Blood cleaning is a delicate task that requires expertise and an understanding of the necessary techniques and products. When cleaned improperly, blood can lead to hazardous disease and infection. Eliminating stains from fabric differs from removing them from a crime or traumatic scene.
Even a small, dried spill can transmit disease and other bloodborne pathogens if not cleaned immediately or properly. In this article, we will look at some of the importance of proper blood cleanup in Houston and why you should address spillage immediately after it happens.
To Avoid Bloodborne Disease
Bloodborne pathogens are the harmful microorganisms present in the blood. Some fluids contain blood- and disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Some examples of bloodborne diseases are hepatitis B and C, brucellosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, syphilis, etc., hepatitis B and C and HIV have the highest risk factors. Individuals at greatest risk are those working in healthcare sectors, housekeeping, and first responders, as they are more likely to come in contact with blood daily. Still, athletes and other people can also be at risk.
Visit https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/bloodborne/index.html to learn more about bloodborne pathogens.
To Prevent Dangers of Spill
It’s essential to understand that a lot of fluids contain bloodborne pathogens. These fluids include amniotic fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, peritoneal fluid, pleural fluid, saliva, semen, synovial fluid, vaginal fluids, etc.
This means if blood or any of these fluids are left on the ground for a long time, it’s likely to transmit disease. Touching any of these fluids, whether with mouth or breathing in them or letting them break your skin, can lead to infection. Certain pathogens still pose health risks even after they are dried.
Procedure for Managing a Spill
When spills happen, experts perform a quick assessment of the severity of the spill to determine their next steps. If it’s a small spill, the workers usually follow established protocols that state that they should wear proper PPE (personal protective equipment) and use tools to remove sharp objects like needles and broken glass to prevent cuts and exposure. In cases of large spills, the cleanup team will use specialized equipment and their expertise to remove items within the contaminated area.
Establish Prevention Protocols
The first intervention when it comes to biohazard risk plans is prevention. The goal is to never proceed past this step. That’s why companies train their staff in the proper way to handle fluid liquids. They also adhere to the prescribed PPE precautions when risky activities are involved.
Spill Cleanup
Once all contaminants are removed, the next step is cleaning the spill. Professional blood spill cleanup service Houston uses disposable cloths to soak as much blood as possible.
They place all the items contaminated with the blood in a biohazard bag. They don’t place them anywhere else because that will increase the number of areas that need to be cleaned.
Disinfecting the Area
Once the blood is removed and the area is dried, the next thing these experts do is disinfect the area. The reason they wait for the place to dry is that disinfectants work best in dry areas, as wet surfaces may dilute the solution. They use products with labels stating they kill bacteria and viruses.
Repeating the Process
This time, the team soaks a fresh cloth with the disinfectant and works on the affected areas for the second time.
This will kill all the bacteria and pathogens. Once done, they will place the clothes used into the biohazard bag.
Disposing of Contaminated Materials
While cleaning, they place all disposable materials directly into the labeled biohazard bags. They adhere to OSHA instructions Houston for labeling hazardous containers. Professional blood cleanup services decontaminate all reusable items by soaking them in a broad-spectrum disinfectant. Click here to learn more about choosing the right disinfectants.
Disposing of Contaminated Materials
While cleaning, they place all disposable materials directly into the labeled biohazard bags. They adhere to OSHA instructions for labeling hazardous containers. Professional blood cleanup services decontaminate all reusable items by soaking them in a broad-spectrum disinfectant.
Sanitizing the Area
The last step is sanitization. They use chemicals that are designated for this step which have specific concentration of sanitizers to achieve the last step of removing pathogens. For many products, after the solution is applied, it has to be left for a specified time, then once the time has passed, the workers begin scrubbing from the outside and work towards the center.
Conclusion
When dealing with blood, a quick clean using a towel or mop won’t do anything. Cleaning fluid requires careful handling and knowledge to ensure you aren’t at risk of bloodborne diseases. Blood contains pathogens which are microorganisms that can transfer diseases like hepatitis B and HIV, while you may be tempted to do it yourself, it’s essential to leave the work to professionals as they have the expertise and tools to handle their work.
The following procedures include cleaning the blood, disinfecting and sanitizing the area, and disposing of the contaminated materials to ensure there isn’t any blood left that can cause blood-borne illness.
