Disinfecting Against COVID-19: The Novel Coronavirus
How can Bio-One help? With over 90 offices across the United States, Bio-One teams have been preparing to assist communities with unique Coronavirus disinfection services in the event we are called to help.
After a confirmed infection, a space must be professionally disinfected before it can be occupied. Experienced biohazard cleaning technicians know how to remediate the area, and prevent further contamination and infection. Our teams use the most up-to-date equipment and protocols. Bio-One is certified, licensed and insured.
With four Bio-One offices throughout North Carolina, our teams are prepared to assist wherever needed. To learn more about our COVID-19 disinfection process give our team a call at 828-407-0454.
We also wanted to share a list of the resources we’re following. See below!
Imagine living in another state and receiving news that an elderly family member has been hospitalized for Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C. diff. You’re hundreds of miles away, and hospital caregivers will not let your loved one return home until the entire house is properly disinfected. What do you do? Who do you call for C. diff disinfection?
Last week, our Bio-One team was able to help a family experiencing this overwhelming situation (BIG thanks to Maury at Disaster Doctors for referring Bio-One). And we’re thrilled to report our client is now resting comfortably at home in a safe environment.
Would you know what to do if this happened? Let’s first review some facts about C.diff and then we’ll dive into disinfecting.
Facts about C. diff
C. diff is a bacterial infection that can cause life-threatening diarrhea and colitis (an inflammation of the colon), and it is considered a major health threat. In 2017, there were an estimated 223,900 cases in hospitalized patients and 12,800 deaths in the United States. As stated by the Center for Disease Control, CDC, C. diff infections mostly occur in:
People 65 and older who take antibiotics and receive medical care.
People staying in hospitals and nursing homes for a long period of time.
People with weakened immune systems or previous infection with C. diff.
C. diff germs are transmitted by touching a contaminated surface or material. These germs are typically found in fecal matter, and are notoriously difficult to kill.
How Long Does C. diff Live On a Surface?
According to the CDC, inactive spores are able to live for months and sometimes years on surfaces. The spores become active when they are swallowed and reach the intestines.
To put this in context, the above graphic is a quick comparison between a common cold, the flu, and C. diff in terms of lifespan on hard surfaces and what prevention methods work best, alcohol-based hand disinfectrs versus soap and water. As you can see, C. diff is unique. The spores can last well beyond a hospital stay which means decontaminating a home is absolutely necessary. Also, C. diff is a prime example for why you should always thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water after using the restroom, when showering, and before eating.
C. diff Disinfection - What to Do If Prevention Fails
C. diff spores can be found on non-porous and porous surfaces throughout the home. If an infection has occurred, contact the homeowners insurance agent to determine if decontamination is covered under your policy. Also, we don't recommend entering the home, but if you must, you should wear the proper PPE (personal protective equipment). This may include gloves, masks and booties.
The CDC offers a bleach plus water mixture, which is applicable to doorknobs, bathroom surfaces, and kitchen countertops. Clothing, comforters, sheets and towels should also be washed on a hot cycle to ensure proper disinfection. These steps however, do not ensure porous items such as sofas, recliners, hardwood floors, carpet, and more are safe.
This is why our Bio-One team implements a multi-step proprietary process and chemical mixture to ensure comprehensive disinfection. When completed, these steps ensure all surfaces and fabrics are disinfected and ready for use as soon as your loved one returns home.
Help First, Business Second isn't something Bio-One of Asheville simply claims to do. We live by it! So when we heard Babies Need Bottoms needed volunteers ASAP (Thank you Junior League of Asheville!) our Bio-One team jumped into action.
Babies Need Bottoms is a diaper bank serving families in need across western North Carolina. On Tuesday, Matt and Krista hand-wrapped packs of donated diapers to be distributed to community partners across 5 counties in western North Carolina. They also helped unpack four pallets of baby wipes received that morning!
According to Babies Need Bottoms:
“Many factors affect diaper need in Asheville including high cost of living, limited employment opportunities, expensive retail cost of diapers, and significant poverty. If parents don’t have access to clean diapers, there are no options – no government funding, nowhere to turn. Lack of clean diapers affects more than a child’s health; it affects parental stress and the ability to attend daycare.”
But the need extends well beyond the Asheville area. In WNC:
46% of children in Buncombe County live in poor or low-income homes
51% of households with children in Haywood County receive food stamps
44% of households with children in Henderson County receive food stamps
46% of households with children in Madison County receive food stamps
58% of households with children in Transylvania County receive food stamps
We are often asked what chemicals cleanup blood, feces and other biohazards, and our Bio-One Asheville team always uses our four proprietary chemicals, one of which is a tuberculocide. But one household cleaner continues to pop up in conversation as we’re often asked, “Can I use bleach to clean it up?”
Bleach, commonly known as Clorox, can be found in households across the U.S. And before we dive in too deep, we want to assure you that we also use bleach in our home! But not when we’re on the job cleaning and disinfecting biohazards. Here are three reasons why.
Bleach Loses Potency
After only a few months of sitting on the shelf at your local grocery store or in your home (or both) the potency of bleach declines and continues to decline over time. As potency decreases, bleach takes longer to kill bacteria and viruses, meaning you might have to let bleach sit on a contaminated surface for a few minutes or longer to disinfect.
The only way to determine potency levels is to test the chemical every few months. Our home doesn’t have the tools for this test, and - like most households - we “guestimate” an appropriate time needed for disinfection. But when it comes to biohazards, especially some of the nastier bacteria or viruses, a guess or estimate doesn’t cut it.
This is why Bio-One uses a proprietary tuberculocide. This chemical has a long shelf-life, and works quickly and reliably to kill many pathogens, including MRSA, C-diff, and HIV, that may be in blood, vomit, fecal matter, urine, gross filth, or other bodily fluids.
Bleach is an Irritant
Large spaces – whether public or private – such as stairwells, spacious rooms, apartments, stores and offices, need to be ready for use as soon as our work is complete. Furthermore, after a traumatic event or during an overwhelming situation, it’s critical that we use chemicals that don’t result in another problem such as eye, throat or skin irritations. This may be difficult to accomplish with bleach.
Easily identified by the smell, bleach mist or vapors can be extremely irritating. The Clorox Company’s Safety Data Sheet on bleach states, “While not expected, heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or obstructive lung disease may be aggravated by exposure to high concentrations of vapor or mist.”
In an effort to reduce harm, chemicals used by Bio-One pack a punch for blood pathogens without compromising heath from lasting irritating vapors and mist.
Bleach is for Non-Porous Surfaces Only
That’s right! While powerful on ceramic tile, vinyl and linoleum, bleach is not suitable for porous surfaces such as marble and hardwood floors. Biohazard scenes are unpredictable, and Bio-One’s tuberculocide is key as it disinfects porous and non-porous surfaces.
All this being said, we genuinely hope you never encounter a biohazard situation. But if you do, don’t reach for the bleach. Call Bio-One so we can safely and quickly help.
If you're thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, call 800-273-TALK (8255). Available 24/7 across the United States.
Announced in December, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved using the 3-digit hotline number 988 for suicide prevention. The FCC stated, “This designation will help ease access to crisis services, reduce the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health conditions, and ultimately save lives.”
According to their announcement, calls made to 988 would be directed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a national network of 163 crisis centers that is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
In response to the news, Dwight Holton, CEO of Lines for Life, stated via USA Today that, “The three-digit number is really going to be a breakthrough in terms of reaching people in a crisis. No one is embarrassed to call 911 for a fire or an emergency. No one should be embarrassed to call 988 for a mental health emergency."
Here are key things to know since this announcement was made:
When does the 988 suicide hotline number go into effect?
The notice issued in mid-December of 2019, requires all telecommunications carriers and VoIP service providers make any and all network changes necessary within 18 months to ensure users can dial 988 to reach the Lifeline. As of the date of this blog post, the 988 is not considered active and SuicidePreventionLifeline.org has posted the following Special Announcement:
Please continue to share 800-273-TALK (8255) and our chat page with anyone wishing to connect to the Lifeline. 988 is NOT CURRENTLY ACTIVE and will not connect callers to the Lifeline.
According to Suicide Prevention Lifeline, “No matter what problems you’re dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the Lifeline.”
The lifeline is free, confidential and offers a number of options for anyone seeking help:
In a report to Congress released in August, the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics noted that, from 1999 to 2016, suicide increased in 49 of the 50 states, and the increase was greater than 20% in more than half of those states. It also noted that suicide rates are higher across various at-risk populations, including Veterans and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities.
What is the suicide rate in counties across western North Carolina?
The 2018 Asheville Citizen-Times article How to talk about suicide with kids cited that “the rate of youth suicides in North Carolina rose an alarming 62 percent from 2006-14. Suicide rates are higher in Western North Carolina than other regions of the state, as well.”
Until 988 is live, how can I contact the Suicide Lifeline?
Currently, the Lifeline is available by calling 800-273-TALK (8255) and through online chats. In 2018, trained Lifeline counselors answered over 2.2 million calls and over 100,000 online chats.
Hello 2020! The last year was exciting for our team and we are reflecting on our accomplishments since launching Bio-One of Asheville. We’ve sponsored TIP WNC’s volunteer holiday dinner and enjoyed giving back to officers at the Asheville Police Department with Thanksgiving gift baskets. We have enjoyed connecting with the Hendersonville Police Department and look forward to partnering in the New Year. We have met countless team members at apartment complexes across Asheville and Hendersonville, and our team has launched Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles sharing our journey. We hope you follow us!
Most importantly, we have helped western North Carolina community members in sensitive and overwhelming times of need. A man who suddenly lost his friend. A woman renewing her life after 40 years of hoarding. A woman who discovered she had a mental health condition and reached out for help. A mom needing to reset and decontaminate a second home. And more.
Since beginning our Bio-One journey in 2019, we received an abundance of support from our loved ones. We’ve also been asked the same question, “Why do you do this?” And the answer is simple. We want to help people across western North Carolina in an impactful and meaningful way. Watch the video below to hear directly from Matt and Krista Gregg and why they chose Bio-One.
We look forward to a great 2020 and if you have questions about Bio-One or if you need assistance please contact us at info@biooneasheville.com or 828-407-0454.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT Introducing Bio-One of Asheville, a New Business to Know in 2020
Matt: Hi, I’m Matt.
Krista: And I’m Krista.
Matt: And we’re Bio-One based here in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s been an exciting few months for us as we’ve got this business started. We figured we’ve been open for a few months and it’s time to introduce ourselves to the community.
Krista: Yes. So first a little bit about us. Matt actually grew up in Arden and is a native of western North Carolina.
Matt: That’s right! I spent my entire formative years south of Asheville. I went to high school here and college at North Carolina. Go Tar Heels! After all that I decided I wanted a change and I moved to Colorado.
Krista: Yup, and that is where he met me! I am from Colorado, and I grew up in Littleton and went to school in Fort Collins. Matt and I met on a soccer league. We were on the same team, and we eventually ended up getting married. Long story short, we decided to move to Asheville to be closer to family, and we moved here five years ago. We were working desk jobs, and earlier this year Matt and I sat down and thought we could be doing more. We could get to know the community more and do more to give back and help people.
Matt: That’s right. So we bought a Bio-One franchise!
Krista: [laughing] Yes, we did. And this is a type of franchise and type of cleaning, really extreme cleaning, where we can give back and help people. Matt is going to talk about some of our specialities and our certifications.
Matt: That’s right. Like Krista said, we handle the extreme. Whether that’s a suicide in the family, homicide, undiscovered death or bodily fluids. If you find yourself overwhelmed in a situation that’s when we get the call and that’s what we specialize in. We’re B.O.T. certified and that means we’re aware of and capable of handling all the hazards associated with these types of situations, and we make every effort to arrive with compassion and quickly to get the issue resolved. We’re there for you 24/7.
Krista: Absolutely. So ultimately, we are trained and ready to go! We have already helped several families in the community, and we are looking forward to a 2020 filled with helping even more people. So if you’d like to learn more or ask us questions about what we do you can email us at info@biooneasheville.com or you can give us a call at 828-407-0454. As Matt said we’re 24/7.
Matt: Happy New Year guys! We look forward to helping the community and becoming a bigger piece of western North Carolina.
Asheville NC, November 1, 2019 – Bio-One Inc. has announced the opening of its newest office in the Asheville community. Bio-One offices provide top-notch decontamination and biohazard cleanup services while treating clients with the privacy and compassion which difficult moments demand. This location will be based in the Asheville area, serving counties across western North Carolina, as well as, assisting all other Bio-One franchised locations.
Asheville native, Matt Gregg, and his wife Krista Gregg own the Bio-One in Asheville. After more than a decade in the corporate world, Gregg chose to start Bio-One to become more involved in serving his community and helping families in their greatest time of need.
“What drew me to Bio-One was their company motto of Help First, Business Second,” said Matt Gregg. “This line of work is unique and takes a strong stomach, and when something unexpected or traumatic takes place I am proud that we are available 24/7 to help families and victims safely remediate an unpleasant situation.”
Bio-One in Asheville specializes in all types of extreme cleaning including blood, unattended death, homicide, suicide, hoarding, and feces cleanup. Bio hazard cleanup requires specialized training and certifications to ensure compliance with governmental regulations, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Blood Borne Pathogens Standards.
"This is quite an honor for us, to have Matt and Krista Gregg own an office in the Asheville area. The fact that we found a local family who has a passion to help his community, gives us great pride at our corporate office that we have the right team owning an office in Asheville,” said Jason OBrien, CEO of Bio-One Inc. “Having Matt and Krista aboard signals that our constant efforts towards business and service excellence are paying off. We are proud to include Matt and Krista Gregg, and his Bio-One office in our Bio-One family."
For more information on Bio-One in Asheville, please call (828) 407-0454 or visit www.BioOneAsheville.com.
“Bio-One is here to help and serve our community when those are in need”
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About Bio-One Inc.
Bio-One Inc. is the first crime and trauma scene cleaning franchise, operating in 35 States with over 90 locations. Bio-One is committed to providing excellent service in recovery and suicide cleanup, homicide cleanup, hoarding situations, junk removal, deceased animal recovery, feces removal, pest and rodent droppings and much more. Each office is independently owned and operated by a member of the local community. For more information about Bio-One Inc., visit the Company’s website at www.BioOneInc.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Germs have been rough this year and continue to hit during spring. Reports on the potential dangers of antibiotic-resistant superbugs mingle with discussions of the effectiveness of vaccinations and various other medical interventions. While germs may be too small to be seen with the naked eye, encountering them can have a major impact on your health, and these microscopic menaces can lie in wait on a wide array of common surfaces. How long can germs live on surfaces? And what can you do to protect yourself and your health?
HOW LONG CAN GERMS LIVE ON SURFACES?
When germs are on the prowl, no place is safe. Buses, commuter trains, rental cars, and private vehicles transport both people and virulent germs. Retail establishments, health clubs, educational institutions, restaurants, hotel rooms, and even cruise ship cabins can shelter germs. In fact, practically anything that you touch can expose you to germs, putting your health at risk. According to the National Health Service, the lifespan of a germ varies depending on the type of germ and the surface that it is on. How long can germs live on surfaces? Below we explore a few common examples.
COLD GERMS
The common cold is a frequent source of misery. A variety of viruses can trigger it, and like other viruses, cold germs tend to survive for longer periods on hard, nonporous surfaces like desktops and handrails. On suitable indoor surfaces, cold germs can linger for days, but fortunately they rarely remain infectious for more than 24 hours. Cold viruses can also thrive on the skin, but their survival time there is generally measured in mere minutes or hours.
INFLUENZA GERMS
Viruses that cause influenza can survive in the air as droplets for hours and live on hard surfaces like phones and keyboards for up to 24 hours. Infectious flu viruses clinging to a tissue can last for about 15 minutes, but viruses on the hands tend to fade quickly. Most will be only a minimal threat after five minutes. It may be a small window of time, but influenza germs don’t warn you of their presence and can make you very sick if you’re unlucky enough to encounter them when they’re infectious.
NOROVIRUS GERMS
A highly contagious virus that triggers stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea in those unfortunate enough to catch it, a norovirus can spread through small droplets that travel through the air before settling on surfaces like elevator buttons, table tops, and clothing. While they don’t thrive as successfully on porous materials like tissues and fabrics, noroviruses can survive on hard surfaces for days or weeks if the conditions are favorable.
MRSA GERMS
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, the culprits behind dangerous MRSA infections, are unfazed by many of the antibiotics that are effective in combating other staph infections. Like viruses, these germs tend to survive for shorter periods on porous surfaces than they do on nonporous ones, but they’re capable of living for days or weeks on surfaces if the circumstances are right.
PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM GERMS
Everyone has seen it. If you’ve worked in restaurants or other public venues, you may even have wielded it: the dreaded wet, grey rag. Habitually passed over tabletops between customers with a few desultorily swipes, it is an obviously inadequate weapon when it comes to eradicating germs. But what is required to disinfect a surface?
DISINFECTING BASICS
If you want to kill the germs lurking on a surface, you need to choose an appropriate disinfectant. You also have to apply it properly. That means saturating the surface with enough of the germ-fighting chemical to get the job done and ensuring that there’s enough contact time (time when the chemical is on the surface) to allow it to eliminate any germs present. Choosing a low-grade disinfectant or skimping on either saturation or contact time can compromise your germ-fighting efforts, so it’s vital that you choose your products carefully and read and follow their directions.
Emergency Response Hotline
Get in touch with our 24/7 biohazard & crime scene cleaning team today
Hello 2020! The last year was exciting for our team and we are reflecting on our accomplishments since launching Bio-One of Asheville. We’ve sponsored TIP WNC’s volunteer holiday dinner and enjoyed giving back to officers at the Asheville Police Department with Thanksgiving gift baskets. We have enjoyed connecting with the Hendersonville Police Department and look forward to partnering in the New Year. We have met countless team members at apartment complexes across Asheville and Hendersonville, and our team has launched Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profiles sharing our journey. We hope you follow us! 
