Blood spills can happen for a number of reasons, both in the home and the workplace, including accidents or injuries which are common, violence or a crime, or a natural or unexpected death such as suicide.
When a traumatic incident occurs, an immediate response is to start cleaning up; however, in most circumstances, reaching out for professional remediation is vital. Specialists trained in blood cleanup ensure stringent safety protocol is followed in the cleaning process.
The certified technicians understand biohazardous materials and the capacity for these to seep into hidden nooks and crannies and saturate deep into fabrics and materials beneath the surface, posing health risks over the long term.
The Charleston SC Blood Cleanup Services uses distinct tools and equipment along with industrial-grade chemical cleaning solutions to remove all traces of infectious materials hidden and visible to present a fully restored property to the occupants.
Dangers Associated with Blood Spill Cleaning
A common misperception for many people is believing because they know the victim, they can safely handle the cleanup following a traumatic incident. In fact, the assumption when handling a blood spill, stain, or dried blood should always be that the material is infectious.
That mindset will urge a call to professional blood cleanup specialists in South Carolina to assess the affected area and determine a safe approach in order to protect the health of those closest to the victim, prevent cross-contamination or spreading of infectious materials, and preserve the environment.
Here are the dangers posed to those responsible for the cleanup of blood spills and other biological hazards.
Bloodborne pathogens
Blood, body fluids, and other biological wastes can be extraordinarily dangerous to clean, particularly when you lack the necessary training and experience or tools and supplies to handle biohazards properly. Blood can carry harmful pathogens such as Hepatitis and HIV that readily spread when mishandled.
The CDC – Center for Disease Control warns that biological hazards such as blood, vomit, and urine can all be deemed contaminated with bloodborne pathogens or other germs. This is despite you knowing the individual and believing their blood is safe.
When cleanup is needed following a traumatic accident, a crime, or a natural or unexpected death, you could be inadvertently exposing yourself to dangerous pathogens.
Blood cleaning specialists heed every precaution, including wearing adequate PPE – personal protective equipment- and using stringent safety protocols when handling these materials to protect themselves and you.
Blood spill detection
Blood spills don’t stay in a concentrated space when a spill occurs. It’s a liquid that will spread and saturate surrounding surfaces, including areas where it’s challenging to detect. Fabrics and porous materials such as curtains, furnishings, and carpeting absorb blood deep beneath the surface.
If you were to attempt to clean the surface of a carpeted floor without proper training, you would be less aware than a specialist that the layers under the carpet and the flooring will become saturated and eventually develop an odor and pests from mishandling.
The blood cleanup technicians are well-versed in adequate disinfecting and sanitizing all surfaces, so there will be no unsafe exposure when you return to the space.
Specialized equipment and supplies
Each professional company has distinct procedures when approaching a blood cleanup. Still, all companies incorporate the same essential equipment and supplies to remediate these scenes.
While you may have cleaning supplies to perform a surface cleaning, most people don’t have all they need to perform a thorough and safe restoration. That would include PPE such as goggles, disposable gloves, a face mask, and a full suit.
The technicians will also be equipped with hospital-grade disinfectants and sanitizing agents that most property owners won’t have available.
The emotional detachment
When a traumatic incident occurs, or you enter a space where someone you know has passed either naturally or unexpectedly, the cleanup process can further add to the mental and emotional distress. In that same vein, it would be difficult to adequately or thoroughly do the work.
That can mean inadvertently exposing yourself or not being as meticulous as you would be under different circumstances.
Blood cleanup technicians have undergone extensive training and hands-on experience to expertly and without emotional attachment clean the unique scenes they’re called to.
The specialists are the epitome of professionalism, albeit they approach each site with compassion and respect for the privacy of those closest to the victims.
Final Thought
Stringent regulations and safety standards dictate the protocol when handling or removing biological waste, such as blood, from a scene where someone has been traumatically injured or is deceased. Go here for OSHA requirements for cleaning a blood spill.
Blood cleanup specialists in Charleston are well-versed in the guidelines and meticulously follow them in order to restore the affected area to pre-incident condition so property owners can again occupy the space safely.
Alex