You might be unintentionally hosting a living space for these critters, and they are not the awesome heroes like Rocket from “Guardians of the Galaxy.” Not only do they bring family and friends, but often also set up communal sites to do their business. Raccoon latrines are a real thing and yes, they are gross!
Far from just a nuisance and source of pungent odor, raccoon latrines pose dangers because raccoons are the primary host of Baylisascaris procyonis, a roundworm that can be harmful to people as well as other animals including dogs. One raccoon roundworm can produce more than 100,000 eggs a day. Infection happens by (unintentionally) ingesting eggs – while this more likely to occur in children or others who are more likely to put contaminated fingers, dirt or other objects in their mouth by mistake, it can happen to anyone.
The signs and symptoms, as outlined by the CDC, usually take 1 to 4 weeks incubation time and can include any of the following:
If you do find a raccoon latrine in your home, business or outbuilding, proper removal, destruction of feces and clean-up of the site will reduce risk for exposure and possible infection. This clean-up requires extreme caution.
Don’t let these masked bandits and their poop ruin your property and put you at risk. We have the proper personal protective equipment and training for this unpleasant job. In addition to site clean-up, we work to remove any odors and porous materials affected by the latrines. Bio-One is ready to help and we’re just a phone call away!
Blood spills are more dangerous than you may realize. Depending on the size of the spill, they can carry hundreds of trillions of viruses, some of which may be infectious. Spread through open wounds, sores and other orifices (i.e. eyes, nose, mouth), these disease-carrying microorganisms—or pathogens—can cause severe illness or death if left untreated. Though the risk of infection depends on the volume of blood involved and the pervasiveness of the virus, it is prudent to consider how to protect yourself against different types of bloodborne viruses. Although they are easily preventable, contracting one demands urgency. As their name suggests, these pathogens travel through the bloodstream infecting host cells and disrupting the body’s biological machinery. As the virus multiplies, cells will die or function improperly, leading to distressing side effects. Here are some of the most common bloodborne infection you should be aware of:
Hepatitis A—Hepatitis A infects the liver. Though the virus commonly comes from food and water contaminated by feces, it can be transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids, such as semen, breast milk and saliva. It is extremely contagious, but given the availability of effective vaccines, most people are able to make a full recovery.
Hepatitis B—Hepatitis B is another highly contagious and severe liver infection that can be spread through blood and bodily fluids. Young people—particularly infants—are more at risk of developing a chronic infection than adults, which can lead to long-term side effects, liver failure and cancer. People infected with acute—or short-termed—hepatitis B are most likely to make a full recovery.
Hepatitis C— This viral liver infection is transmitted blood-to-blood and usually results in a chronic illness. Though hepatitis C is curable today, more than half of those infected are unaware that they have the disease. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there is no vaccine. Treatment involves 12 weeks of oral medication.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)—HIV destroys cells that combat infections. If untreated, it will progress until the infected person contracts AIDS—the final stage of the disease. Spread through unprotected sex, exposure to blood and shared hygiene instruments, HIV affects 1.1 million people today. An effective cure has yet to be developed.
How to protect yourself—The safest way to protect yourself from bloodborne pathogens is by avoiding blood spills and practicing safe, protected sex. Refrain from sharing razors, needles and toothbrushes as well, which may carry traces of blood from someone else. Smaller blood spills—such as those caused by nose bleeds or minor head injuries—can generally be disinfectd safely at home through tight gloves and protective eyewear.
But you’re going to want to contact the professionals for anything larger. Allowing trained specialists to do the work protects you from accidental blood exposure and ensures that your property is thoroughly disinfected. Bio-One hires certified technicians to comprehensively and efficiently clean biohazardous blood spills. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions or concerns. We’re always available to assist you.
When a loved one commits suicide it’s fair to assume that first responders will decontaminate the scene. But they don’t, creating yet another dilemma for families who are freshly traumatized by a sudden and devastating loss. Driven to remove the memory from your home as quickly as possible, your first impulse may be to clean the space yourself. But there are several reasons why you shouldn’t take on this burden.
For one, suicide cleanup is a traumatic and overwhelming experience of its own. Although you may think you can push through this task by suppressing your emotions, you’re at risk of developing PTSD and prolonging your grief. It's best to avoid the scene and leave this process to the professionals.
Additionally, you may be subject to harmful diseases if you don’t clean up the scene properly. Pathogens linger long after a surface has been scrubbed, leaving you and your family at risk of developing bloodborne infections like Hepatitis C and HIV if your cleaning process has not been thorough enough. Certified specialists in biohazard remediation are the only people qualified to perform this intensive work. Let them restore your home with the assurance that it will be sanitary.
Bio-One is here to help in this regard. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need assistance. We’re on standby 24/7, every day of the year, and are always available to answer any questions you might have.
Here's a hint: In Iowa alone, it happens in at least 39 cities and counties.....
National Night Out (NNO) is an awesome annual community-building event takes place the first Tuesday in August across all 50 states, U.S. Territories and military bases world-wide! (Texas and some other select areas celebrate the first Tuesday in October.) NNO promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, bringing police and neighbors together as we all work to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.
Neighborhoods host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and much, much more! You never know what you might find at an event in your community!
Want to find out where you can join in the festivities? Click on the NNO logo above or go to the NATU website. There is an interactive map where you can select your state and see where the nearest fun is taking place.
Bio-One is proud to support law enforcement both locally and across the country!
Effective July 1, 2019, a new law will allow the Iowa Lottery to pay $100,000 annually to assist the families of fallen peace officers and firefighters with insurance costs.
Read the full story here:
It is unbelievable as to how many elderly live in homes not properly air conditioned. Extreme heat can cause heat strokes, heat rashes, heat cramps, and exhaustion. When the elderly are living in homes without air conditioning during these hot Iowa summer months, they are more susceptible to the dangers of extreme heat.
Decompositions are more prevalent in the summer months. They could be more frequent due to the heat being a part of the cause of death, but the heat is definitely a part of why they are discovered sooner.
With the temperatures being so high lately, once deceased, a decomposing body quickly progresses its' process and more damage can be caused to the property itself. Remediation can include furniture and carpet removal along with subfloor removal. Depending on location of death, a home’s mechanical systems can be affected if fluids enter any floor vents. In order to properly remove bio-hazards/body fluids, we have to demo flooring, walls, cabinets, etc., or else the smell and hazards are still present. Any remaining smells that linger in the air of the residence/area can be removed by using our ozone machine which is a miracle worker.
Thinking about a loved one not being found for a long period of time is disheartening. Check on your friends and family not heard from in a while - especially the elderly. Summer months present so many more dangers than the colder months. We should all be checking on our loved ones more often, and making sure their air conditioners are working properly. Many elderly are too proud to call their family and admit they are living with no cold air either due to lack of money to pay their bill or lack of will to call a HVAC company to come out and fix their unit. Just like Bio-One Des Moines, your loved ones are only a call away!
We’re here to meet your needs, wherever you are. From the parched land of Southern Nevada to the aquamarine beaches of West Florida, Bio-One has over 80 offices located across the nation—and we continue to grow. You can find us in areas as metropolitan as Philadelphia and as pastoral as Colorado Springs. But even if you don’t live in one of these cities, our offices service multiple counties nearby. Please visit our “locations” tab on our website to find your neighborhood, and we’ll be available to assist you.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, compulsive hoarding disorder affects an estimated 2 to 6 percent of the population. That’s between 6.5 and 20 million people respectively—if you consider the latest figures from the United States Census Bureau. While inadvertently mythologized through reality television, hoarding is a serious problem that can diminish one’s quality of life and create significant safety hazards. As opposed to collectors, who invariably organize their material in a clean and organized manner, hoarders obsessively and haphazardly accumulate a myriad of items that often have no practical value. They face severe distress when confronted with the prospect of discarding these items, leading to a dangerous and unsanitary aggregation of clothes, trash, broken appliances and more.
In addition to generating mold, harboring disease and creating fire hazards, hoarding—according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America—often causes distress within the family and threatens the social development of children. While the nation’s leading psychiatrists didn’t classify hoarding as a distinct mental disorder until 2013, it’s a significant problem that many Americans face within our local communities. That’s why you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you’re thinking about contacting Bio-One to assist you or a loved one with hoarding cleanup. We will work with you to address your individual situation, especially if that includes removing extreme piles of clutter, searching for sentimental valuables, and restoring your home’s sense of safety and comfort. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns. It can be the first step towards recovery.
Sudden and inexplicable tragedies like suicide and homicide are emotionally devastating experiences that leave trauma, property damage and unanswered questions in their wake. Our certified technicians conduct their work in a manner that is sensitive to your needs, considerate of your privacy and empathetic towards your grief. That’s why we strive to be on-site, at your side, an hour after you give us a call. We don't require payment or insurance authorization before a service because our primary concern is restoring your home quickly and courteously. Staying true to this prerogative is what makes us the most compassionate organization in the industry. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any questions or concerns. We’re happy to help—day and night.
Needles and sharps can be dangerous and carry infectous fluids. If you want to know how to properly dispose of your sharps, please visit https://safeneedledisposal.org.
You SHOULD NOT be throwing needles and sharps directly into the trash. They need to be handled carefully and by a trained professional. Did you know Bio-One will pick up these items for you?
If you are a part of the medical field, dental industry, or a tattoo shop, these are all places we can pick up from! If you think you might need this, take a look at our locations page to find a Bio-One franchise close to you.
