Random shooting and blood biohazards

It seems almost daily in the news we hear reports of random shootings that leave victims dead and blood that needs to be cleaned and removed from the scene. Bio Clean Services provides blood and biohazard cleanup services from gun violence and other crimes.

Due to unknown circumstances in most of these cases, our technicians are hired to clean and remediate biohazards to help protect the victim’s family and others from being affected by the potentially dangerous scene. Our main responsibility is to help victims of crime and tragedy to remain safe after a trauma occurs. Typically, in these types of cases police and emergency medical personnel leave behind materials that may be compromised with blood and other bodily fluids. If these materials are not properly removed and disposed of, the chances of biohazards affecting others is drastically increased.

When a person is wounded or dies as a result of a gunshot blood, bodily fluids and other matter can be disseminated over large areas. Some forms of biohazard material are not visible to an untrained eye. If a biohazard scene is improperly cleaned certain biohazard dangers can remain for weeks to a few months after the incident occurs. In certain cases, this type of improper cleanup can cause things like horrific odor, the attraction of bugs, stains from blood returning and can be a breeding ground for infectious diseases that others can come into contact with.

If you have the responsibility of cleanup from a crime, death or trauma scene as a result of a shooting, contact Bio Clean Services for assistance. Our teams are certified in the cleanup and removal of these types of biohazards and are experienced in following strict protocols set by your State and our Federal government.

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime Scene Cleanup

Crime is something that the American population has become desensitized to because of the increased activity and coverage of the media and popular television shows like CSI. Rarely does anyone think about what happens after professionals investigating a crime scene are gone. Bio Clean Services performs crime scene cleanup and other services involving the cleanup of blood and biohazard materials. Often times when the general public sees our trucks or our staff in uniforms, they ask similar questions about what we do. Here are a few of the questions most frequently asked:

Why is it necessary to hire a Crime Scene Cleanup Company?

Every crime scene requiring cleanup has some physical risk potentials. Most commonly, the emotional turmoil experiences when a friend or relative attempts to cleanup a violent crime scene is what we see. In almost every crime scene we clean, there is the presence of blood, body fluids and other potentially infectious or harmful materials. These elements should never be cleaned by an untrained professional. If improper cleanup is performed, the crime scene may visibly appear safe but the harmful risks to those in contact with the scene can remain for months.

Is it dangerous to clean a crime scene?

The answer to this is always “YES”. Every crime scene is different but rarely do the affected parties know the entire scenario of what happened when the crime was committed. Because hazardous or infectious elements can often be present and not seen by the human eye, every scene must be cleaned following a strict protocol to ensure that the scene is returned to a safe area free from any biohazard. Untrained individuals are not familiar with these protocols and may be putting themselves and others at risk.

Who is responsible for crime scene cleanup?

Typically the property owner bears the responsibility of having the scene cleaned and decontaminated. If the crime or traumatic event occurs at a business, it may be the responsibility of the owner of the company and/or the property owner. There are several other questions that we are asked on a regular basis but the one constant reminder that we always tell anyone inquiring about what we do is “Never attempt to clean a crime scene yourself”. Hiring a certified biohazard cleanup company like Bio Clean Services will ensure that your property is decontaminated and cleaned properly. Anyone who performs improper cleanup can be liable in the event that anyone who comes in contact with a biohazard scene becomes affected.

Crime Scene Cleanup Services

Bio Clean Services provides Crime Scene Cleaning and the removal of biohazards and waste in West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan & Pennsylvania. As we’ve stated in previous posts, the site of a messy death poses severe danger that you can’t always visually see. Blood-borne pathogens from these scenes can cause infections affect someone for months or years later if not properly cleaned and decontaminated.

Depending on the severity of the death scene, clean up can range from only a couple of hours to 40 or more hours.  The Bio Clean Services technicians have to make certain that the areas are truly clean and properly disinfected, not just apparently clean on the surface. This is equally true of crime scenes, unattended and decomposing death scenes or suicides.

After death, the body swells, insects invade the body, organs self digest and the skin becomes liquefied.  Decomposing bodies expel ammonia gases that create an intense, unforgettable odor. Proper precautions need to be taken in cleaning of these scenes so pathogens are not ingested and the person cleaning the scene doesn’t come into direct contact with any substances or infectious remains.  It is not suggested that a family member, friend or any untrained professional attempt to clean this type of scene.

Bio Clean Services technicians utilize hospital grade disinfectant to clean blood, matter and other materials from walls, ceilings, surfaces, fixtures and any contents contained in the affected area. This also can include the removal of blood-soaked carpeting and rugs, walls, flooring, furniture and any porous components that these biohazards cannot be removed from.  Special permits must be obtained and special handling for the disposal of these items must be adhered to.  These are not tasks that an ordinary individual would know.  You cannot simply discard these materials in a dumpster or trash bin because of the potential risk of infection to others, or possibly death not to mention the legal ramifications and fines from authorities if it’s discovered.

Contact a Bio Clean Services representative today for specific information on how we can be of assistance with your Crime, Death or biohazard clean up.

Criminal sentenced to 39 months in prison on gun charge

www.cleveland.com

A man referred to in a news release as "one of Akron's most dangerous individuals" by Police Chief James Nice was sentenced Wednesday to 39 months in federal prison.

Joe Fletcher III, 27, was indicted on state charges in February 2014 with having a weapon while under disability and menacing.

Then, at Nice's request, U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach's office took over the case and a federal grand jury issued an indictment accusing Fletcher of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Fletcher, who has previous felony convictions for cocaine trafficking, weapons possession and tampering with evidence, pleaded guilty in November. U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko in Cleveland handed down the sentence.

Nice also says in the news release that "our city is safer today because of this federal conviction."

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Bio Clean Services provides crime and biohazard cleaning in Cleveland, OH and surrounding cities. 

These types of articles are seen every day in our local news. So much so that most readers have become desensitized to these crimes. Most people do not realize there are dangers associated with crime scene cleanup. Many of these scenes contain potentially harmful pathogens found in blood and other types of bodily fluids that may be left at a crime scene.

If an area were contaminated with biohazard pathogens, investigators or emergency medical personnel can potentially spread these pathogens to other areas by walking in blood, leaving behind medical waste while transporting victims for medical attention.

If you are associated with a crime involving blood or other types of crime biohazards in Cleveland, only hire a professional biohazard cleanup company like Bio Clean Services to do the job. Our trained, professional staff is certified in the cleanup and disposal of biohazard materials and we practice only safe cleanup practices to ensure your property is safe and free from all harmful biohazards.  When you experience a crime call us immediately to protect yourself and others.

Why Police Departments Use Crime Scene Clean Up Companies

A crime scene is an integral part of a police investigation, but what happens once the investigation is complete? Who’s responsible for the cleanup of potential biohazard dangers that are a part of any crime scene?  In most cases, the property owner or a relative.  Bio Clean Services provides biohazard cleanup services for crimes, trauma, death and other contaminated sites.

Crime Scenes can range from breaking and entering to cases as severe as sexual assault of murder.  In any ordinary crime scene biohazards that can potentially compromise the health and safety of others is usually found. Most people don’t realize that the presence of one drop of blood, when exposed to outside elements, can contain pathogens that can make you sick. If fingerprint dust is used at a crime scene, microscopic organisms can be transferred in the dust to various places throughout a scene. The dust can also carry airborne pathogens that could potentially be ingested by others who come in contact with a crime scene.

Bio Clean Services maintains the necessary equipment to remediate and removal all biohazards from a crime scene. Our technicians are experienced in the cleanup of blood, bodily fluids, tissue matter and other materials found at crime scenes. We are a certified biohazard cleaning company and are familiar with both State and Federal protocols for handling biohazards.

Police departments do not clean crime scenes. Once the investigation is over, they leave the cleanup to the property owner or responsible party.  We often receive referrals from police departments clean and disinfect police cruisers, emergency transport vehicles and even jail / prison cells that may contain biohazards from inmates.

If you or someone you know has experienced a crime or trauma scene, please do not attempt to clean the scene yourself. Contact our office for assistance with your biohazard cleanup. We’ll ensure that the site is properly cleaned and returned to a safe, sanitized state expediently.

Soldiers with PTSD and their traumatic incidents

As activity in the middle east winds down and more of our troops are returning home, our country is faced with a whole new realization that these soldiers suffer greatly from PTSD. Many soldiers come home and are faced with depression and other emotional disorders causing increased suicide rates, illegal drug usage and in some cases even involvement in violent crimes.

Bio Clean Services provides clean up services in the northeastern region of the United States and many calls we receive about these types of cleanup services involve veterans who have recently returned home from active war zones.  These incidents leave family and loved ones to pick up the pieces of yet another life shattering event, but in a different way.

Our team is experienced in the cleanup and remediation of crime, death, trauma and suicide scenes in addition to many other biohazard cleanup jobs that you may need.  We understand the emotional distress that these incidents cause family members and loved ones and we are accustomed to handling these types of cleanup jobs in a compassionate, discreet method and work to return the incident scenes to normal as quickly as possible.

As the increase of soldiers return home, our nation has to become more aware of incidents and traumatic events that could happen as a result of dealing with soldiers who have PTSD. One great resource to become familiar with is the PTSD Counseling Services website.  It provides great insight on how we can help these soldiers overcome PTSD and ways to help them cope. 

If you find that you are in need of biohazard cleanup services related to these incidents, Bio Clean Services offers 24 hour emergency dispatch to serve our clients needs. We currently provide these services in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia. We maintain the proper certifications and equipment necessary to clean these types of biohazard scenes and are familiar with the filing and paperwork processes required for your insurance claims.

Hidden Biohazards Found in Foreclosed Homes

Our country has been faced with tens of thousands of foreclosures over the past few years and although the market appears to be strengthening foreclosure is still a harsh reality for many homeowners. Bio Clean Services provides services to clean up foreclosed homes and return them to a safe and disinfected habitable property for banks, real estate companies and private owners.

It is not uncommon for foreclosed properties to be left in an unsanitary condition when occupants move out.  Often times these homes are subject to vandalism or squatters who leave these homes soiled with urine, feces, dangerous drug paraphernalia and other harmful substance. This creates a nightmare for banks and real estate companies who try to market these homes for resale.

In circumstances like these, the bank or real estate personnel are not trained to clean or remediate the properties therefore they rely on the services of a professional biohazard clean up company like Bio Clean Services.  We posses extensive experience in handling these types of difficult cleaning jobs. We also perform Hoarding, death, suicide, trauma and crime scene cleanup jobs in the North Eastern United States.  We provide complete removal of biohazards, sanitation and restoration of these properties or scenes to a habitable condition.

Different areas of the country can be especially difficult because of warmer climates and the large number of swimming pools that are not properly maintained in a foreclosure situation. These properties are also more susceptible to vandalism from people who try to intentionally destroy the property.  If you are a bank or private owners, you may be liable to your local authorities if these types of hazards go unattended.  We work with many banks and private homeowners to clean up biohazard scenes that happen while a property is being marketed.

If you need this type of scene clean up or decontamination guidance, please contact our office for more information on the services we provide and areas we cover.  We are available 24 hours a day with emergency response dispatch and can assist with procedures for insurance claims and other payment assistance options.

Gun Crimes Lead To Dangerous Biohazard Scenes

No matter where you live in the United States, gun crimes are still a reality that we face daily.  From large metropolitan areas to rural small towns, Bio Clean Services receives frequent calls from authorities and property owners requesting crime scene, death and blood cleanup services. In many of these cases, shootings were accidental but there is still a major volume of violent gun crimes committed each year.

Several factors attribute to these crimes and many times involve domestic disagreements, murder/suicides and people who are subject to illegal drug use or anti-depressant medications.  Though statistics of the individual causes aren’t known, the same common biohazard denominator is true in all scenes involving shootings.  Blood, bodily fluids and other matter is present in these scenes and it must be professionally cleaned and removed in order to ensure a safe environment for everyone involved.

Some authorities make referrals of professional crime scene cleanup companies like Bio Clean Services but many leave the responsibility up to the victims, family members and property owners to find a certified biohazard cleanup company.  We possess the qualifications and necessary certifications to properly clean up death, murder, suicide and crime scenes and also provide services to decontaminate illegal drug scenes (meth labs) or the biohazards from hoarding and gross filth conditions.

Depending on the state you reside in, each municipality has their own regulations and protocol for the handling, removal and disposal of biohazard waste.  Although there are some federal regulations, it’s important to know these protocols and regulations. Any individual attempting to clean up these types of scenes who isn’t certified and does not follow these protocols could very easily find themselves liable for improper clean up practices and may be putting the health of themselves and others in jeopardy.  Whenever there is a presence of blood, tissue, fluids and other biohazards special industrial chemicals and equipment are needed to ensure the scenes are free from biohazards and completely decontaminated.  If a scene is improperly cleaned it’s possible to have horrible odors and the presence of some dangerous pathogens or biohazards can remain present for weeks or months after clean up is performed.

If you experience any of these types of scenarios, please contact our office immediately. The cost of professional cleanup services is far less than the liability you face from improper cleanup of these dangerous scenes.

Gun Epidemic: Guns kill twice as many kids as cancer does

Did you know in 2010 guns took the lives of 31,076 Americans in homicides, suicides and unintentional shootings? Did you also know that in the first seven years of the US-Iraq war about 4,400 American soldiers were killed. These statistics, although a few years old, show that deaths involving guns are becoming an epidemic. 31,076 deaths in one year equates to approximately 85 deaths each day and more than 3 deaths per hour.

Bio Clean Services specializes in the cleanup of death, murder, suicide and other tragic events that contain biohazard materials.  With firearms being the third leading cause of injury related deaths after poisoning and motor vehicle accidents, we receive calls frequently from organizations, law enforcement and individuals who find themselves being responsible for the cleanup of the aftermath of these tragedies.  Serving a four state region that includes Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia, we find that these areas have a significantly higher rate of gun owners. With that comes more homicides, suicides and accidental deaths requiring our services.

Whenever there is an incident involving shootings, no matter the reason, there is always the presence of blood and other biohazard matter that needs to be remediated in order to protect the health and safety of others in or around the scene.  Our company is certified in the cleanup and removal of this biohazard waste and work diligently to properly clean and decontaminate these scenes returning them to a pre-incident condition.

If you, or someone you know is faced with the tragedy of this type of trauma, please remember to reach out to a professional biohazard company like Bio Clean Services to perform the clean up.  There are no safe and effective ways to clean these types of scenes with ordinary household products.  To be certain your scene is 100% free from contamination, it requires the use of industrial chemicals and equipment specifically for this type of work. We are also certified in the removal and disposal of biohazard materials and know what types of Federal and State protocols must be followed and permits that need to be obtained.  Don’t be faced with being liable for the health and safety of others, contact our professionals today.

The aftermath of Violent Home Invasions

Home invasions are bad enough, but when the event turns violent, can leave behind horrible trauma scenes. Home invasions turned violent can include things like stabbings, blood and tissue matter from fighting and in the worst cases even death.

Bio Clean Services provides services for crime, death and trauma scene clean up. We are experienced in blood clean up, removal of biohazard elements like blood  stained materials, body fluids and tissues from death scenes and home renovations that may be necessary to return the scene to a decontaminated safe area for the property owner.  Our company also provides

additional services that relate to drug clean up and decontamination for incidents relating to this matter.  Please see our list of Qualifications.

Ordinarily, when these types of crimes and trauma happen, it is the responsibility of the property owner to clean up the mess of the disaster left behind. Depending on the incident, there are organizations that assist with the costs of cleaning and remediating these scenes. Some insurance companies also pay for these services.

Bio Clean Services has experience working with these agencies and insurance companies to help the process go smoother.  We also realize that these traumatic events can be emotionally overwhelming to our clients. We provide discreet professional services and have the utmost compassion when dealing with victims and their families.  Because of the potential dangers and diseases that can be transmitted through cleaning these scenes, it’s important that you hire a professional company to perform these tasks. With every scene, there are trace elements of contamination and even airborne pathogens that can cause serious illness and sometimes be fatal if not handled properly.

We maintain the appropriate equipment and qualifications to perform these services and are accustomed to following OSHA and EPA guidelines on the jobs we perform.  We are also familiar with obtaining the necessary permits for disposal and other tasks that may need to be performed depending on where the incident occurs.  If you are in need of our services or would like additional information about the services we perform, please contact our office today.

Steps to follow if you discover an unattended death scene

An unattended death can create a very problematic scene for medical professionals, police and even death clean up services like Bio Clean Services. It’s important to know that there is so much more to this type of scene than just removal of the body.

 An unattended and / or decomposing body leaves not only visual, but microscopic trace elements of dangerous contaminants that can potentially be harmful, if not fatal to someone who comes in contact with them. They can also create a very problematic scene for medical professionals, police and even death clean up services like Bio Clean Services. Handling this type of death scene requires a company that has extensive training in the proper procedures for death clean up, the use of OSHA approved chemicals and proper removal protocols of the scene’s debris. To ensure your safety and that proper protocol is followed we never suggest attempting to clean a death scene yourself. Bio Clean Services is familiar with insurances processes and in most cases, insurance policies cover the costs of our services.

 Here’s a simple list to follow if you discover an unattended death:

1. Call the police to report what you found and wait for their arrival. Make certain that you obtain a business card from the investigating officer, you’ll need this information in the future.

2. When the coroner is contacted also make certain that you obtain a business card from this individual as well.

3. Call Bio Clean Services immediately so we can schedule and dispatch a technician. The longer you delay in clean up. Depending on the length of time of death or state of decomposition, will determine the amount of time needed to restore the scene to a safe condition for you.

 4. Please do not enter the scene and attempt to collect items. This will most likely lead to your becoming more traumatized than you may already be. A professional can retrieve items for you.

5. If you know the name of the insurance company and/or policy number, please have this information available if it is readily accessible. This will enable our technicians to reach out to you’re the insurance company and provide any information needed.

6. If you are not the property owner, business you’ll be asked to provide that information. In most cases a "Permission to Enter" form must be executed prior to the clean up process beginning.

 7. DO NOT attempt to clean any areas of the scene. Contact with biohazards, such as blood and fluids, may expose you to risks that could result in death or serious illnesses. We are trained professionals skilled in restoring the environment to safe conditions for you.

Our primary concern is the safety and well being of our clients. Don’t let your emotional state cause you to misjudge the dangers from an unattended death scene. Contact us now for more details.

Biohazard Cleaning - Beneath the scene

Bio Clean Services does more than just clean up debris, biohazard materials and cleaning.  A major part of the remediation process involves tear out and removal of materials that have come in direct contact with these biohazardous materials. Some of these processes include the removal of:

• Carpeting
• Vinyl Flooring
• Floor Boards / Sub Floor
• Drywall
• Ventilation

Essentially any material that is porous in nature is susceptible to being at risk of contamination and should be removed from the scene. Bio Clean Services is qualified in these types of remediation jobs and posses the correct insurances for biohazard work and are EPA compliant.  Please see a list of our complete qualifications HERE. 

Bio Clean Services realizes that it can be a huge shock for our clients to face the realization that they will have to have their home or place of business torn apart and repaired. We are accustomed to working with insurance companies and agencies to ensure the proper protocols are followed to return these scenes to a safe inhabitable state.  We provide a comprehensive analysis of repairs that are needed and implement a plan of action to properly complete the tasks.

We make every attempt to positively help our clients deal with the clean up during their grieving process, while helping them arrive at a sense of closure and resolution when our work is completed.  We follow the same rigid safety practices for any of the services we perform.  Currently, Bio Clean Services provides coverage in a 4 state NE region of the US including Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  Our main service areas include:

• Crime Scene Clean-Up
• Death Scene Clean-Up
• Industrial Accident Cleaning
• Murder Scene Aftermath Clean-Up
• Suicide Clean-Up
• Trauma Scene Cleaning
• Police Dept. Services
• Tear Gas Clean Up
• Hoarder Cleanup
• Tenant Trash House Cleanup
• Animal Waste Removal
• Disinfecting Services

Please contact us today at 1-800-901-2988 to learn more about the services we provide and our qualifications.