Blood, body fluids, and other infectious wastes are classed as biohazards and require adequate cleaning and disinfecting to eliminate harmful microorganisms that can linger behind a spill or stain.
Learning proper cleanup techniques is crucial whether you encounter a simple nosebleed or are left with the responsibility of a large volume following a death on your Jacksonville property. Safety and thoroughness are key when approaching a blood spill scene remediation.
Guide For Cleaning Blood
A range of situations can lead to blood spills, each resulting in varying volumes left at the scene. Whether you inadvertently cut your finger or the property is the site of a violent crime or assault. Becoming familiar with the proper safety standards to eliminate risks and meticulously clean the space is critical.
Adequate preparedness before beginning is essential, including obtaining the following supplies:
- PPE – personal protective equipment
- Disinfectant wipes
- Hospital-standard or industrial-grade disinfectants
- Biohazard leak-proof bags or containers
- Cloths
- Paper towels
Many people reach out to professional biohazard decontamination companies for blood spill cleanup Jacksonville. These services offer property owners peace of mind, knowing that every trace of blood has been handled according to stringent safety guidelines and adhering to pertinent laws and regulations.
Before starting biohazard cleanup, PPE – personal protective equipment such as gloves and face and body protection must be worn. Booties and a hazmat suit are typically worn if body fluids aside from blood are present.
The risks
The scene is first assessed to determine the degree of biohazards present, blood volume, potential for other body fluids, and possible hazardous materials such as sharp objects like needles or broken glass. These items should be removed from the site by sweeping them into a dustpan.
You want to avoid picking objects up with your hands, especially sharp items, since these pose a risk for a puncture, jab, or a cut through the gloves, leaving you exposed and at risk for infection.
The towels
With any volume of blood, the first step is to soak up as much of the blood as possible with paper towels. With a large volume, the towel may need to be layered and weighed down to effectively absorb the blood. You want to avoid using your hands to help the process.
Once the towels have soaked up the blood, they must be disposed of in bags labeled as “biohazard” for the safest waste management.
The disinfectant
When cleaning the surfaces, a hospital-standard or industrial-grade disinfecting solution must be used for the affected areas. Once applied, allow the cleanser to absorb for roughly 10 minutes.
Fresh and dry towels will be used to scrub the solution, starting from the outside and moving inward toward the center of the spill. Visit Cleaning Techniques For Different Types of Blood Spill Condition | Credihealth to learn different cleaning techniques for blood spills on varied surfaces.
These towels will be disposed of in the same biohazard containers as the saturated paper towels. Common disinfectants used for biohazard cleanup include:
- A mixture of water with white vinegar to remove a small volume of blood from the fabric.
- A 10 percent bleach solution for minor blood spills.
- Enzymatic cleaners help to break down proteins in blood.
- Hydrogen peroxide eliminates bacteria but can have bleaching effects.
Decontamination
The affected area must be wiped down with damp towels, not dripping wet but wrung out to leave them damp.
The towels should be left to sit over the blood spill sites for a few minutes before going over these areas with wet towels to remove leftover visible blood and disinfectant residue. Dry paper towels will remove any moisture from the area.
Regardless of whether blood is visible, it’s essential to go back over the area once more with disinfectant wipes and rinse the site with clear water before drying with paper towels. These should be appropriately disposed of in the biohazard bags when through with these steps.
A self-assessment
Checking your skin and clothing to ensure no signs of blood exposure is critical. It may be difficult to do a self-assessment, but instead, have someone who can use a fresh set of eyes to look for you.
Disinfectant soap will need to be used to clean any areas found on your skin, and bloody clothing should either be disposed of in biohazard bags or washed in a disinfection solution.
One-use supplies will go in the biohazard bags, while reusable tools and equipment will be thoroughly decontaminated by soaking them in a bucket with disinfectant and water.
The appropriate waste removal services will collect the biohazard bags for safe disposal. You will need to contact them for pick up. Go here for a detailed guide on handling blood and other body fluids.
Final Thought
When handling human blood and the potential for other body fluids, professional blood cleanup specialists in Jacksonville offer an effective, efficient, and safe process. These expert teams specialize in varied blood spill scenarios and restore the affected area to its original condition.
