“In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.”
~ Fred Rogers
April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month with the goal of bringing attention to the negative impact of stress.
What is stress? Stress is a normal reaction to everyday pressures, but can become unhealthy when it upsets your day-to-day functioning. Stress involves changes impacting nearly every system of the body and can impact how people feel and behave.
Stress is in the eye of the beholder so what may stress you out may not stress another person. For example, one person packing up an apartment to move can be see that as a "good" stress and feel excited -- while another person may feel completely overwhelmed and see this move as a "bad" stress, causing anxiety, stomach aches and low motivation.
It’s important to recognize what stress and anxiety look like, take steps to build resilience, and know where to go for help. Managing stress is an crucial component of a healthy lifestyle and reduced mortality rates. Knowing how to manage stress can improve mental and physical well-being as well as minimize exacerbation of health-related issues.
Check out our stress management tips and resources below! If you are feeling stressed out about clutter, hoarding conditions, hazardous biological material, animal waste or other challenging environmental conditions, call us today at 614-743-1795 for a free consultation. We're happy to support your efforts to lower your stress level.
For more information about stress management, visit these resources:
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
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"Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it's a rebirth of the spirit."
~Toni Sorenson
Happy First Full Day of Spring! Spring is starting a little earlier than usual this year. because of the Leap Year -- we hope you enjoy this early arrival. Spring is a time for renewal, brighter days and decluttering after a long winter.
Whether you own a single-family home or manage a larger set of properties, there is routine maintenance and cleaning that can be done to make the rest of the year go smoothly.
Here are some tips to get your Spring Cleaning off to a great start:
If you are doing routine maintenance or spring-cleaning tasks and find yourself faced with piles of clutter, strong odors, rodent droppings or unexpected biohazard materials, please call Bio-One Columbus for assistance. We are experts in professionally and efficiently cleaning spaces of all sizes and in varying degrees of disorder. Call us today at 614-743-1795 for a free consultation.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
"Clutter isn’t just the stuff on the floor. It’s anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living"
~Peter Walsh
Senior Independence Month is celebrated in February and focuses on keeping older adults safe and healthy in their homes and apartments. Research by Princeton University shows that our environment can positively or negatively impact our ability to complete tasks as well as our overall mental health. If the physical space around us feels scattered, it’s likely our mental space will feel the same.
In fact, studies demonstrate that by removing or controlling clutter, we can directly reduce the stress and potential physical harm that stems from the mess. Decluttering leads to health benefits, including:
Older adults are at higher risk for cluttered housing, especially if they struggle with chronic health conditions. Keeping them safe and happy at home allows for a better quality of life.
Remember, while clutter can be overwhelming, it can be removed and organized. Bio-One Columbus specializes in decluttering homes professionally, quickly and efficiently, with a level of detail that is difficult to achieve if you're trying to do it alone.
Life is stressful enough with daily tasks and workloads. Call us today if you or someone you know has a living space overwhelmed with clutter and who needs support staying at home safely.
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Hallways
Bedrooms
Basements
Garages
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
~John Holmes
Bio-One Columbus provides 24/7 death, crime scene, suicide cleanup and other biohazard cleanup services from trusted, experienced, and discreet professionals serving Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you’re in law enforcement, government, property management, or a local resident, Bio-One of Columbus has over a decade of experience serving you.
We guarantee:
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
“You are not weak for struggling. You are strong for continuing to fight.”
~Anonymous
Ohio ranks 5th in the nation in drug overdose deaths, with over 5,300 deaths in 2021 alone. One of the leading causes of drug overdose deaths is fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is used in medical settings as a pain reliever. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Illegally manufactured fentanyl is routinely found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and other non-regulated substances.
Production and use of fentanyl-containing products can lead to fentanyl contamination in homes, vehicles and drug laboratories. These pose a serious health threat to first responders, law enforcement and anyone entering a contaminated area. Exposure to even a very small amount of fentanyl can lead to compromised breathing, respiratory arrest and death.
If you come across a scene with possible fentanyl exposure, do not enter or attempt to clean it up yourself. Avoid disturbing the area or touching your eyes, hands or mouth after touching any potentially contaminated surface, even if you are wearing gloves. Restrict access to the area, and call Bio-One Columbus. Our trained technicians can safely decontaminate the scene with state-of-the-art equipment and proper safety and isolation gear.
The prevalence of fentanyl in Columbus is both astounding and tragic. Anytime we remediate the scene of a death by overdose, we have to suspect fentanyl, and it’s confirmed in a high percentage of our field tests.
I tell all my law enforcement contacts, property managers and anyone who may find themselves on a contaminated scene, that it is truly an immediate life threat.
Fentanyl is measured in micrograms not milligrams, so the smallest amount can knock out your respiratory drive and stop your breathing. I highly encourage people not to try to clean these scenes up themselves.
For anyone who is currently struggling with opioid or other substance addiction, there is hope and help.
If you feel that you or someone else is in immediate danger or is experiencing a drug overdose, call 911 immediately.
Signs of overdose include the following:
If you or a loved are experiencing a mental health or substance abuse related emergency call the Netcare Access Crisis Hotline: 614-276-CARE (2273) or call the Opiate Crisis Line:614-724-HOPE (4673), which is available Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm.
You can also call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 24/7/365 at 1-800-662-4357 or visit https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings."
~William Arthur Ward
At Bio-One Columbus, we have many things to be thankful for this November. We are always grateful for our customers who trust us to do the difficult and life-altering work in stressful times. We know you have a choice in biohazard remediation companies and appreciate your confidence in us!
This month, we'd especially like to celebrate and thank our community partner, LOSS Community Services here in Franklin County. We recently had the privilege to sponsor and attend the 12th Annual National LOSS Team Suicide Postvention Conference in Columbus, Ohio. This year's theme, "From a Mission to a Movement" perfectly captured the passion and commitment to the work done by LOSS Community Services teams nation-wide. We were humbled by those who shared their stories with us and deeply appreciate the opportunity to support such important work. LOSS Community Services has a mission to be an instillation of hope to those bereaved by suicide, empowering survivors so they can thrive.
Finally, our gratitude to Bill Muir from Bio-One Chicago for coming to support the networking table at the conference and for Krista Gregg, Marketing Director at Bio-One, Inc. for her willingness to speak on the topic of "Advocating for Survivors During Biohazard Remediation." We appreciate you!
LOSS Community Services envisions a community of loss survivors experiencing a restoration of hope and standing together for suicide awareness.
The services they provide include working with First Responders to immediately deploy a team of trained volunteers to provide resources, understanding and support to the newly bereaved. LOSS Community Services also provides support groups, remembrance events, companioning, suicide postvention and prevention education, and training to other communities interested in developing or enhancing their suicide prevention and postvention efforts. For more information, visit LOSS's website.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, know there is help. Please call or text 988 -- you’ll connect with mental health professionals with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Intentionally practicing gratitude and thanks on a daily basis may seem a little corny. However, research shows that practicing gratitude and being thankful can lead to a host of physical, mental and social benefits.
For example, thanking someone can increase our own personal happiness and lead to higher levels of life satisfaction. Practicing gratitude also increases optimism and empathy.
Being grateful to others can reduce inflammation, improve sleep and increase our energy levels. Gratitude also improves job satisfaction and leads to healthier relationships with others.
Happy Thanksgiving from our Bio-One Columbus family to yours. We hope you have a peaceful holiday!
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
“Asking for others guidance helps you see what you may not be able to see. It’s always important to check your ego and ask for help.”
– Ken Blanchard
You've heard the adage that asking for help somehow means being "weak," "not smart enough," or "dependent." Yet in this world, we never truly do things on our own -- as leaders, parents, family members, colleagues, and friends, the connection and engagement with others keeps us healthy and happy.
If you find a tenant or a family member who has gotten overwhelmed with cleaning, decluttering or managing their household safety, this is definitely not a time to go it alone.
On a practical level, while you want to help the person right away by potentially cleaning a cluttered and unsanitary space, it may lead to a host of additional issues, such as:
Please contact us to remove the hazards for you -- that way you don't waste time trying to figure out what you don't know, and you'll have more time to do the things that matter.
At Bio-One of Columbus, our trained technicians will:
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of this month and our newsletter theme of Asking for Help, we offer this information and reminders as a way to support all of us in our health journey.
Breast cancer can have combinations of symptoms, especially when it is more advanced. Most people will not experience any symptoms when the cancer is still early.
Symptoms of breast cancer can include:
Please seek medical care if you find a lump in your breast, even if the lump does not hurt.
Most breast lumps are not cancer. Breast lumps that are cancerous are more likely to be successfully treated when they are small and have not spread to nearby lymph nodes. Be sure to do your breast self-exam monthly and reach out for medical advice asap if you find a lump.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.
~Vaclav Havel
Suicide Prevention: Be There, Be The One To Help
September marks National Suicide Prevention Month – a month to remember the lives lost to suicide, the millions of people who have struggled with suicidal ideation, and acknowledge the individuals, families, and communities that have been impacted. It is also a time to raise awareness about suicide prevention and share messages of hope.
Suicide is a public health problem because of its far-reaching effects:
Suicide prevention is everyone’s business. Be there and be the one to ask, keep them safe and help them connect to crisis resources.
Safeguard the people in your life from the risk of suicide and support them:
Bio-One Columbus frequently partners with LOSS- Franklin County. Their mission is to be an instillation of hope to those bereaved by suicide, empowering survivors so they can thrive, with their vision to create a community of loss survivors experiencing a restoration of hope and standing together for suicide awareness. If you are in need of their services or know someone who can benefit, please visit their website.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
"Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality."
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
It is clear that post COVID-19, there continues to be a separation and distance from friends and family that has been challenging to overcome as we "return to normal." We see an increase in isolation in many people, especially those with mental health and/or physical health difficulties, older adults, those with competing demands of work & multiple family stressors. The recent uptick in the new COVID variant may fuel a return to isolation and lack of connectivity.
All of us are human and have problems arise at times. Your tenants may experience personal situations that result in difficulty paying rent or in keeping their spaces clean. It is not uncommon for owners to discover severe hoarding issues, unattended deaths, and other biohazard concerns that are weeks, months or even years old. These have a negative impact on the value of your property and require complex biohazard cleanup in order to restore safety and functionality to the home.
Social connectedness is a strong determinant of proactive remediation of these problems as well as improved health of your tenants. Making routine and positive communication a core component of your management style will go a long way at supporting them and identifying problems before they get overwhelming. For example, integrating routine furnace filter changes, checking the batteries in smoke detectors, or inspecting household appliances can allow access to the home to promote safety and ensure that conditions in the home meet the standards set out in your rental agreement.
We understand that taking the time to engage with tenants may seem difficult but the short investment of time is a long-term strategy for success and trust. As a reliable and consistent landlord, your connection to resources and demonstration of humanity and kindness will help you maintain quality, long-term tenants.
Bio-One Columbus is here to support you when situations may prove overwhelming for tenants or the unexpected tragedy happens. We promise professionalism and non-judgmental services. Our unmarked vehicles and experienced technicians ensure discretion.
Biohazard situations come in infinite forms. We have the tools and experience necessary to handle all of them, including unattended death, hoarding cleanup, crime scene cleanup, sewage/feces cleanup and many others. For more information, please visit our website.
Please take the time to check in on your tenants today and call us for a free estimate should the need arise. Calls are answered 24/7 and we will ensure timely and professional follow-up.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”
~Saadi
by Tim Lockard, Owner Bio-One Columbus
It was a Monday in June, and we were half a day into a week-long project. The home in which we were working was moving its way through the docket of the Franklin County Environmental Courts for several code violations involving unsafe conditions due to excessive clutter, non-functioning mechanicals and general unsanitary living conditions.
It’s not uncommon for us to be working in a home that Code Enforcement has “Red Tagged”, a status in which the owner(s) may not legally occupy the residence until safety violations have been remedied. In this particular home, we were tasked with removing what ended up being approximately 17 tons of non-salvageable clothing, household items, furniture, appliances and trash.
On that particular Monday in June, Becky, one of my Project Managers, called me over to show me something she’d found while sorting for family photographs and other irreplaceable items in a waist-deep pile of mostly trash in the living room. It was one of my business cards.
Having gone through several styles of cards over the years, I recognized it as being at least five years old. Someone in the client’s life had given her my card, and she’d kept it for all those years without calling until just recently. It makes me wonder how her life might have been impacted had she called sooner.
There are many reasons a home can reach this degree of dysfunction and why it takes people a long period of time to reach out for help. Compulsive Hoarding Disorder (also known as Hoarding Disorder) is a mental disorder characterized by accumulation of possessions due to excessive acquisition of or difficulty discarding them, regardless of their actual value (APA). This leads to significant distress or impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
While this disorder is often a root cause of the clutter and decline in function, we find that most of our clients living in hoarding-like conditions don’t have a formal diagnosis. Most would describe themselves as struggling with periodic bouts of depression and living with some degree of physical disability (often age-related). They may hide their condition from family, friends, doctors and others. The shame, embarrassment, fear, and overwhelming anxiety around compulsive hoarding and possible consequences can paralyze the person's decision-making capabilities.
It reminded me of another client who had my card for eleven months and had even set a daily reminder in her phone to call me. Eleven months was how long it took her to work up the courage to call. When she finally called, I told her that she’d called the right place and that we could help. I remember her sobbing through the phone with relief that she had finally made the call and was met with compassion and concern, rather than shame.
These are our clients, and regardless of the reasons that they find themselves living in these conditions, we help to restore the functionality and safety in their homes. We do this without judgment and with respect for their right to dignity and self-determination. I know we’ve made an indelible, positive impact on those lives and many others. It’s why we do what we do.
If someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or in an unhealthy living situation, but is struggling to ask for help, there are many ways to help them.
Here are a couple of tips, whether you are a friend, family member or an acquaintance:
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
