Trauma Cleanup - The Dark Side of Disaster Restoration

No disaster restoration job is exactly pleasant, but most of the time they're not too bad. You clean up some water damage or deal with some smoke and fire damage, and maybe there's an occasional sewer backup to keep things interesting. Then, once in a great while, there's the dark side. Here's a recent example:

It was a nice afternoon. The technicians had finished up a great week and the day's work was almost complete. The weather was perfect and we were all looking forward to the weekend. Then the call came in for the kind of cleanup job we wish we never had to get; the very worst kind of job a disaster restoration company has to do - trauma cleanup at a death scene.

This particular job was at a home where a person had passed away and gone undiscovered for several weeks. I know it's hard to imagine someone being that isolated in this age of cell phones and social media, but it still happens sometimes, unfortunately. The authorities had already removed most of what remained of the former occupant by the time we got the call.

Our technicians loaded up and headed out to the scene, prepared to handle the situation as discreetly as possible. The deceased lived in a rented home, so discretion was an extremely high priority since the home would have to be leased again after it had been completely restored and deemed fit for habitation. Since ServiceMaster by Cornerstone does everything from carpet care to flood and fire cleanup, nobody in the neighborhood had to know why our team was there. For all they knew, our techs were there to simply clean carpet - a common procedure for rental properties getting ready for a new tenant. Still, our guys had to be very careful to keep things as low-key as possible.

To further complicate matters, our team arrived on the scene to discover that a pet had been trapped in the home with the deceased the entire time. Animal Control eventually came for it, but we wondered what they would do with a pet that was likely exposed to that kind of biohazard. We all speculated that adoption would surely have to be out of the question. We later found out that we were correct in that assumption.

For all the obvious reasons I'll spare you the most intimate details describing a scene like that, but I will tell you that even after a body is removed by the authorities, there remains a significant amount of biological matter to remove, simply due to the decomposition process. Our technicians have to dispose of all removable materials that come into contact with the biological matter.

There's also the issue of odor, which most people probably don't realize is a more complicated problem than you'd think. Spraying some disinfectant just won't cut it. After weeks of decomposition, everything in the area is usually permeated with the odor. That includes furniture, walls, flooring, and sometimes even insulation in the walls. One of our technicians described to me how he became severely nauseated when he removed his mask and respirator as he exited the home. He only caught a faint wiff of the odor, but it was enough to cause a significant physical reaction. The good news is that methods, machines and products have been developed that deal effectively with even the worst odors, so even the air is restored in our clean up process.

Fortunately for us (but sadly, not for the deceased), there were no grieving family members or close friends at this scene. That's often not the case, and that factor can add a lot of emotional stress for the technicians handling the job. It doesn't matter how tough you think you are; it's heartbreaking to see people in the depths of grief for their loved one. That does, however, serve as a lasting reminder that this is a people business, and that the deceased was a human being who was loved by someone. You can sometimes look around the scene and see the person's belongings just as he or she left them. You see things like their books, photos and clothing, and you get a sense of who they were and what they liked. It's a very personal thing.

Some of our technicians have seen it all: Natural death scenes; suicide scenes; violent murder scenes; accident scenes - you name it. Fortunately, trauma jobs aren't a weekly occurrence for us. Still, I'm sure our team would rather live in a world where stuff like that never happens. The best they can do is make the scene look (and smell) like it never did happen.

Most of the information in the paragraphs above is second hand to me, thankfully. It comes from the very detailed (sometimes too detailed) descriptions given to me by our technicians upon my request for information - and even sometimes when I didn't ask. Almost all of them are used to it at this point in their careers; at least as used to it as you could expect someone to be. What I described to you is really all you want to know about what it's like to be involved in a trauma cleanup. Trust me, it is.

So, moving on......

It's sometimes asked why trauma cleanup is so costly. While we always strive for fair market pricing on all our services, we realize trauma cleanup isn't cheap. Aside from the fact that most people would say you couldn't pay them enough to do it themselves; part of the reason for the cost is that the process involves complying with several local, state and federal regulations. Biohazard cleanup requires suiting up in protective, disposable garments and gloves, as well as wearing masks with respirators. All of that has to be done to protect the technicians from possibly harmful bacterial and viral hazards. Even if our company didn't require that level of protection (and we do), OSHA, the Occupational Safety Hazard Administration, requires it.

The disposal of all biologically contaminated materials also adds to the cost. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has guidelines that require special disposal techniques that have to be done by qualified, licensed contractors. That means we have to contract with a biohazard disposal service who can destroy the materials properly and in compliance with state regulations. That can be costly since biohazard disposal is a very specialized skill and a highly regulated industry.

That concludes our walk on the dark side. Now go outside and let the sun shine on your face for a few minutes, breathe in the fresh air, and think happy thoughts.

Signs That You Have Hidden Water Damage

Homeowners are always on the lookout for potential disasters that could result in significant property damage and water damage is usually a top concern.  While it is quite easy to spot water damage from flooding, it is possible for hidden water damage to occur in a home.  It is important for water damage to be addressed immediately to prevent permanent damage which is why hidden water damage can be dangerous and require the immediate services of ServiceMaster by Cornerstone in Memphis, TN.  The following are signs to look for that may indicate hidden water damage in your home.

If water damage goes undetected for too long, it could lead to permanent structural damage which can be very expensive to repair.  Locating hidden water damage early can help you avoid costly repairs.  One possible sign of hidden water damage is an increase in your water bill.  If your water bill has increased more than usual in the past 3 to 6 months, this could mean that there is a water leak somewhere in your house.  Contact the water company if this happens to make sure there are no mistakes on their end as a faulty meter could be the culprit in rising water bills.

In addition to the change in the water bill, there are other signs of hidden water damage that can be identified within your home.  One telltale sign of hidden water damage is crackling, bubbling, or peeling paint or wallpaper.  This usually means that there is a water leak behind the wall and the area should be further examined to find the damage.  However, the crackling and peeling of paint or wallpaper may not appear until the water has caused significant damage.  Watching for discolorations in the walls or ceilings may help you locate the water damage much sooner as this could also indicate a leak.  Another strong sign of hidden water damage is the presence of mold.  Mold needs a source of moisture to survive so just its mere presence could indicate a water problem. 

Knowing the possible signs of hidden water damage is crucial for homeowners because if water is leaking in your home undetected, it could cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage before it is discovered.  Make sure to keep an eye out for these warning signs and if you find or suspect water damage in your Memphis, TN home, do not hesitate to call us for professional water damage restoration services.

Let's Talk About Something Gross

Let's just lay it out on the table and talk about it. For one reason or another, the space you occupy is occasionally going to stink; it's just one of those unpleasant facts of life. Go ahead and spray, or use your diffusers, but we all know what's going on. Don't be ashamed; stink isn't always an indicator of your house keeping or personal hygiene habits.

While some smells (like what you cooked for supper last night, or the trash you forgot to take out before leaving town for a week) fade away when you remove the source and open a window for a while, others just linger for what seems like an eternity.

Here's a good example: Antique furniture. I know people who refuse to own antiques because of the smell. I inherited my grandparent's furniture, which remained in their home for about forty five years, while they and my uncles all smoked around it every day (and if you watch Mad Men, you know that almost everyone smoked in those days). That fine mahogany wood soaked up smoke for years, giving it a distinct odor that contaminated every room in which it was placed, even decades later.

In our line of work, we've seen several scenarios: Smoke from kitchen fires stinking up everything in the house; odors from squirrels or raccoons raising their families (and dying) inside the walls of homes and businesses; odors in homes and offices whose former occupants were smokers, but whose newest occupants are not; and even odors from years of cooking rather exotic and spicy recipes over and over until the smell has saturated everything around it.

You might wonder if anything can be done about such odors. Well, I have good news: There's a good solution, based on science and designed to attack the stink at its very root. Technology is a wonderful thing, and there is a machine to solve nearly every problem in modern life; stink is no exception. Here's the low down on the equipment we use to blast that stink:

Ozone Chambers and Portable Ozone Generators

Ozone is a popular method of removing smells, especially smoke odors. Ozone is like fresh air on steroids. Instead of the two atoms of oxygen that the air we breathe contains, ozone has three. That third oxygen atom is the key. It attaches itself to the molecules of contaminants and neutralizes those molecules by changing their structure; eliminating or at least greatly reducing their odor, often to levels that are undetectable by the human nose.

Furniture with smoke odors caused by a house fire can be placed in an ozone chamber with highly concentrated levels of ozone, and within a matter of twenty-four hours the smoke odor is usually gone, depending on the level of saturation. The same holds true for that stinky antique furniture I mentioned earlier. Nothing you buy on the air freshener aisle at the supermarket could ever do that.

We've also used portable ozone generators for removing pet odors from rooms, or to freshen up a kitchen. The ozone levels in a portable aren't as concentrated as in a chamber, but it works well if (for instance) you had a small grease fire in your restaurant, and you want to run the machine overnight so that the air is fresh for your customers the next day.

The important thing to know about ozone generators is that while they are in operation, humans and pets must not inhabit the area because high levels of ozone for prolonged periods of time can be detrimental to their health. After the machine is switched off, however, ozone atoms dissipate to safe levels in a matter of minutes.

Ozone chamber

Hydroxyl Machines

More and more, hydroxyl machines are being used for odor control in the restoration industry. Hydroxyl machines are generally promoted as a safer alternative to ozone, and are often preferred based on the idea that buildings where a hydroxyl machines are being used can remain occupied by humans and animals, whereas they would have to be evacuated if ozone technology were being used.

Studies done on the safety of hydroxyl technology have been conflicting in the past, but the arguments for its safety are based on the fact that hydroxyl radicals (the reactive molecules that change the air and neutralize odor molecules) only have a half life of less than two seconds. The newest research indicates that atmospheric hydroxyl radicals are much too reactive to survive being ingested by the body. That's scientific jargon for this: A hydroxyl radical molecule is like your youth and money; gone in the blink of an eye.

Another advantage of hydroxyl is that the molecules are smaller than ozone and are thought to penetrate a little deeper into materials, making them a bit more effective at removing odors than a portable ozone generator. Also, hydroxyls operate well in warm, highly humid environments. When you consider that ozone generators require cool, dry environments, you have to give hydroxyl another point; especially when you take into account that a lot of fire job sites are still wet when remediation work begins.

Hydroxyl machine

Are there situations where the odor saturation is so much that even an ozone chamber can't remove it completely? Sure, but those situations are usually ones where there was a fire and the materials were just too close to the source of smoke for too long. In most instances, however, odor doesn't stand a chance against our technology.

So, just remember that you don't have to put up with stink. Life is short, and it should smell as good as possible as often as possible. Call us and put an end to that stink.

Accelerated Slab Drying: The Fast Way Back To Normal

When homes with hardwood floors suffer a water disaster, time is of the essence. If the floors are dried quickly enough, sometimes they can be saved. More often than not, however, the damage is just too much. When those floors have been installed over a concrete slab foundation, there's more to replacing them than just tearing up the old floor and installing the new one.

Concrete is very porous and soaks up moisture quickly. Left alone, it slowly releases most of that moisture over time if the environment is dry. That's the problem. If new hardwood flooring is installed before that concrete slab releases the right amount of moisture, the new floors will simply absorb that moisture and begin to warp.

Since drying naturally could possibly take months, depending on the level of saturation, most people prefer a quicker solution that will get their homes back to normal as quickly as possible. That's where ServiceMaster by Cornerstone steps in with a solution: accelerated slab drying.

After the old, damaged flooring is removed, we begin the process by extracting any excess surface water. Then our team begins setting up for a technique we call "tenting". Tenting involves covering the affected area with thick, plastic sheeting which is secured to the floor with heavy, oblong sandbags.

A desiccant dehumidifier is then connected to a port in the tent and vented through another port that allows moisture to escape and be collected by the dehumidifier, which then discards the excess moisture into a container or through a window port. This all happens because the hot, dry air of the dehumidifier drastically raises the temperature in the concentrated area under the tent and speeds up evaporation. That, combined with the drying properties of desiccant, creates an environment under that plastic where excess moisture doesn't stand a chance.

In situations where multiple rooms are affected, or where the area to be dried is very large, a process that involves a long network of large plastic tubing is used in addition to tenting. The plastic tubes carry the dry air from the dehumidifiers to each location throughout the entire affected area, while another network of tubes collects the moisture and discards it.

Once an acceptable moisture level is reached, equipment is removed and installation of new flooring can begin. Done correctly, an accelerated slab dry will reduce drying time to a matter of days instead of weeks or months.

Why You Shouldn't Put Off That Insurance Policy Review; An Emergency Service Provider's Perspective

How often do we get those cards in the mail from our insurance agents, reminding us to schedule a policy review? How many of us have actually called them to schedule one? After all, we're busy living our lives, and time is at a premium these days. Maybe our insurance agents could just look over things for us and let us know if they notice any gaps in coverage. That would work, right?

That might sound like an easy solution, but it's just not realistic. Our insurance agents, though smart and knowledgeable, are simply not psychic. They have no way of knowing about that expensive home addition we just built, or about the valuable antiques we've collected since we purchased our homeowner's policy all those years ago. Unless we tell them, they can't possibly know.

Our life circumstances change. We have children, we acquire new things, we retire. All of these are things our insurance agents need to know about in order to make the proper coverage recommendations.

Because of the type of work we do at ServiceMaster by Cornerstone, and the things we see first-hand, we believe we have a unique perspective on the importance of proper insurance coverage.We know that the unthinkable does happen, even to the best of people, and no one ever expects it. Time and again we see people with coverage issues they wouldn't have had if they'd just done that  policy review.

Think of it this way: In less than the amount of time it takes to watch a typical basketball game, you can meet with your insurance agent and be sure that the things you've worked hard for are adequately insured. From our perspective at ServiceMaster by Cornerstone, the time you spend to review your policy might be one of the wisest time investments you ever make.

Moldiplication?

When I was a kid my parents bought my sister and me a couple of small, white rabbits as Easter presents. Both of them were female. When they were fully grown we wanted baby bunnies again, so we traded one of them for a male. As you might have guessed, it wasn't long before things got out of hand and we had more baby bunnies than we could handle. I'd never seen anything multiply as quickly as those rabbits. That is, until I was introduced to mold.

Mold is everywhere, so we might as well get used to it. We might not always see it or smell it, but the spores are present in every place, indoors or outdoors. The only thing that keeps mold at bay indoors is maintaining an environment where the spores can't grow for long without drying out and dying.

The important thing to remember about mold spores is that they're opportunists. The opportunity they're looking for is moisture at the right temperature that persists for more than 24 hours. Once they find the right conditions, spores begin the work of multiplying. Then you get a rabbit scenario, only exponentially worse. I call it moldiplication.

Now, just because you have some excess moisture, it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get rapid mold growth after 24 hours. Several factors apply, such as the number and type of mold spores present and the temperature and humidity of the environment, among other things. Still, given enough time, mold will always gain a foot hold in a damp environment.

The best way to combat mold is to prevent it in the first place, of course. Like I mentioned earlier, it's an opportunist, so take away the opportunity at every turn. If you have a leaky roof, water pipe, shower pan or other source of gradually building moisture, get it fixed right away and dry up the water quickly and completely. I promise the problem will not go away on its own no matter how long you wait, and it's sure to become more serious and expensive the longer you put it off.

Still, sometimes you get a moisture problem in a place where it isn't easily noticed right away. If that happens and mold forms, the quicker you act, the less chance there is of it getting out of control. The question then becomes whether you should try to clean it up yourself or call in professionals. That's a judgment call we all have to make for ourselves, but mold clean up isn't an easy task, and after all, isn't it dangerous?

We've all heard of the dreaded " toxic black mold". That term is a bit misleading. The mold itself isn't actually toxic, but certain mold does produce mycotoxins. According to the CDC:
There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven.
In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.

That's not really the definitive answer most of us were probably looking for, so caution with mold is still warranted. But what if you don't think the mold you have is the toxic kind, or you're not allergic to it and you want to just leave the it there? There are literally thousands of types of mold, and since there isn't any way to know which type of mold you have without laboratory tests, the CDC and the EPA both recommend removing all mold found indoors, regardless of the type. That's sound advice. Besides being gross, smelly and potentially hazardous to your health, there are other practical reasons to have mold removed. Mold will continue to spread if it isn't removed, causing damage and discoloration to the things on which it grows. It'll even cause wooden structures to rot.

So, knowing that you won't necessarily become sick from trying to remove the mold yourself, should you call in mold experts to remove it anyway? The answer is probably yes. That is, if it's more than a little bit growing on a non-porous structure. After all, spraying a little bleach on the mold and wiping it off the wall isn't a permanent solution, as our technicians have seen many times in homes where the owners thought they'd solved the problem themselves, only to have it return with a vengeance. Think about it: If mold has appeared on the surface of a wall or ceiling, then that means there's likely a lot more of it embedded behind the surface.

Remediating embedded mold requires a very thorough process that includes sealing off the area to prevent spores from spreading when the mold is disturbed; removing porous materials that are affected (such as drywall); removing the mold from other surfaces (like wall studs) and treating them with microbial agents that kill mold and prevent its return; using dehumidifiers to eliminate all excess moisture in the area; careful disposal methods that make sure the spores from the removed mold are contained and unable to contaminate other areas; and a thorough air duct cleaning if the central heat and air system is affected.

Knowing all that, doesn't it make sense to give us a call when you notice moldiplication in your home or building?

Contain and Protect: It Matters
To Our Customers


Drying out a water damaged home can solve one big problem, but it can also create another one if the right measures aren't taken.

Biological pollutants should always be considered when drying wet ceilings, walls and floors.

According to the American Lung Association:
Biological pollutants include molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, animal dander and particles from dust mites and cockroaches. These may cause infections, provoke allergic symptoms or trigger asthma attacks. 

Since the drying process often requires forcing air at high velocity into wall and ceiling cavities where dust and other small particulates reside, our customers and the unaffected areas of their homes need all the protection they can get from biological pollutants.

That's especially important for those with respiratory conditions or allergies; and, of course, it's always a best practice to keep clean spaces clean.

The easiest way to deal with all of those issues is to contain the affected area and prevent the spread of dust, debris, and other small, airborne particulates throughout the home whenever possible.
Using thick plastic sheeting; foam board; adjustable poles; and a few other materials, water restoration technicians will:

• Create a barrier between the affected area and the rest of the home, installing zippers for easy access
• Cover all contents left within the affected area
• Cover all window blinds in the affected area
• Cover all air vents and returns with a thin, breatheable fabric that filters particulate

A few extra steps can make all the difference for our customers, and when it comes to their health and protecting the undamaged areas of their homes, it matters to us.