How to Get Rid of Cat Pee Smell
Nov 12, 2020
I'm a cat owner. Always have been. And thankfully my kitties were good about using the litterbox or taking their business outside. EXCEPT for that Summer I fostered a stray cat and her large litter of kittens my children found outside. A couple of kittens decided the living room carpet in the far corner behind the furniture was their bathroom. No matter what I used – powders, sprays, vinegar, odor neutralizers – that unmistakable cat pee odor kept coming back, just like trick candles on a birthday cake. My house was starting to smell like a litter box.
That’s because when cat urine sits, the bacterium in it will decompose and give off an ammonia-like smell. (There is a second stage of the decomposition process which emits mercaptans, which are compounds that give skunks their strong characteristic odor). The uric acid in cat urine can last in carpets, fabrics, and wood for years! Although various products may neutralize the odors temporarily, a humid day can cause the uric acid to recrystallize, and that nasty "cat odor" will return.
So what are you supposed to do if you’re unsuccessfully battling that stink? It might be time to contact a professional odor remediation company. Bio-One is an odor removal specialist. We will need to identify the source of the smell in order to permanently eliminate it. That could mean removing carpet and flooring. Then the powerful, eco-friendly products and special equipment we use will eradicate the unpleasant odor once and for all. Give us a call – it will cost you nothing for us to come take a look!
By the way, future potty problems might be prevented by keeping kitty’s litter box very clean (they are called finicky for a reason!), and to make sure your feline has no underlying health issues.
Coronavirus Decontamination:
5 Things to Know When Calling a Professional
October 15, 2020
Have any of your employees or loved ones tested positive for Coronavirus? If so, you might be wondering what to do. If you decide to call a professional to decontaminate your workplace or home, then it is imperative you hire a licensed, experienced company.
Here are 5 questions to ask a company you are considering to hire:
1. What chemical are you using, and is it EPA approved for Coronavirus?
2. Are you properly insured? Ask to see their Certificate of Insurance (COI)
3. Is proper PPE (bio suits, gloves, booties, full face respirators) being utilized during the disinfection?
4. Are the technicians trained in CDC and OSHA Protocols?
5. Are you a federally registered company? Ask to see their EIN.
If they cannot provide these items, then they are likely not qualified to do this kind of work. Bio-One is the only company that is available nationwide and has extensive experience with infectious disease decontamination. All Bio-One franchise owners have been thoroughly trained, have the proper chemicals that are EPA approved, and have the proper PPE to ensure not only the safety of themselves, but also to minimize possible cross-contamination.
So, when should you call a professional? If you, someone that lives with you, or someone you came into contact with tested positive for Coronavirus, make that call. Professional decontamination ensures the best possible result and minimizes the potential spreading of the virus. However, if no one has tested positive, you may use one of the EPA approved products and try disinfecting on your own (be certain to apply the disinfectants per product specifications). If you don’t feel confident in your ability to disinfect properly, then you might want to have a professional do it. Professionals, such as Bio-One, are available around-the-clock and understand COVID-19 needs to be disinfected as quickly as possible.
It’s our job and privilege to keep you safe and healthy. Please don’t hesitate to call or email us with any questions you may have!
While out and about meeting folks at police and fire departments across Northeast Ohio last week, I was introduced to an important member of the Vienna Township Fire Department. His name is Oscar. He is a cat.
The kitty showed up at the firehouse about 5 years ago, cold and hungry. The firefighters brought him inside to give him some food and make sure he had a warm place to sleep. It was the night of the Oscars on TV – the cat’s fur coincidentally looked like a tuxedo – so the name “Oscar” seemed fitting.
Oscar never left. In fact, he NEVER steps outside the fire station, even when the loud alarms are going off. Fire Chief Richard Brannon believes Oscar’s purpose is to be here. This cat seems to have an uncanny knack of knowing when someone is stressed and needs to be calmed. There was a horrific accident last Summer, for instance, when the chief returned to the firehouse troubled by what he saw. Oscar knew immediately something was up, and settled onto Chief Brannon’s lap, stretching his front legs up to the chief’s neck, as if he were giving him a hug.
Oscar, though, was the source of a little stress on one occasion. As he sometimes does, Oscar playfully batted at the telephone, knocking it off the hook. He then fell asleep with his paw on the 911 alarm. Dispatchers tried unsuccessfully calling the fire station, but thankfully were able to reach one of the firefighters before dispatching a full emergency response.
Oscar slept through it all.
Check on Your Loved One
SEP 04, 2020
Many of us have an older parent living alone. And despite our best intentions, we don't get to visit as often as we'd like or hope to. This could be a fatal mistake.
This week our Bio-One technicians have responded to an increased number of undiscovered deaths - people living alone who passed away with no one knowing. Some were dead for days, a couple others were there for weeks before anyone noticed they were gone. On more than one occasion it was the smell of decomposition that alerted people living nearby something was wrong.
Decompositions are more numerous in the Summer months. They could be more frequent due to the heat contributing to the cause of death, but the heat is definitely a part of why they are discovered. On the business side of things, the more a body decomposes, the more damage can be caused to the property Carpet often has to be removed, and in more severe cases, we might need to remove two layers of subfloor in order to properly eliminate bio-hazards/body fluids. It can even go as far as having to demo walls and cabinets, or else the smell and hazards will continue to be present.
This is our job, but our hearts break a little each time. And even if you are visiting loved ones regularly, realize they may not always be straightforward about how they’re doing on their own - perhaps they don’t want you to worry. This year, due to COVID 19, many seniors had no choice but to stay isolated. However, there are programs to help you keep tabs. The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) launched a free, daily check-in phone service for Ohio’s older residents called "Staying Connected." Also check your local community. The city of Cuyahoga Falls, for instance, has a program called "Senior Watch" - if someone cannot reach your loved one by phone, then a police officer will go to the home. Efforts like these could give you peace of mind in knowing you are doing all you can.
The Business of Helping People
August 27, 2020
After the police are gone and the yellow tape has been cut, who is responsible for remediating crime scenes? The job is much more than cleaning up blood, tissue, human waste, or toxic drug residue. Bio-One’s technicians are the unseen force that restore normalcy and stability to the families affected.
Historically, crime scene cleanup has usually been done by the victim's family. For many, facing the ghastly scene of such personal trauma was too much to bear and had lasting effects. In addition, scientific advancements in the 20th century have raised concerns over exposure to bloodborne pathogens and chemical residue. The need for trained technicians has given way to Bio-One being one of the nation’s leading crime scene clean up companies.
We never know what we’re going to walk in to, so we go in with the mindset that we’re here to help and will do whatever it takes to get that family and their home back in order. Knowing we are helping is how we handle the things we see and touch.
We keep our work as discreet as we can, and that’s why you will never see our name on our trucks. If there were a suicide or homicide in your neighborhood, it’s true that you would want to know. But, the details are not ours to share and we certainly want to respect the privacy of such delicate matters for the family members.
This job is not for everyone because the work can be both physically and emotionally taxing. On the other hand, it is one of the most rewarding professions one can do.
There truly are jobs that make us lose our faith in humanity but then when the work is complete and the family members cannot thank us enough for helping them, we realize why we personally are in this business and why our employees are so dedicated.
If you ever know anyone who may need our services OR you are interested in helping others, please don’t hesitate to contact BioOne Akron.
Losing a loved one in an accident is incomprehensibly painful. The seeming unfairness and randomness of the moment is almost impossible to accept at first as grieving friends and family members try to rationalize what happened. They often feel guilty for not doing enough to prevent the death despite the fact that the incident was entirely out of their control. But nobody can prepare for the sudden and unexpected. Accidental deaths are by definition unnatural and unintentional. They include slips and falls, traffic accidents, poisonings, accidental weapon wounds, drownings, fire injuries, head traumas, industrial accidents, choking deaths, explosions, and natural disasters. Fatal accidents have always been a leading cause of death in America. But unfortunately, they are becoming more common.
According to the non-profit National Safety Council, accidental deaths increased 96 percent over the last 25 years. Though they decreased significantly between 1950 and 1980, fatal accidents have been growing rapidly since the mid-1990s.Despite our innovation in creating safer technologies, today’s rate of 52.2 deaths per 100,000 people hasn’t been seen since the mid-1970s. Now, accidents are the number one leading cause of death for people aged 1 to 44, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For all demographics, they are the third leading cause of death nationwide, with 169,936 deaths reported by the CDC in 2017.
While researchers have not reached a consensus on why accidental deaths are increasing, the NSC points to three trends to explain the rise, including increases in poisonings, motor vehicle deaths and falls among older adults. All of these injuries are preventable, they say, arguing on their website that institutions “have not consistently prioritized safety at work, at home and on the road”. Poisonings, the leading unintentional injury among CDC data, increased 11 percent between 2016 and 2017 . The NSC attributes the growth to the opioid crisis, which claimed the lives of 47,000 Americans in 2017 .
To put the CDC data into perspective, 466 people die from accidental injuries every day The number of friends and family members affected by the death of a loved one is even higher, resulting in an ever-growing community of people who must find ways to manage their grief. Bio-One works with these families every day to facilitate their steps towards recovery.
When fatal accidents happen, we dedicate our resources to helping families restore their home or business in a safe, private and efficient manner. Because first responders do not decontaminate crime scenes after they respond to a call, we step in to ensure that families are not exposed to disease and other dangers. Crime scenes harbor harmful bloodborne pathogens that contaminate the immediate area, leaving everyone on the property vulnerable to Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Our licensed technicians use powerful, environmentally safe chemicals to thoroughly disinfect the area so you can rest assured that your family will be safe. We work with an appreciation for your valuables and will replace furnishings if need be. In hoarding situations, we remove clutter that may present a danger to other inhabitants, including feces and other biological waste.
When you give us a call at your local Bio-One office, we’ll immediately connect you with a representative that will address your unique situation. Because we value your time during this difficult moment, a team will be dispatched to your home or business within an hour to complete the service. When they arrive, they’ll come in unmarked vehicles to safeguard your privacy. Our team approaches their work with the sensitivity it demands and endeavors to address your needs with the compassion it deserves. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We are on standby 24/7/365.
We often forget about the people left behind in the wake of a homicide. News stories reveal who died but often fail to identify how their death impacts their loved ones. When someone is murdered, their family, friends and significant others endure one of the most traumatic experiences that anyone can face. These survivors are some of the least researched crime victims in America, and they are everywhere. According to the most recent FBI data, 16,214 Americans were murdered in 2018. For every one of those individuals an average of 7 to 10 relatives were severely impacted, according to an estimate by Lu Redmond, a homicide grief expert.
If the murder rate remains consistent, Redmond’s estimate means between 113,000 and 162,000 Americans will become homicide survivors each year. That’s in addition to the pool of survivors who already lost loved ones in previous years. Though the lack of research makes it impossible to quantify how many total homicide survivors there are in America, the number is high enough to warrant concern for how they are treated by health professionals.
For survivors, the grieving process is almost impossible to endure. Though loved ones will grieve in different ways depending on their relationship with the victim, the loss is shocking, unimaginable and absolute. They never had a chance to say goodbye to their loved one, and the plans they both shared will never come to fruition. This realization may be sudden. In some cases, it may take years. Some survivors find it difficult to accept a loved one’s death at first, resulting in a delayed reaction that is triggered by a situation that reminds them of the victim. According to the National Center of Victims of Crime, grief symptoms include shock, disbelief, numbness, changes in appetite and sleeping patterns, difficulty concentrating, anger, confusion, increased anxiety and fear. Financial loss, depression and family conflict are also common symptoms.
Discovering a murdered loved one in the home can trigger post traumatic stress disorder. After the first responders leave the scene, some survivors may feel compelled to clean up the aftermath themselves. Confused that the paramedics don’t complete this work, they may think the cleanup process is their responsibility and act immediately. After all, they want to restore the scene as quickly as possible. Operating in a state of shock, they’ll remove the blood stains, body tissue and contaminated materials from the home without recognizing the threat to their physical and mental health. In addition to exposing their body to dangerous bloodborne pathogens, survivors may experience traumatic flashbacks of the experience in the future and suffer from heightened anxiety and emotional numbness. These PTSD symptoms prolong the recovery process, making it even more difficult for survivors to cope with their new lives.
Bio-One works with communities across the nation to avoid this outcome. We employ certified technicians that respond to scenes of violent crime and clean up dangerous biohazards that pose a threat to you and your family. When we receive a request for our services, we’ll send a team to the job site within an hour to assess your situation and perform a comprehensive cleaning solution that restores the property. Our powerful, environmentally friendly chemicals eradicate harmful pathogens that spread Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV, giving you assurance that you will be safe long after the area is decontaminated. We’ll dispose of the infected materials that cannot be salvaged and replace flooring and other furnishings if we need to. Once the area is thoroughly cleaned, we’ll return it to its pre-incident state so you can focus on recovering.
We conduct this work because we want to help people who have been left to deal with a difficult, painful task. That’s why our company motto is “Help first, business second.” We don’t ask for payment until after the job is complete because we want to remove the safety threat from your home as quickly as you do. Every person on our team will arrive on-site with an understanding of the trauma you are going through and a respect for your privacy and personal needs. Contact your local Bio-One office today and we’ll immediately connect you with a representative that can assist you. We are available 24/7/365.
Although eight years have passed since the world’s top mental health experts classified hoarding as a unique compulsive disorder, the problem persists throughout the country. Researchers say that up to 20 million Americans suffer from this illness, which is described as an obsessive tendency to accumulate troves of objects with no practical value.Because hoarding is historically stigmatized and underdiagnosed, this number is likely a conservative estimate. Even more troubling, hoarding is expected to increase as the population ages and mortality rates rise. But the studies that dole out these numbers understandably focus on hoarders over other stakeholders in the community. Hoarders’ actions impact far more people than reflected in the data. Fires and collapsing structures caused by unstable hoarding situations jeopardize the safety of neighbors and government workers. Even animals suffer. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a quarter of a million animals are hoarded each year. But the people afflicted by the disorder’s worst consequences often live in the same household as the hoarder.
Families deteriorate as high levels of dysfunction, increased conflict and financial uncertainty hinder intimacy and devastate the emotional wellbeing of everyone in the home. Objects overwhelm the space and are guarded zealously by hoarders who are pathologically unable to discard anything they deem valuable. Hoarded items commonly include old newspapers, rotting food, cardboard boxes, pets, excessive piles of clothes and furniture that dominates the home. Space becomes constricted and practically unlivable, prompting hoarders to carve narrow passageways out of the clutter to navigate between rooms.
But despite the extreme measures’ hoarders take to endure these living conditions, the situation cannot be controlled. There is no space for shared activities among the family and no room to use necessary facilities like ovens, showers and beds. In fact, the concept of “space” alters entirely. Children may have to sleep on couches in the living room or in bed with parents to circumvent the clutter. Activities like eating, reading and sleeping are subject to the limitations of space and the normalcy of disorder.
The effect of living like this leads to feelings of isolation, depression and vulnerability. Confounded by the fact that the hoarding family member is usually controlling, stubborn and sensitive to criticism, other people in the home often feel undervalued and powerless. Any attempts to remove the clutter are met with fierce opposition and outrage by the hoarder, who suffers from severe distress when confronted with the notion of losing their valuables. Aware of these consequences, the family usually lives in isolation, refusing to invite friends and relatives over to the home out of embarrassment. These claustrophobic conditions extend to the mind, which is overwhelmed by feelings of frustration, helplessness and anxiety. Financial strains ensue as the hoarder spends money on items that have no discernable value to other family members. As the acquisition of objects greatly outweighs the removal of other objects, credit limits are reached and space disappears, leading to home maintenance fees, financial debt and increasingly frequent family altercations.
Onlooking children often find themselves torn between parents in these situations. Child protective services may be invoked at some point, breaking up the family and degrading the bond between child and parent even further. This possibility weighs heavily on the minds of older children, who often feel compelled to silence for fear that they will be relocated by the authorities. Child protective services are often justified in removing them from the home. Households governed by an extreme hoarder are vulnerable to disease, air pollutants, pests and fires. Children in these homes also face stunted social and cognitive growth as they endure harsh living conditions and parental strife. Moreover, research indicates that hoarding behaviors are learned and adopted by the children of hoarders, who may subsequently pass these tendencies down to their own kids.
The strains that hoarding places on families illustrates why reaching out for help is so important. If you or a loved one are affected by this destructive disorder, please contact Bio-One for assistance. We remediate homes affected by hoarding on a daily basis and can connect you with tools that can help. We are on standby 24/7/365.
Akron, Ohio, October 1st, 2019 – Bio-One Inc. has announced the opening of its newest office, in the Akron 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 serve the Akron area, and surrounding areas, as well as assist all other franchised locations.
Bio-One located in Akron is owned by lifelong Akron residents Babs and Cuyler Costanzo. After spending years in the corporate world, Babs and Cuyler chose to start Bio-One to become more involved in serving their community and helping families in their greatest time of need.
"This is quite an honor for us, to have Babs and Cuyler own an office in the Akron area. The fact that we found a local man and woman who have a passion to help their community gives us great pride at our corporate office that we have the right people owning an office in Akron,” said Jason OBrien, CEO of Bio-One Inc. “Having Babs and Cuyler aboard signals that our constant efforts towards business and service excellence are paying off. We are proud to include Babs and Cuyler and their Bio-One office in our Bio-One family. They exemplify our company motto of Help First, Business Second."
For more information on Bio-One in Akron, please call Babs and Cuyler at (330) 888-5665 or visit www.BioOneAkron.com.
“Bio-One is here to help and serve our community when those are in need”
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.biooneakron.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
SOURCE BIO-ONE INC.
CONTACTS:
Bio-One
Babs and Cuyler Costanzo
(330) 888-5665
Info@BioOneAkron.com
Bio-One Inc.
Jason OBrien CEO
720-463-3004
