Poor handling of scenes where blood and bodily fluid spill happen can compromise public health and safety. Crime scenes, trauma incidents, unattended deaths, medical emergencies, and accidents all fall under this category.
For example, dangerous air-borne pathogens can be spread in the immediate surroundings. The point is that the services of blood and decay cleanup specialists need to be quickly sought in such situations. This is because of their understanding and implementation of the essential steps required.
Critical Processes in Professional Blood Cleanup
DIY handling of blood scene cleanup tasks should never be an option because of what is at stake. It is one task that cannot be handled poorly for public health and safety reasons. Speaking of professional cleanup of such scenes, some critical processes that play out include the following:
Examine the Extent of Contamination
Time is of the essence in the business of cleaning up such scenes, which is why these specialists should be contacted as soon as possible. However, the truth is that there are some scenes where things linger for long before these professionals are contacted.
Scenes of unattended death are a prime example. This is because the victim’s body could have already decomposed to a great extent. Particularly in such scenes, a thorough yet quick examination of the extent of contamination is necessary. The finding would then inform the next lines of action.
Assessment of Potential Health Risks
This is still part of the assessment phase but is a separate task from the aforementioned. The finding of this process is also important as it puts concerned parties in a better position to make informed decisions. This is especially important as it has to do with preventing the outbreak of diseases that may be spread by pathogens contained in the spilled blood or bodily fluids.
Containment
It is very easy for non-professionals who handle blood cleanup tasks to be guilty of cross-contamination, which is a major reason to hire professionals. Speaking of preventing this, some of the ways these professionals go about this are outlined below:
Use of Protective Gear
Of course, the use of protective gear is for personal safety while in the line of duty. However, it is more than just that for these specialists. It is also about preventing cross-contamination. By the way, prime examples of protective gear used include:
- Face Shields/Respirators
- Protective Footwear
- Disposable Medical Gloves
- Protective Suits
Of course, there are several others besides the above-listed. For more information on them, you can see: https://www.ehs.wvu.edu/.
By the way, professionals in some other lines of work use some of the above-listed and several other personal gear items. However, you should also know that the kind used also matters.
For example, the material used for making disposable gloves matters a lot. Latex and nitrile are mostly recommended. This is besides the fact that it should be double-layered, even though it is disposable. Another example is respirators as the kind used is supposed to be effective at offering protection from airborne contaminants, odors, and bio-aerosols.
Controlled Access
These scenes are not locations where anyone should just breeze in and out. The sensitive nature of things calls for controlled access and these specialists play a part in ensuring this. For example, they ensure that anyone who comes inside the parameters uses personal protective gear for personal safety and to prevent cross-contamination.
Setting up Parameter Barriers & Signs
Physical barriers are supposed to be set up in such scenes to contain the location. Furthermore, warning signs stressing the need for regular individuals to keep off are to be mounted.
Removal of Contaminated Materials
Blood and bodily fluid-contaminated materials are supposed to be removed carefully. There are professional techniques for doing this, especially with some tricky items like furniture and carpeting.
Furthermore, stringent waste disposal laws especially as regards the disposal of biohazardous waste items need to be strictly adhered to. For example, there are proper, just as there are improper ways of packaging biohazardous waste items.
Sanitization & Disinfection
Professional blood cleanup services are very advanced. Sanitization and disinfection are proof of this as it is not just about cleaning the blood and/or bodily fluid spilled in the location.
It is also about restoring normally, as much as possible. Sanitization and disinfection is a huge part of making this happen. Some protocols to this effect involve:
- Various cleaning stages – Sanitization and disinfection happen to be one of them
- Utilization of specialized sanitization machines
- Deodorization
- Use of products effective at eliminating Bloodborne pathogens
- Application of EPA-approved, medical-grade disinfectants
Adherence to the above-listed is one of the differences between DIY-handled and professionally handled blood cleanup services.
Conclusion
Furthermore, engaging specialists when the need for blood cleanup arises is also about adhering to several regulations. For example, there are OSHA guidelines to be adhered to.
These guidelines stress things like recordkeeping, training requirements for cleaners, engineering controls, exposure control strategy, and more. You can check here for more information on this.
The sensitivity of blood cleanup tasks is also why capable specialists should be engaged. This is why selection criteria such as service focus, experience, and certification & licensing should inform one’s choice.
