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# Biohazard Safety Checklist: Protecting Your Family After a Trauma Event When a traumatic event occurs in your home — whether an accident, injury, medical emergency, or crime — the aftermath can be overwhelming. Beyond the emotional impact, there are serious health risks from blood, bodily fluids, and other biological contamination. This checklist will help you protect your family's health and safety while waiting for professional help. ## Immediate Safety Steps ### ✅ Do: Evacuate the Area If it's safe to do so, move all family members and pets away from the contaminated area. Close doors to contain the space and prevent contamination from spreading through foot traffic or HVAC systems. ### ✅ Do: Call 911 Bio Clean Immediately Biohazard contamination worsens over time. Bacteria multiply rapidly, pathogens can spread, and odors penetrate deeper into building materials. The sooner professional cleanup begins, the better the outcome. Call (810) 228-9282 — we respond 24/7. ### ✅ Do: Ventilate the Area (If Appropriate) If weather permits and the contaminated area has windows, open them to ventilate. However, do not enter the contaminated area to do this — only if windows can be opened from outside. ### ✅ Do: Secure the Property If the event involved a crime, wait for law enforcement to release the scene before cleanup begins. They will tell you when the area can be cleaned. Document the scene with photos for insurance purposes if you can do so safely. ### ✅ Do: Contact Your Insurance Company Call your homeowners' insurance to report the event. Most biohazard cleanup is covered. Tell them you're using 911 Bio Clean — we handle all billing and documentation directly with your insurer. ## What NOT to Do ### ❌ Don't: Attempt to Clean It Yourself Blood and bodily fluids can carry Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV, and other dangerous pathogens. Standard household cleaning products and protective equipment are insufficient for biohazard remediation. Attempting DIY cleanup puts your health at risk and can spread contamination. ### ❌ Don't: Touch Contaminated Materials Do not touch blood, bodily fluids, or contaminated items with bare hands. Even small cuts or abrasions on your skin can provide an entry point for pathogens. ### ❌ Don't: Use Bleach on Blood Contrary to popular belief, bleach is not the best choice for blood cleanup. It can actually fix proteins to surfaces, making complete decontamination more difficult. Professional remediation uses EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants specifically formulated for bloodborne pathogens. ### ❌ Don't: Remove Contaminated Items Do not remove contaminated materials (carpet, clothing, etc.) from the area. Moving contaminated materials can spread pathogens to other areas of the home. Professional remediation includes proper containment, removal, and disposal per biohazard regulations. ### ❌ Don't: Use the HVAC System If the contamination is in one area of the home, turn off the HVAC system to prevent airborne pathogens and odors from circulating throughout the house. Wait until professional cleanup is complete before turning it back on. ### ❌ Don't: Discard Items in Regular Trash Biohazard-contaminated materials cannot be disposed of in household trash. They must be placed in labeled biohazard containers and transported to licensed medical waste disposal facilities. ## Items You May Need to Preserve In some cases, certain items should be preserved for law enforcement or insurance purposes: - **Personal effects of the deceased** (for next of kin) - **Evidence** (if law enforcement has not yet cleared the scene) - **Valuables** (jewelry, documents, sentimental items) - **Photographs** of the scene (for insurance claims) Professional remediation teams are trained to identify and preserve these items safely. ## What Professional Cleanup Includes When 911 Bio Clean arrives, our team will: 1. **Assess** the full extent of contamination, including hidden areas 2. **Contain** the affected area to prevent cross-contamination 3. **Remove** all blood, bodily fluids, and contaminated materials 4. **Decontaminate** all surfaces using EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants 5. **Eliminate odors** using hydroxyl or ozone treatment 6. **Test** to verify biological cleanliness (ATP testing) 7. **Document** everything for insurance and legal purposes 8. **Restore** the property — including [reconstruction](/Reconstruction) if structural materials were removed ## Emotional Support Traumatic events take a significant emotional toll. We encourage families to: - Seek support from grief counselors or therapists - Connect with victims' services organizations - Lean on family and friends - Take time to process before returning to the property We can connect you with local Oakland County resources for emotional support. ## Insurance Coverage Most biohazard cleanup is covered by homeowners' insurance when the event is sudden and accidental. The Michigan Crime Victim Compensation Fund may also cover costs for certain events. We bill your insurance directly and handle all documentation — most clients pay $0 out of pocket. ## Serving Oakland County, MI 911 Bio Clean provides 24/7 emergency biohazard cleanup throughout Oakland County, Michigan, including Troy, Southfield, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, Auburn Hills, Rochester Hills, Waterford, and all 39 cities and townships. **Keep this number saved in your phone: (810) 228-9282.** In a biohazard emergency, call us immediately — we can be on-site within 1-2 hours.