Five Things You Need To Know Before Cleaning Up Blood

Imagine that you are hosting a party and one of your friends volunteers to assist you in the kitchen. They are polishing a wine glass when the glass shatters and cuts them in a vulnerable place such as the wrist, leading to serious bleeding.  Fortunately, you are able to get your friend immediate emergency care. But aside from an unplanned visit to the hospital, what other steps should you take following an incident like this?

Accidents can happen to anyone, even the most vigilant. If an accident happens in your home, your first concern will be for the victim, followed by the desire to take care of your property and clean any mess left behind. 

5 Things You Need to Know Before Cleaning Up Blood

1. Blood Transmits Diseases
2. A Housekeeper Might Not Properly Clean the Area
3. Biohazards Must Be Properly Disposed of by Law
4. Don’t Risk Further Trauma After an Accident
5. Specialized Testing for Pathogens Is Necessary

Blood Transmits Diseases

It’s not common to interrogate house guests about medical history. You might not know if someone has hepatitis or HIV. In some cases, children can be born with diseases. Rubber gloves and some bleach might not fully protect you when cleaning up blood. It is important to be sensitive to the person who was injured and contact a professional cleaning service that is trained in cleaning biohazards.

A Housekeeper Might Not Properly Clean the Area

The best housekeeper knows how to get out tough stains, but cleaning up blood is not safe for people that do not have the appropriate training to address biohazards. Don’t put your family or others at risk with an improper cleaning. Furthermore, sometimes cleaning up blood out of carpet or other materials is not a good idea. It can contaminate carpet cleaning equipment and spread pathogens to other areas of your home.

Biohazards Must Be Properly Disposed of by Law

You can throw out a bloody tissue without a problem; however, a large blood cleanup project will require specialized disposal to prevent health risks. It’s not as easy as taking an old cell phone to a company that properly disposes of electronic devices. You have to have specific training and knowledge, plus the right equipment and permissions, to safely dispose of biohazards such as blood and bodily fluids.

Don’t Risk Further Trauma After an Accident

It’s not easy to see a loved one get hurt. People have different reactions to traumatic events. Protect yourself after addressing a bad accident by leaving the area until it is cleaned by a professional blood cleaning service. Get help for lasting issues associated with trauma when you are ready. Don’t take the chance of making things worse by attempting a traumatic cleanup project on your own.

Specialized Testing for Pathogens Is Necessary

Many of the most serious health hazards are invisible to the naked eye. Though an area may be free from blood stains and other obvious signs, this does not mean that all biohazards have been completely removed. Hire a professional  company for cleaning up blood and bodily fluid to be completely confident that the area is clean and sanitized. Companies like Aftermath Services utilize specialized testing equipment to ensure the highest possible standards in the industry.

How to Clean Up Blood from Hard Surfaces

A good rule of thumb is that you can probably clean up a blood spill smaller than the size of a plate without help. Below we detail how to clean up blood from hard surfaces step-by-step.

1. Equip. Equip yourself with the protective materials: gloves are essential, and you may want to consider a gown and protective eyewear in case of any splashing. 
2. Remove. Use the brush and dustpan or tongs/forceps to remove broken glass or other pointed shards that could break through your protective wear. 
3. Clean Once. Cover the spill in durable cloth towels and use registered disinfectant product with a broad spectrum kill claim will not properly disinfect if the surface is still covered in blood. 
4. Clean Twice. Pour most of the registered disinfectant product with a broad spectrum kill claim onto the area of the spill and let it soak for ten minutes. Once this time has elapsed, you should work from the outside toward the center while scrubbing the area with durable cloth towels. 
5. Clean Thrice. Now, dampen some more cloth towels and treat the area of the blood spill once more.
6. Dispose. Dispose of PPE, towels and other contaminants into a biohazard bag. Double bag and securely tie up garbage bags and discard.
7. Decontaminate. Use the registered disinfectant product with a broad spectrum kill claim to decontaminate any reusable equipment. After you’ve allowed the registered disinfectant product to soak for 10 minutes, proceed to scrub the equipment and wash it off with fresh water.
8. Check. Do a last check of your body for any contamination. 
9. Wash Hands. Thoroughly wash your hands and arms with warm water and disinfectant soap. After a vigorous washing, you may even want to consider using disinfectant wipes as a secondary measure.

For anything larger; however, there are many reasons why hiring a professional blood cleanup company is a good idea.

Contact Aftermath Services Day or Night for Blood Cleaning Services

Contact Aftermath anytime for professional trauma or blood cleaning services. Help keep your loved ones safe, and avoid any lasting problems associated with cleaning up blood.