human Services, World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA) all have regulations that guide health and personal safety.
OSHA, in particular, has standards and regulations that guide biohazard remediation and crime scene cleanups to ensure the safety of everyone involved and compliance to all legal standards. Professional cleanup services know these rules and will abide by them, so it’s ideal to hire one when necessary.
This resource, https://www.osha.gov/hazardous-waste, has more information on OSHA’s regulations.
Conclusion
Using the right blood cleanup service ensures the area is sanitized and decontaminated. It also lifts the burden from the victim’s loved ones so they can heal and move on with their lives. Such a team will stay compliant with industry and legal standards of removing biohazardous materials from the scene while staying safe. Never attempt to clean blood yourself; let the professionals handle it.
