"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
“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
"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
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
~Leonard Cohen
Take a moment to consider your surroundings. Do you feel safe? Do you have access to health care and grocery stores? Does your home support you, both physically and mentally?
This Mental Health Month, challenge yourself to look at your world and how different factors can affect your mental health. Where a person is born, lives, learns, works, plays, and gathers, as well as their economic stability and social connections, are part of what is called “social determinants of health” (SDOH). The more these factors work in your favor means you are more likely to have better mental well-being. However, when it seems like the world is working against you, your mental health can suffer.
While many parts of your environment can be out of your control, there are steps you can take to change your space and protect your well-being.
• Work toward securing safe and stable housing: This can be challenging due to finances, age, and other reasons, but there are a few things you can try, such as reaching out to state/local agencies to secure housing, removing safety hazards in the home, or finding another space (such as a community center or friend’s home) where you can get the comfort you are missing at home.
• Focus on your home: Consider keeping your space tidy, sleep-friendly, and well-ventilated. Surround yourself with items that help you feel calm and positive.
• Create bonds with your neighborhood and community: Get to know the people living around you, join or start neighbors-helping-neighbors groups and support local businesses to challenge gentrification.
• Connect with nature: Hike in a forest, sit in a city park, bring a plant inside, or keep the shades open to absorb natural light.
If you’re taking steps to improve your surroundings but are still struggling with your mental health, you may be experiencing signs of a mental health condition. Take a free, private screening at mhascreening.org to help you figure out what is going on and determine next steps.
The world around us can be both positive and negative – bringing joy and sadness, hope and anxiety. Learn more with Mental Health America’s 2023 Mental Health Month toolkit, which provides free, practical resources, such as how an individual’s environment impacts their mental health, suggestions for making changes to improve and maintain mental well-being, and how to seek help for mental health challenges. Go to mhanational.org/may to learn more.
Memorial Day honors those who have died while serving in the United States military. On this date, Bio-One Columbus is honoring those who have died serving our country and protecting our freedom. We are grateful for their sacrifice.
Did you know?
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
“The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”
~Lady Bird Johnson
What do I do if a Homeless Encampment Appears on my property?
When you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having an encampment appear on your property, there are steps to take to deal with the situation. In Ohio, over 10,000 people are homeless at any given time. While homeless encampments are often the outcome of housing insecurity, untreated mental health and/or substance abuse problems, they are unsafe and contribute to health dangers such as environmental hazards, physical health issues, biological waste, and infestations of rodents.
First and foremost, understand and take care when addressing the situation. Confrontations with inhabitants of these encampments can result in unwanted outcomes with the potential for violence and physical harm. Compassion can often result in an effective resolution to the situation.
Second, contact city code enforcement (Code Enforcement at columbus.gov). The contact will depend on location of the camp (e.g., inside or outside city limits). City code enforcement will contact the police and the Columbus Department of Public Works for assistance in notifying the residents of the zoning laws.
Third, contact Bio-One Columbus for a free estimate. Homeless encampments often contain biohazards such as human waste, piles of trash, hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia. Clean up requires a professional team with the training and personal protective equipment to safely and effectively remove all trash and regulated waste in order to make the area safe again. Bio-One Columbus will survey the area free of charge, create a customized remediation plan and provide a reasonable estimate to clean the site safely and in a timely way.
Lastly, encourage those living in the camp to seek help from local resources detailed on the Homeless Hotline resource page (columbushomeless.org)
Bio-One Columbus is honoring Earth Day by rallying behind 2023's theme “Invest In Our Planet.” This year's theme highlights the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues. Investing in our planet is necessary to protect it and the best way to pave a path towards a prosperous future. When we Invest In Our Planet together, we are supporting healthy, happy, and wealthy communities worldwide. Visit earthday.org for more information.
"Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush."
~Doug Larson
Happy Spring! Spring is a time for renewal, brighter days and cleaning 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.
You may already have a long to-do list. Don't forget these additional tips!
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.
Spring Cleaning Fun Facts
Becky Vetters is Bio-One Columbus's second Project Manager and has been with the company for over a year. Becky epitomizes our "Help First, Business Second" business model. She left her corporate job of 18 years to pursue her passion with Bio-One of helping others find hope and relief in a space that previously kept them from living their best life.
She believes that the most meaningful part of working with Bio-One Columbus is providing a safe, clean and organized space for customers, especially those who struggle with making decisions. Becky has an intuitive understanding of the anxiety of not knowing what to expect and being able to reassure clients they are part of the process to reduce their feelings of being overwhelmed. She enjoys helping clients have that happiness and confirmation that anxiety could be overcome with Bio-One's help and support.
In her spare time, Becky loves reading and doing puzzles. Bio-One Columbus is grateful to have her experience and dedication in the Project Manager role!
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://www.bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus
