The Importance of Professional Trauma Scene Cleanup

Trauma scenes are extremely sensitive areas that require special care and attention. Whether it’s due to an accident, crime, or unexpected death, the physical and emotional toll can be overwhelming for anyone involved. This blog post aims to shed light on the importance of professional trauma scene cleanup, its relevance in preserving a safe environment, and how it can help those affected cope with the aftermath.

Why is Professional Cleanup Necessary?

Trauma scenes often contain biohazards like blood, bodily fluids, and other contaminants that pose a risk to health and safety. Attempting to clean up these areas without proper training or equipment could expose you to various pathogens, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides comprehensive guidelines on how to handle biohazards safely.

Emotional and Psychological Considerations

Another key consideration is the emotional and psychological toll that cleaning a trauma scene can take on individuals. Engaging with these scenes can lead to traumatic stress, complicating the emotional recovery process.

What Does Professional Cleanup Entail?

Initial Assessment

Upon arrival, the cleanup crew performs a thorough assessment to understand the extent of the contamination and the required course of action.

Safety Protocols

The team adheres to strict safety measures, including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and using EPA-approved cleaning agents to sanitize the area.

Waste Disposal

Proper disposal of contaminated materials is crucial to prevent further health risks. Professional cleanup services are equipped to handle and dispose of biohazards according to federal and state laws.

Emotional Care

Some trauma cleanup companies provide additional resources or connections to emotional support services to help individuals cope with their loss.

Regulatory Guidelines

Due to the sensitive nature of the job, trauma scene cleanup is highly regulated. Companies in this field are typically certified by organizations like the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), ensuring they adhere to the highest industry standards.

Service First Restoration Inc.: Your Go-To For Trauma Scene Cleanup in Laguna Hills, California

When dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event, the last thing you should worry about is how to clean up safely and effectively. Located in Laguna Hills, California, Service First Restoration Inc. offers professional trauma scene cleanup services to ensure your environment is thoroughly sanitized and safe. Our certified team follows all federal and state guidelines to handle biohazards and dispose of them responsibly. We also understand the emotional sensitivities involved and approach each project with the utmost compassion and care.

In conclusion, professional trauma scene cleanup is a critical service that not only makes an environment safe but also helps survivors in the healing process. If you are in Laguna Hills or the surrounding areas and require such services, reach out to Service First Restoration Inc. We’re here to restore not just your property but also your peace of mind.

COVID-19 Cleanup

Precautions against COVID-19 infections will continue until there’s a vaccine, perhaps longer.  So we can expect to be paying attention to hand washing, face covers, cleaning, and disinfection for at least another 12 months.  But as biohazard remediation experts we know how effective proper cleanup and personal protection can be in protecting both our clients and our workers, so we know it’s well worth the effort.

Let’s Be Clear

What follows is only a summary of the issues and actions that need to be taken.  For details, see https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html and the links from that page.

First, consider how respiratory viruses are transmitted.  Coughing, sneezing, and in some cases merely talking releases tiny droplets containing moisture and the virus into the air.  That can directly infect anyone within about 6 feet.  Those droplets can also settle on surfaces and remain infectious for anywhere from a few hours to possibly as long as two weeks.  Touching those surfaces raises the possibility of transferring the virus to your mouth, nose, or eyes and from there they enter your body.

In addition to face coverings and avoiding physical contact, preventing spread includes removing the virus’ threat from the environment.  To be specific, there are two processes.

  • Cleaning physically removes compounds that may allow a virus to remain viable longer, and may physically remove the virus itself as well.
  • Disinfection damages or destroys a virus so it’s no longer viable and can’t cause disease.  Sterilization commonly refers to disinfection using high temperatures.

It’s important to wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting.  When you’re done, remove them and wash your hands immediately, as removal can bring your hands into contact.

Hand Washing

You’ve heard you should wash your hands frequently.  But when?  And how?

Whenever you’ve:

  • blown your nose, coughed, sneezed, or gone to the restroom,
  • before preparing food or eating,
  • been out of the house,
  • been in close contact with others,
  • been cleaning.

So, basically, what your mom used to bug you about during the flu season!

It’s believed best to use hand- or bath-soap for at least 20 seconds, hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

Cleaning

Things you’re likely to be near should be cleaned daily with the soap, detergent, or other cleansers you normally use.  “High-touch” surfaces such as counter-tops, desks, doorknobs, faucets, handles, keyboards, light switches, phones, sinks tables, and toilets several times per day.  Ideally after each use or change of user.

Disinfecting

Evidence indicates that COVID-19 remains active on porous materials such as cloth, wood, paper, and cardboard for a few hours to a day or so, but several days (and perhaps much longer) on hard surfaces such as metal, glass, and plastic.

Anything visibly dirty should first be cleaned, then disinfected using an EPA-registered disinfectant. Products so marked meet the criteria for COVID-19 disinfection.  The good news is that they’re more common than you might think so you may already have a couple.

Electronics

Personal, home and business electronics are a particularly long-lasting opportunity for virus transfer via touch screens, keyboards, and mice.  You should check the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and disinfecting them.  If you can’t find that info, use alcohol (70% or above) then dry thoroughly.  But this may harm some items.

Hard Surfaces

Use household disinfectants that are EPA-registered and follow the label’s instructions, including how long to leave the surface wet before drying.  Some products require gloves (a good idea anyway) and extra ventilation.

Otherwise, you can use 1/3 cup bleach diluted with 1 gallon of water or 4 teaspoons per quart of water.  Leave surfaces wet for a minute then dry thoroughly.  Alcohol is less effective than bleach but presents less risk of harming your possessions.

Bleach Notes:  Bleach does loose it’s effectiveness over time, so check the expiration date.  And don’t forget it’s made to whiten and remove stains so it can harm some types of materials.  Also never mix bleach with other cleaners or disinfectants — the results can be poisonous gas!

Soft Surfaces

Materials such as carpets, rugs, and drapes can be washed using detergents appropriate for the particular material.  Launder using the warmest appropriate temperature dry completely.  Clothing, towels, and linen can be handled the same way.

Laundry Notes:  Don’t shake dirty laundry as that can make the virus airborne again.  And don’t forget to clean and disinfect clothes, hampers and laundry baskets.

When Someone is Sick

When someone in your home is sick, assume it’s serious and be super-vigilant in every aspect.  Whenever possible, they should have their own bedroom and bathroom, a sort of quarantine area.  To avoid spread it’s best to let the ill person do as much as their own cleaning as they’re able.  If a separate bathroom isn’t available, wait as long as possible after their use before disinfecting it.

They should also have their own trash bin, and you should wear gloves when handling them.  You should also wear gloves when handling dishes and use hot water or a dishwasher.

Most critically, call their doctor or a health-care professional if their symptoms progress past what’s typical for the common flu.

You’ll be advised if hospitalization is recommended.  Be sure you understand which hospital to go to and how transportation should be handled.

Businesses Step Up

Business owners and managers should be sure their employees have all the needed supplies and understand when and how to use them.

In the instance of one or more COVID-19 cases the immediate area should be cleared for appropriate waiting time (depending on air circulation and other factors) before anyone enters with gloves and a face mask to clean and disinfect.

Owners and managers should seriously consider periodic cleaning by bio-remediation experts.  Our certified technicians can help protect your employees while protecting our own cleaning specialists.

 

Office Disinfection

Events with large gatherings of people have been canceled or postponed.  But most businesses need to carry on.  Fortunately, the current novel coronavirus isn’t super-resistant so that many common cleaning and disinfecting products are effective.  The team at Service First has all the training, professional experience, and products needed to clean and disinfect offices and other businesses either while in operation or before employees return from a period of work-from-home.

In this post we’ll summarize the situation, explain why we’re qualified to deal with Coronavirus Covid-19, and then mention the basics of what an office or building manager needs to do.

Just the Facts

Covid-19 spreads primarily through tiny droplets of moisture released during coughing and sneezing.  Direct person-to-person transmission through the air is less likely to occur at distances beyond 6 feet, but those invisible droplets can settle on just about any surface.  Including hands.  It’s also believed to be present in feces and become airborne from there.  In most cases coronavirus survives only a few hours outside the body, but on hard surfaces such as metal, glass, and plastic it can remain harmful for several days, perhaps as long as a week.

One of the reasons spread got out of control was that it turned out that the virus is “shed” to others even before symptoms appear.  So now we’re in a very serious situation where hospitals and other health care facilities could be overwhelmed.  But that can be avoided if enough people take simple precautions to “lower the curve” to reduce and delay transmission.  In addition to hand washing, not touching your face, and wearing a face mask (if you think you might be infected) that’s mostly a matter of routine cleaning with some added disinfection.

Our Expertise

In brief, we’re experienced experts in destroying viruses (and bacteria) without damaging building materials and surfaces, including carpet, textiles, electronics, and other building contents.

Our technicians are certified in a range of cleaning and disinfecting specialties.  That includes the exacting requirements of trauma scene cleanup and biohazard remediation.  Here blood and other bodily fluids are commonly present so cleaning, decontamination, and disinfection down to microscopic traces are paramount.  As is proper handling and disposal of all materials as infectious medical wastes.

Our expertise also includes absolutely thorough isolation, cleaning, and sterilization for sewage cleanup.  As well as the sanitation aspects of water and flood damage cleanup, including removing mold and its microscopic spores from building materials, carpet, and air ducts.

What We Can Do Together

So we’re the people to call when its time for absolutely thorough cleaning and disinfecting.  Our knowledgeable staff can take care of floors, ceilings, walls, and blinds, as well as heating and air conditioning vents together with any and all building contents.  We can bring our bio-hazard remediation training to bear for especially safe and effective carpet cleaning, air duct cleaning, and more.  And our team also knows how to protect themselves and have extensive personal protective gear available as needed.

But that alone isn’t enough for businesses that remain in full operation.  Routine cleaning once or twice a day is also important.

Tips for Managers

Routine cleaning needs to be taken up several notches, and it’s important to make sure janitorial staff are following the proper procedures.  Every employee can also take part in regularly wiping down items commonly touched by others.  And keep sharing items such as keyboards to an absolute minimum.

Frequently touched items (door handles, tabletops, desktops, chairs and break rooms, light switches, toilets and flush levers, faucets, sinks, phones, remote controls… the list goes on — think about your specific facility) need to be disinfected at least twice a day.  If they’re visibly dirty they should be first washed with soap or detergent as grime can harbor viruses for extended periods of time.

Here are a few particulars to keep in mind.  It’s by no means an exhaustive list.

  • Cleaning staff should wear disposable gloves, or have gloves used only for Corvid-19 cleaning.
  • Cleaning and disinfecting produce should be properly diluted and allowed to remain as indicated in the instructions.
  • Ideally, products EPA registered for dealing with coronavirus (including the common flu) should be used.  But ordinary soap, Clorox, and Lysol are effective.  Alcohol above 70% concentration may also be effective.
  • Soft and porous items such as carpet, rugs, and drapes should be removed and thoroughly laundered and dried if they appear dusty or dirty.
  • Dusting, wet mopping, vacuuming, removing trash, and cleaning restrooms should be performed more frequently and more thoroughly.

And here’s some bleach (Clorox) info you might not be aware of.

  • Consumer over-the-counter products range from 3% to 6% concentration, so the proper dilution ranges from 2 teaspoons per cup to 1 teaspoon per cup.  At this dilution, items should be left wet for about 5 minutes.
  • Bleach products expire after 1 year, so check expiration dates.  Once opened it quickly looses potency, and once diluted for use the solution should only be used for 24 hours.  Alcohol and many other products also expire.
  • Never mix bleach with ammonia — that produces a poisonous gas.
  • Bleach can damage textiles and some metals.

Disinfecting and Cleaning Products

The EPA has issued a 6-page list of specific products believed to be effective against Covid-19, including numerous commercial (as opposed to consumer) products we use in our water damage, sewage cleanup, trauma cleanup, and biohazard remediation services.  You can find it at https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2.