If you hear fluttering, squeaking and other strange noises in the night, you likely have unwelcome guests living behind your walls. Bats are among the most troublesome. Because most species are endangered, federal law prevents you from harming or killing them. That means you cannot seal off entry points in your home while they are roosting inside. Doing so jeopardizes the safety of young bats who do not know how to fly. In lieu of starving to death, the adults will force themselves into your living space out of desperation, resulting in an unsettling experience for you and an often-fatal encounter for them. The complexities of removing them from your home make it easy to pass the problem off for another day. But you’ll want to act quickly. While bats are helpful to humans for controlling bug populations and stymieing the spread of the fatal mosquito borne Zika virus, they are dangerous. But not in the way you might think. Only about six percent of bats carry rabies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and they hardly ever attack people .The far greater risk to your health comes from guano—or bat excrement.
Guano are black, shiny pellets that crumble to the touch. You’ll find them directly underneath a roost and around entry points, and they’re usually accompanied by dark, muddy-looking urine stains. Because bats eat a third of their body weight in insects each day, they can produce voluminous heaps of excrement in just a couple of weeks. The size of the buildup depends on the number of bats in your home and the length of time they are unattended. In severe cases, these piles will grow several feet high. But if you have large masses of guano in your home, it will become apparent quickly. An overwhelming odor, distinct to bat guano, will emanate from the roost and attract other invasive pests, like cockroaches and beetles.
A few scattered pellets can be swept up without a problem. But when guano pile up, they become a culture medium for fungi. When unaware homeowners try to remove these crumbling heaps of feces, noxious spores that cause histoplasmosis—a life-threatening lung disease—are released into the air and inhaled. Fortunately, not everyone who contracts the disease will exhibit any symptoms. A strong immune system will usually kill the bacteria before a virus develops and the infected person will move on with their life not knowing that their body had been fighting a fungal disease. But people with weakened immune systems, like small children, the elderly and AIDS patients, are especially vulnerable. Early symptoms are closely associated with the flu. In two to three weeks, fever, chills, muscle pain and headaches will set in. But people who do not reach out for help may begin to exhibit alarming respiratory symptoms. Shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain ensues, with the problem worsening until the lungs fail. Histoplasmosis can be treated effectively with prescribed anti-fungal medication if the infected person seeks a doctor quickly enough. But because of the health risk, homeowners are advised not to clean up guano themselves. Untrained and unwary cleaners will easily inhale spores while working in the narrow spaces that bats occupy. In some cases, they spread through the ventilation system and put everyone in the house at risk. Because of the size of the task, you’re better off hiring guano remediation specialists.
Bio-One has the equipment, the experience and the expertise to get the job done right. Our technicians will remove guano, urination stains and odors from your home for the most affordable price in the industry. We’ll also comprehensively disinfect the property to eliminate lingering bacterial threats. Contact us today and we’ll get the job done within a 24-hour window. Our offices never close.
Welcome two new offices!
Christopher Burns from Gainesville, FL and Babs Soranno and Cuyler Costanzo from Akron, OH. We also have four certified technicians.
This was a great week for Bio-One! Congratulations, we are excited to have you in the Bio-One family.
If you know of someone in need of our services, please take a look at our locations to find the nearest Bio-One office near you. Stay safe!
Winston-Salem, NC Sept. 10, 2019 – Bio-One Inc. has announced the opening of its newest office, in the Winston-Salem, NC 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 Winston-Salem, the Piedmont Triad, and surrounding areas, as well as, assist all other franchised locations.
Bio-One Winston-Salem is owned by Nadine Black and Anthony Coleman. After spending years in the corporate world, Nadine and Anthony 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 Nadine & Anthony own an office in the Winston-Salem area. The fact that we found Nadine & Anthony 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 Winston-Salem,” said Jason OBrien, CEO of Bio-One Inc. “Having Nadine & Anthony aboard signals that our constant efforts towards business and service excellence are paying off. We are proud to include Nadine & Anthony, 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 Winston-Salem, please call (336) 830-1336 or visit www.BioOneWinstonSalem.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.bioonecherokeecounty.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
SOURCE BIO-ONE INC.
CONTACTS:
Bio-One Winston-Salem
Nadine Black
Anthony Coleman
(336) 830-1336
Bio-One Inc.
Jason OBrien, CEO and President
720-463-3004
Police officers complete some of the most difficult tasks imaginable. Cleaning up biohazardous waste should not be one of them. Through their day-to-day activities, patrol officers regularly encounter bacterial threats at crime scenes. Blood, body fluids, narcotics and dangerous chemicals carry unseen pathogens that linger on surfaces for weeks. While officers do not interact with these substances like crime scene investigators or biohazard cleanup crews do, they frequently process suspected criminals and witnesses who may be contaminated. These biohazardous materials may be difficult to detect, especially in the chaotic aftermath of a crime scene. Traces of blood, saliva or fentanyl on someone’s clothes may not affect an officer directly, but bacterial agents stay on upholstery in patrol cars long after a suspect has been processed. Violence and unsanitary behavior by jail inmates creates the same problem for correctional officers. Letting these biohazardous materials fester in holding cells exacerbates the threat to authorities and prisoners alike. Trying to clean them without the right chemicals and equipment prolongs it. Both of these situations demand a comprehensive decontamination solution. Fortunately, Bio-One partners with local law enforcement to disinfect patrol cars and jail cells nationwide.
Each job that Bio-One completes is unique. But we’ve been in the business long enough to know that cleaning a vehicle is difficult no matter how much training you have. It’s cramped, restrictive and difficult to reach certain areas. Furthermore, porous materials in the vehicle soak up and retain bacteria long after they are exposed to chemicals and bodily substances, leaving officers and passengers vulnerable to infection. Unfortunately, materials saturated with bio-waste are difficult to clean with over-the-counter solutions. To diminish the risk of spreading disease through bloodborne pathogens, powerful chemicals are needed to disinfect the vehicle. We hire experts in biohazard remediation to thoroughly restore cruisers, transport vehicles, riot vans and K9 patrol cars so you don’t have to. We’ll dissemble and replace vehicle components that have been affected by biohazardous waste and target invisible pathogens that may have been left behind by a contaminated suspect. Our process also eliminates stubborn odors and removes signs of visible waste, like vomit or blood spills.
Bio-One will do the same for holding cells in jails and prisons, which can become hotbeds for infectious pathogens if proper deep cleaning techniques are not employed. Superbugs like MRSA and Escherichia are known to spread in confined spaces, especially where people share living quarters. A disease outbreak puts prisoners and correctional officers at risk and threatens the reputation of the entire facility. We’ll make sure that cells tarnished by vomiting, blood spills, urination, defecation and saliva are purged of pathogens. But we also handle suicide and homicide cleanup when they occur. We’ll remove materials affected by the incident and properly decontaminate the cell for future use.
Police work doesn’t need to be any more challenging than it already is. Contact Bio-One if you need to restore your patrol car or refurbish a holding cell in your facility, and we’ll remove the problem within a 24-hour window. We are on standby all night, every day of the year, to address your unique situation.
September 21st is National Thank A Police Officer Day.
If you know one this, is the perfect time to stop them and tell them how much you appreciate the work they do. If you don't know one, stop one on the street or pop in to a local police station to express your gratitude.
Men and women who make the decision to serve and protect our communities on a daily basis deserve our gratitude and respect for their service.
Throughout the year, Bio-One teams show appreciation and support of law enforcement. On 9/21/19, please take extra time to show your gratitude - drop off appreciation bags at the police department, volunteer to bring the department breakfast, thank a police officer, send a note of support, etc.
Bio-One is proud to back the blue! We support you and all you do for us!
Franchising allows you to pick your passion. If you do it right, work becomes play and your business becomes a mechanism to do what you love. As you continue your search for a company that speaks to your needs, you’ll likely be weighing the benefits of each franchise against one another. Does corporate offer training and support? Is business expanding or shrinking? Is this work meaningful to myself and others? These are the questions that might be rattling in your head as you begin your journey towards entrepreneurial self-sufficiency. Here, we’ll break down the rewards of purchasing a Bio-One franchise, and what they might mean for you.
1) An Opportunity to Help Others during their Greatest Time of Need
Bio-One is perfect for people who have a passion for helping others on the worst day of their lives. Because authorities do not clean up the aftermath of homicides, suicides and other violent crime scenes, dangerous biohazardous materials will sit unattended in the affected family’s home or property. Our company was founded so that families impacted by these tragedies do not have to go through the trauma of cleaning up these scenes themselves. By conducting this work scientifically, we ensure that the area is thoroughly decontaminated to prevent infectious diseases from spreading. But this job demands more than stringent cleanup procedures. Because we are among the first to interact with those who have been left behind after a homicide or suicide, we prioritize our clients’ emotional needs. That’s why our motto is “Help first, business second.” Though it involves strenuous work, this position provides franchisee’s an opportunity to make a positive difference in people’s lives when they need help the most.
2) An Unparalleled System of Training and Support
We train our franchisees until they are masters of their industry. Because we want to provide you with all the resources you need to be self-sufficient, we’ll teach you how to effectively market your business, how to coordinate a remediation plan for a live crime scene and how to use personal protective equipment. Our leadership team is on standby 24/7 to assist you as challenges arise so you never have to feel like you’re unable to answer a difficult question. But training and support continue long after you are brought onboard. Classes continue throughout the year to inform you about developments in the industry and changing practices. We also hold annual training conferences at “family reunions” during the holidays, where we gather all our franchisees from across the nation to celebrate our successes and reflect on how we can continue to grow.
3) An Impressive Record of Growth and Development
Our decades of experience have given us the blueprint for success in this industry, and our remarkable growth over the past few years proves it. Entrepreneur Magazine announced at the beginning of this year that we ranked higher than last year in their esteemed Franchise 500—a comprehensive ranking system of over 1,000 companies that analyzes which franchises are growing in America. We made the largest leap forward in Bio-One’s history, moving from #344 to #304. Jumps this dramatic are rarely heard of in the franchising world. We were also named one of the fastest growing franchises in the nation by Inc. 5000 Magazine in 2018; and in 2017, we received an award from Entrepreneur Magazine for being among the top 100 franchises of the year. We continue to be recognized annually by the likes of Entrepreneur Startup’s Magazine, Franchise Dictionary Magazine and FranchiseRankings.com for expanding our business beyond expectations.
If you want to be part of our award-winning team, contact the Franchise Help Line at 720-463-3004 and we’ll help start you on your path towards success. We’re happy to speak with you 24/7/365.
Rick and Karen Jacobs from Bio-One Raleigh recently brought food to the Hillsborough Police Department. They are helping a local food pantry fill their shelves. Way to go Bio-One Raleigh!
The best thing about Bio-One is we always live by the help first, business second motto. We are here when you need us!
If you know of someone in need of our services, please take a look at our locations to find the nearest Bio-One office near you. Stay safe!
Six percent of Americans suffer from compulsive hoarding. That means 19 million people are incapable of controlling the clutter that they compile in their homes, and face distress when their valuables—often trash and rotting food—are thrown out. This figure is a conservative estimate. Although the problem is referenced repeatedly throughout history, hoarding is underdiagnosed and misunderstood. Indeed, famed poet Dante Alighieri described hoarding as a sin in his Divine Comedy during the 14th century. In 1947, wealthy New Yorkers Homer and Langley Collyer gained national attention when they were found dead beneath mounds of trash in their Harlem apartment. After years of studying the problem as a type of obsessive compulsion disorder, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders finally classified hoarding as a distinct mental illness in 2013. Research on treating hoarders is still in development, but experts agree that cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective solution. But despite growing awareness, many Americans still think hoarding is a symptom of laziness. If hoarders would just take the initiative to clean up after themselves, the argument goes, they wouldn’t run into problems in the first place. These assumptions neglect the fact that hoarding is a cognitive impairment. Because hoarders resist outside efforts to assist them, finding a solution is extremely challenging. This situation should not be taken lightly. The prevalence of the disorder across the country poses a serious public health hazard. Hoarders threaten both themselves and the neighborhoods they live in because of the dangerous conditions that arise when their homes are overflowing with trash—and in some cases—live animals. Sadly, they are often unaware of the precariousness of their lifestyle. Though researchers have yet to comprehensively study the frequency of hoarding-related deaths, the potential for a tragic outcome is clear.
Fire hazards are perhaps the most immediate threats to life and the surrounding community. Combustible items like books, clothes and newspapers are often stacked in enormous piles throughout the home, making it difficult for people to move around. When space becomes limited, hoarders convert heating appliances like stoves, microwaves and fireplaces into storage vessels, increasing the likelihood of an outbreak significantly. If a fire ignites, whether from a cigarette end or an electrical malfunction, it will spread rapidly, feeding off the copious amounts of clutter scattered throughout the home. Hoarders caught in the crisis will not be able to reach an exit without navigating the mounds of trash that line their walls and floors. If unsuccessful, first responders will need to find them in the blaze—a task that may be impossible. Exits and entrances are often blocked off, slowing the efforts of firefighters trying to enter the building. When they make it inside, they will have to navigate heaps of trash amid flames and smoke to rescue the homeowner. The odds of reaching them in time are low.
Because these homes are nearly impossible to maneuver, hoarders create narrow trails, known as “goat paths,” to help them cross into other rooms . In addition to slowing down movement during a fire, these paths are susceptible to deadly tripping hazards—especially for the elderly, who disproportionately suffer from compulsive hoarding. Objects stacked on mounds of garbage are unstable. If something drops to the floor and obstructs the walking path, an unsuspecting homeowner may fall and hurt themselves. Older individuals are more likely to become trapped in these passageways. But because hoarding is associated with loneliness and depression, they’re likely to be by themselves and unable to call for help. Heavy objects can also fall from these heaps of garbage and strike someone on the head, causing serious injuries.
Bio-One helps prevent hoarding tragedies before they happen. Please contact us if you know a loved one suffering from hoarding and we can connect you with the resources to assist them. We are on standby day and night, every day of the year.
Buying a franchise offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to work on their own terms. But deciding which company to invest in can be a complicated process. After spending countless hours exploring businesses that meet your criteria, you want to find a company that will help you on your journey and grant you the freedom to control your destiny. At Bio-One, we give our franchisees this power. But we also offer something that most companies cannot. Our industry allows you to help people during their greatest time of need. When first responders leave the scene of a suicide or homicide, we are the hands that help lift families, friends and loved one’s back onto their feet. We also curb the spread of infectious diseases, remove safety hazards in hoarding situations and eliminate threats to life and property. Entrepreneur Magazine named us one of the top 100 franchises of 2018 because we know what we’re doing, and we have over 20 years of experience to back it up. We’re also one of the fastest growing franchises in the nation and continue to be recognized by business publications like Entrepreneur Startup’s Magazine, Franchise Dictionary Magazine and FranchiseRankings.com for our yearly achievements. To get started with purchasing a Bio-One franchise, you’ll need to contact our Franchise Help Line at 720-463-3004.
We will connect you with a franchisor to discuss hiring needs, marketing programs and our business model. They will tell you that we attribute our success to a singular goal: Helping people recover on the worst day of their lives. Receiving a call from a client is a moment of extreme sensitivity. The person on the other end of the line is likely in a state of shock, having just lost their loved one unexpectedly—and often in a violent manner. They generally do not want to negotiate prices while they are worried about how they are going to restore their lives. That’s why we do not require payment until after services are conducted. An hour after the first call, our team of technicians arrive on site to focus on assisting the family when they need help the most—right after the first respondents leave. Although we train in biohazard remediation, we prioritize the emotional wellbeing of our clients by conducting our work with compassion, empathy and integrity. Our motto, “Help first, business second,” is a testament to this commitment.
After we discuss the role with you in detail, candidates will meet the team at one of our corporate offices to and see what the job looks like firsthand. If we feel you are the right match for the position, we will equip you with all the resources you need to be successful. But training and support at Bio-One never ends. When you become a franchisee, our corporate team will be available 24/7 to provide you with all the marketing plans, network referrals and vendor relationships you need to be successful. Reach out to us anytime of the day and we’ll be happy to assist you.
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 becoming a Bio-One franchisee, visit us at BioOneInc.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter
If a musty odor pervades your home, you should take a closer look at your walls and fixtures. In rooms exposed to moisture, a series of highly concentrated dark patches seem baked into some of the surfaces. At first glance, they resemble insect colonies or messy blots of ink. But you’ll notice that they have a fuzzier, more organic complexion to them. If you come across one of these confusing patterns, it’s clear that you have a mold problem. But you shouldn’t panic. Hiring a mold remediation team quickly will spare you from any serious health hazards and property damage. Despite their infamous reputation, these unsightly fungi are simple and cost-effective to treat during their early stages of development.
Although they are practically ubiquitous indoors and outdoors, mold spores are only bothersome when they begin to reproduce in mass on surfaces in our homes. A colony forms when spores are exposed to water or excessive humidity. When that happens, the fungi will stick to the damp surface and grow in chaotic arrangements, producing unpleasant odors and particles that aggravate our respiratory system. At some point, everyone in the home will start sniffling, sneezing and wheezing. But those with asthma may suffer from an asthma attack if the mold continues to cultivate unattended. Even worse, some species—like black mold—will generate toxins that harm healthy people. For those with allergies or asthma problems, these spores may be fatal. While toxic molds are rare, it’s important to address a colony quickly. Not only will doing so improve the air quality in your home, it will prevent extensive property damage and costly treatments over time. The larger the colony, the larger the price tag.
The EPA says that moldy areas less than 10 square feet can be removed without professional help . But some people may have problems with recurring growth. This likely derives from the mold’s source. Colonies form 24 to 48 hours after they are exposed to water, or in areas with above 50 percent of relative humidity (You can measure relative humidity with a hygrometer bought from a local hardware store). You probably are unable to eliminate the mold because it continues to thrive off moisture in the room. Reducing water exposure—even if it means halting shower use for a couple of weeks—is likely the key to solving the problem. But as mold colonies grow, they become increasingly dangerous to address. Because of the hazards of treating colonies larger than 10 square feet, they should be avoided.
Buying a respiratory mask will temporarily protect your respiratory system as you try to fix the problem. But to remediate the area, you also need to seal the room that’s being worked in. As you clean the colony, spores will travel into adjoining rooms, stick to furnishings and repopulate in moist spaces. Hidden mold, which grows behind wallpapers, ceiling tiles and dry wall, may burst if you attempt to pry the area open, spreading spores even more effectively. To solve the problem, you need to clean the growth with the right chemicals, prevent spores from spreading and suppress the underlying water source from attracting new fungi. Because of the time-sensitivity of this process and the expertise it demands, it’s best to leave the job to the professionals.
Bio-One can remove mold from your home permanently. We hire technicians who will isolate the source of the growth, decontaminate the area and remove and reconstruct surfaces that have been affected. Our services are remarkably quick, and they are efficient. Once our team is notified of the job, we’ll usually complete the work within a 24-hour window. Give us a call at your local Bio-One office and you’ll be put in touch with a representative who can address your unique situation. Our phone lines are open 24/7/365. We’re happy to help.
