Different types of bloodborne pathogens render the process of cleaning up blood potentially dangerous, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Indeed, the CDC provides significant resources addressing blood safety, including safe cleanup practices associated with blood.
Common Bloodborne Pathogens
There is a trio of dangerous bloodborne pathogens that are most common. These are:
- HIV
- Hepatitis B
- Hepatitis C
HIV
HIV generally is considered to be a sexually transmitted infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. With that said, it can be transmitted outside an occasion of sexual activity when a person has direct contact with HIV contaminated blood.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a bloodborne virus that can cause a serious liver infection.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is also a bloodborne virus that can cause a serious liver infection.
Other less common, but highly dangerous, bloodborne pathogens include:
- Human T-Lymphotropic virus
- Syphilis
- West Nile virus
In addition to these pathogens, blood may also contain different types of dangerous bacteria. This particularly is the case if blood is associated with an unattended death, where the remains of a person that suffered a traumatic death but was not promptly discovered. Bacteria can be present in this type of situation within a short time after a person dies in a traumatic manner.
Blood Cleanup Safety Gear
Due to the potentially dangerous nature of blood, if you are a person involved in blood cleanup, you must have the proper gear:
- Disposable gloves
- Protective gown
- Protective cap
- Mask
- Eye protection
Blood Cleanup on Carpeted Floors
Blood cleanup on carpeted floors presents particular challenges. Indeed, this represents one of the most difficult types of blood cleanup scenarios because of the absorbent nature of carpeting.
The steps involved in blood cleanup on carpeted floors are:
- Put on proper safety gear
- Secure the area immediately
- When possible, work quickly (blood can harden as well as absorb deeply into the carpet in a short period of time)
- Use appropriate cleaning and sanitizing products that possess effective antimicrobial properties
- Steam clean carpet
- Consider removing and properly disposing of carpeting, following biohazard disposal protocols
Blood Cleanup on Hard Floors
The blood cleanup process is a bit easier on hard floors, although no less dangerous. Hard floors include:
- Tile
- Ceramic
- Vinyl
- Linoleum
- Metal
- Wood
- Cement
- Other (generally) non-absorbent flooring
The steps involved in blood cleanup on hard floors are:
- Put on proper safety gear
- Secure the area immediately
- Wipe up as much of the blood spill as possible
- Make sure materials used to mop up the spill are disposed of properly
- Slowly pour bleach solution onto blood spill zone (1 part bleach to 9 parts water)
- Allow the solution to remain on the spill zone for 20 minutes
- Wipe up the bleach solution and dispose of mopping materials properly
Blood Cleanup on Furniture
Blood cleanup on furniture mimics what is done on floors. The course to take when it comes to blood cleanup on furniture depends on whether fabric or hard surfaces are involved. Many items of furniture contain both elements.
Blood Cleanup in a Pool
If a pool is properly maintained, and the amount of blood that enters the water is not tremendous, nothing needs to be done in the way of blood cleanup. The chemicals in the pool water, specifically the chlorine, address the issue. The CDC reports that there has never been a report of a person contracting a bloodborne pathogen as the result of exposure to contaminated blood in pool water. Some people temporarily close a pool in which the blood is spilled in the interests of allaying fears of other individuals, although there is no evidence that this is necessary.
Professional Blood Cleanup Assistance
Due to the hazardous nature of the blood cleanup process, retaining the professional assistance of a blood cleaning service is advisable. This is the case when anything beyond a small amount of blood is involved. This definitely is the case if blood is associated with some sort of traumatic death that was not immediately discovered.
A biohazard remediation service has the necessary protective gear as well as cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing supplies to safely and effectively address a blood cleanup situation. In addition, a professional is able to ensure that all the blood is removed and the space is fully sanitized. This is important because any remnant of contamination can expose people to hazardous materials in the future. Proper cleanup, sanitization, and deodorization are vital in order to ensure that the space where the incident occurred which resulted in the release of the blood is habitable in the future.