Bio-One of Scottsdale decontamination and biohazard cleaning services

The Struggles of PTSD

National PTSD Awareness Day

As we're about to wrap up June, we come upon National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Day. This is one of the most important days of June. It is a day when we are supposed to support those with a potentially deadly mental affliction. Supporting those affected by PTSD is of the utmost importance, at times it is a constant fight against oneself. It's a struggle that is not easy to win, so you shouldn't have to fight it alone.

PTSD Explained

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that is triggered by exposure to a terrifying event. This event is usually so stress-inducing, that it completely warps and changes parts of the brain. The warping of the brain causes it to act, and think differently. It affects the decisions made by the person impacted with PTSD.

Changes To the Brain Caused By PTSD

The Amygdala

This is an almond-shaped 1-inch section of the brain, it is commonly known as the fire alarm of the brain. This is the section of the brain that is in charge of your fight, flight, or freeze response to dangerous situations. This section of the brain when suffering from PTSD no longer acts normally. It can turn on whenever it shouldn't as well as there are times when it will not turn off. Some people live the rest of their lives on edge under constant and immense amounts of stress due to PTSD.

The Hippocampus

This is the learning center of the brain. after suffering a traumatic event and becoming afflicted with PTSD this section of the brain will shrink and become less active. This results in issues in memory, problem-solving, trouble distinguishing past from present, being in a state of hypervigilance, and extreme emotional reactivity.

The Prefrontal Cortex

This is the front part of the brain that is responsible for your main rational decision-making. When suffering from trauma this part of the brain becomes less active. This makes it very difficult for people to control their fear response. Especially when coupled with an overactive Amygdala, a less active prefrontal cortex can leave someone in a never-ending state of fear.

How to Help Those Suffering from PTSD

Now that we understand a little more about what's going on inside of someone's brain who has PTSD. We can use this to help us understand how to help people struggling with it. Whenever someone is suffering from PTSD and they have limited rational decision-making, possible flashbacks, and are very afraid even if there is no threat.

The best thing you can do is approach slowly, with no sudden movements, and try to listen more than you speak. The goal is to comfort them in whatever way works best for them. Some may want to be held, which you should always ask before touching someone in this state. Some may not want to be touched and just want someone to listen. Others don't want to talk or touch but may simply just want you there to have your presence.

How we can help

We at Bio-One Scottsdale understand the stress that those with PTSD experience. The owner, Richard Weinblatt was in Law Enforcement for decades. Richard served as a deputy sheriff on the Mexican border, as well as Police captain in Indiana, and Chief of police in North Carolina. Due to his background, Richard has a truly vast amount of experience in helping those in a state of crisis.

Richard has passed on this experience to the team of Bio-One Scottsdale. This allows its technicians to help those in a state of crisis as well. We don't just do the work that you call us for, we are there for you. We truly care about our customers and are prepared to support them. We're not scared of being a shoulder to cry on. In the end, for us at Bio-One Scottsdale, it is always help first business second.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to us at any time. We are always here to help.

Bio-One Scottsdale

"Help First, Business Second"

24 / 7 / 365

(480) 276-4061

info@BioOneScottsdale.com

Bio-One Weekly Wrap-Up Summary of Biohazard Work

Bio-One answers the call to help our community and remediate a variety of scenes. From hoarding, crime scene cleaning, or simply giving back, we'd like to bring you into the Bio-One world by sharing stories of the unique and important work we do.

Here is this week's Weekly Wrap-Up.

INC. 5000

Inc. Magazine revealed that Bio-One, Inc. is No. 2,476 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. 

“We’re honored to be recognized in the Inc. 5000,” said Brian Brinegar, president of Bio-One Inc. “The ranking is a direct reflection of our business model, and Bio-One’s unique ability to consistently deliver essential services with care and compassion.”

Read more in our recent blog post announcing this exciting news. 

ORANGE COUNTY BLOOD DRIVE

In partnership with the Red Cross, over 25 blood donors signed up to give blood in Orange County at the Bio-One and TIP blood drive. 

According to the Red Cross, just one donation can save up to three lives! That's up to 75 lives saved from this selfless event. Truly an example of Help First. 

Cory Flores, Bio-One Owner, donating blood in Orange County

POST-9/11 EXHIBIT KICK-OFF EVENT

As a sponsor of the National Law Enforcement Museum and Memorial, we were thrilled to learn more about the Post-9/11 exhibit through a virtual kick-off event. 

Speakers pulled back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes conversations that go into crafting an exhibit about the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and life since.  To view the conversation, click the video below or visit the Bio-One Facebook page.

Stay tuned for more exiting updates as the opening gets closer!


Bio-One Weekly Wrap-Up Week 4 Hoarding Trauma Scene Back the Blue

Bio-One teams across the U.S. answer calls to help their communities and remediate a variety of scenes. In our new blog series, we'd like to bring you into the Bio-One world by sharing stories of the unique and important work we do for local communities.

Here is Week 5 of our Bio-One Weekly Wrap-Up. 

Chocolate Spill Makes for a Sweet Cleanup

In Scranton on March 25, Juan and Nicole Morales received a call for a "chocolate" cleanup. Assuming this was code for a sewage back-up, they rushed to scene to find a different situation entirely. Approximately 100 gallons of milk chocolate had spilled, covering asphalt outside a local business.

This is certainly the sweetest smelling job a Bio-One office has ever taken, but Nicole clarified, "That smell was nice for the first few minutes but at the end I felt sick. Good thing we had an awesome team that pushed through and got this done!" 

After scraping the chocolate with a forklift and pressure washing the area, the Bio-One team received a five-star review. Well done!  

Bio-One Milk Chocolate Spill Review
Bio-One Milk Chocolate Spill Before and After

Behind the Scenes with Citizen's Academy

Many Bio-One owners sign up for their local Citizen's Police Academy to acquaint themselves with the activities of their local police department. This week, Bio-One owner, Ginger Akemon, in Jacksonville, FL earned her Citizen's Police Academy certificate from the Clay County Sheriff's Office

"Definitely a learning process. Each County has their own, my goal is to go to each county's classes. This was 10 weeks long and over an hour drive each way, but well worth it, " said Ginger. 

Hoarding Transformation in Long Beach

In Long Beach, the Bio-One team has been working hard on several hoarding projects. These before and after pictures show the detail and expertise our teams bring to each job. 


If selling or buying a home is in your future, you're likely well versed the entire process, from the initial offer to closing. But are you aware that disclosing a death in the home may be required? The rules vary by state. Here's what you need to know. 

Property Disclosure Documents

No matter how perfect a house looks on the outside, there is often property information a buyer needs to disclose before the sale can go through. Property disclosure documents reveal known structural issues, neighborhood nuisances, hazards, HOA details, water damage, notable repairs made to the home and death in the home. 

Rules for reporting a death in the home vary by state, and variations in rules may include:

  • Timeframe: When the death occurred. 
  • How the person passed away: If the death occurred naturally versus due to negligence on the property.
  • Hauntings: If the seller has knowledge that the property is being haunted by the dead. 

To be more specific, here are three death disclosure examples as stated from experts or articles based in Texas, New Jersey, and California: 

  • On Investopedia, Jim Olenbush, a Texas real estate broker said, “In Texas, for example, deaths from natural causes, suicides, or accidents unrelated to the property do not have to be disclosed." However, “a seller is required to disclose deaths related to the condition of the property or violent crimes." 
  • Michele Messina, an agent with RE/MAX Villa Realtors in New Jersey, told Apartment Therapy, "If someone passed away after living a long, happy life, it’s not really something you have to disclose."
  • The SFGate reported that in California, if someone dies on the property, it's a material defect – but only if the death occurred within three years of the date you make an offer to purchase or rent the home. 

For a state by state guide on disclosure laws we recommend visiting this resource on Nolo.com

How to Search Property Records

If you'd like to do your own sleuthing and search property records, look no further than DiedInHouse.com. Founded in 2013, this website promises to instantly search millions of records to determine if a death has occurred at any valid U.S. address. 

In a 2015 interview with Forbes.com, founder Roy Condrey stated, "I went online to find a ‘Carfax’ of sorts for deaths in homes and I didn’t find anything, but I did find pages and pages of people asking if there’s a way to find out if their house is haunted." 

The service isn't free, though. Once you enter an address, you're prompted to pay a minimum of $11.99 for a single search. The report will, however, provide a number of property records including meth labs, fire, death, and registered sex offender information. 

Remediating After a Death in a Home

If a death recently occurred in the home you're hoping to purchase, there may have been biohazards from bloodborne pathogens that required remediation. Consider asking the seller how the death was remediated to ensure proper steps were taken. Remediation processes may vary depending on the location of the death, how the death occurred, types of flooring, and if the death was undiscovered for days or weeks. 

Bio-One technicians are trained and equipped to properly disinfect biohazards from bloodborne pathogens, and we ensure safe biohazard material handling and disposal. Once the entire area is cleaned of blood and body fluids, we also help property owners restore the location to its pre-incident state. 

If you are selling a home and need a biohazard remediated or want to ensure remediation was done correctly, give Bio-One a call. Our experts not only contain and disinfect the dangerous biological materials, we carry out our work in a caring and private manner. Find a Bio-One team near you