2009-10-23
FLU CHECKLIST

The Flu Season is officially upon us. In order to prevent a flu outbreak (be it standard influenza, or H1N1) the American Red Cross has released a Flu Checklist.

TAKE THESE COMMON STEPS TO STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS

-Wash hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.
-Avoid or Minimize contact with sick people (a minimum of three feet distancing is recommended.)
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
-Cover your mouth and nose with tissues when you cough and sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
-If you are sick, get to your doctor and stay away from others as much as possible.

WHAT SHOULD I DO TO AVOID GETTING SICK?

Talk to your doctor about flu shots for both seasonal flu and H1N1. Groups at highest risk for contracting H1N1 should get vaccinated as soon as shots become available.
Always practice good health habits to maintain your body’s resistance to infection.

-Eat a balanced diet.
-Drink plenty of fluids.
-Exercise daily.
-Manage stress.
-Get enough rest and sleep.

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE FLU?

-Stock homes with extra food, water, non-prescription drugs and other supplies.
-Ask your health care provider and Health Insurance Company if you can get an extra supply of your regular prescription drugs and medical supplies.
-Store health and cleaning supplies, such as bleach, tissues, a thermometer, disposable gloves, soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Bio-Clean of New Jersey specializes in infection control. If you suspect your home, school, or place of business has been contaminated with H1N1, contact Bio-Clean of New Jersey today.

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2009-10-09
Compulsive Hoarding Poses Safety and Psychological Risks
"The general public thinks these people are just slobs or lazy, but actually most of the time it's because of not wanting to waste things, and so wanting to make the right decision about a thing that it becomes overwhelming and they keep it."
Jason Elias», OCD Institute at Harvard's McLean Hospital OCD Research Program

Compulsive Hoarding is a serious condition that effects the lives of thousands of Americans. If yo suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from this condition, you can help.

For more information on Compulsive Hoarding, and how to talk to your loved ones about getting help, visit Children of Hoarders.

For assistance in Hoarding remediation, take a look at Bio-Clean's Hoarding Remediation Page.




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...But Somebody's Gotta Do It
By: Bob Shryock-Gloucester County Times Staff

"I drink a Scotch every day," says Jim McMenamin. "I'm gonna have a Scotch now."

And you couldn't blame him if some nights he had two. Or more.

Called "the world's oldest crime scene cleaner" by his boss, Andrew Yurchuck, the 84-year-old Oak Valley resident has supervised more than 700 bio-hazardous decontamination jobs for Glassboro-based Bio-Clean of New Jersey ("When tragedy strikes, Bio-Clean is there") in the last five years.

The work can be as unspeakably revolting as it is necessary, but McMenamin often draws the short straw and has adopted his own philosophical approach: "If it's not our blood, it doesn't bother us."



"You have to care for people," says Bio-Clean CEO Andy Yurchuck of the highly sensitive nature of his business. "There's nothing worse than a family having to clean up. We've never turned anyone away. We try to help people through their worst days and make their lives better."

A member of the American Bio-Recovery Association, Bio-Clean removes bio-hazardous substances left at the scene of accidents, homicides, suicides and natural deaths.

Technicians remove and disinfect for H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and other infectious pathogens.

McMenamin warmed up for the late-life assignment by being a Harbison's Dairies milkman for 23 years in the horse-and-wagon days and following that by being a Teamsters union president until retiring in 1968. Neither job was quite as traumatizing as cleaning up after a murder or suicide. (Yes, Jim knew Jimmy Hoffa. No, he doesn't know what happened to him.)

McMenamin became bored with his lengthy leisurely retirement, saying he "couldn't sit still."He learned the work "from scratch" and became fascinated with a job that clearly isn't meant for everyone. Or, for that matter, hardly anyone."You need a strong stomach and you need to be able to take strong odors," understates McMenamin. He has, well, over 700 stories, but many of them will remain untold. "Wherever there's work, we go.


Photo by Jonathan Wells
Gloucester County Times


And every job is a different job."McMenamin works "when needed," sometimes three days a week, sometimes seven, and finds himself essentially on call. He was in Newark last week, helping clean the apartment of a man who'd died a week earlier. "We needed two Dumpsters to get the junk out of there. But we do a thorough job."

"Jim can outpace most of the younger technicians and his work ethic is amazing," says Yurchuck, CEO of Bio-Clean. "He's missed only three days of work since he started five years ago. He's the kind of guy co-workers are happy to work with. He usually works with the younger, less-experienced technicians to show them bio-recovery techniques. Most of the newer ones can't believe how hard he works and ask him for advice daily. He brings wisdom to every job. Sometimes it's difficult to get him to take a break."

As forgettable as some of his jobs can be, McMenamin is mentally strong enough to deal with the work and loves Bio-Clean.

"Our main object is service," he says. "Andrew taught me what I know. He knows his stuff. He can see a spot on the wall. He's the most fabulous man I've ever worked for and never gets angry. It's the only company I know that worries more about its employees than making a profit."

Jim and Zoe have been married 63 years and have three children, three grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Jim calls her "a queen," and says she supports his less-than-traditional choice of octogenarian jobs "even though I drive her insane.

"It doesn't bother her. If I'm happy, she's happy."

And don't look for Jim to be heading back into retirement soon.

"I can go on forever," he says.

But every once in awhile, a Scotch helps.

--------------------Copyright (c) Gloucester County Times. All Rights Reserved.-------------------
July 22, 2008 Edition
2009-10-06
It takes four months, but Hamilton pays $15,000 to fix, clean dead man's house
By SULAIMAN ABDUR-RAHMAN Staff writer, Trentonian

HAMILTON — Deborah Thomeier said she has a “renewed faith in the government of Hamilton Township” after it acted “efficiently and quickly” in cleaning up and structurally rehabbing her dead next-door neighbor’s property on Joan Terrace.

“My husband (Joe) and I are very pleased with the speed and the efficiency of the township. ... The property looks 100 percent different,” Thomeier said, referring to the household of the late Edward Bratton, 86, who died of natural causes and was found as a rotting corpse inside his house June 13.

At that time, the interior of the home was littered with garbage and the house’s exterior was covered with vines and tree branches.

Township officials described the interior as a “biohazard” and deemed the rear area of the house to be structurally unsound.

The Thomeiers and other neighbors on the 100 block of Joan Terrace went on the offensive at a July public meeting, accusing the township of being inept at addressing their concerns about the dilapidated and filthy conditions of Bratton’s home.

The township said it couldn’t take action right away because Bratton, a retired state worker, had no known next of kin who could grant them permission to rehab the property. Consequently, the township had to enter a prolonged legal process to rectify the situation.

The township by early September obtained the authority to go to work, spending $8,800 of taxpayer money for a private company to clean the interior and using federal block grant money to pay for the $7,000 structural fixes and demolition of the house’s dilapidated rear.

Rob Warney of the township’s Department of Community Planning and Compliance told The Trentonian the entire clean-up and structural rehabbing was completed last month.

“We have no complaints at this point. We’re just happy it’s over with,” Deborah Thomeier told the newspaper on Thursday. “They did a nice job. They really did. ... I didn’t expect it to be done by the end of September.”

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Technician's Journal #1: The Most Terrifying Job Ever.
This is my first entry in the Technician’s journal, so I figured, why not start out with a job that I consider to be the most bizarre and terrifying job I have ever been out on.
Now, it should be said that me saying this is saying something. I’ve seen a lot of seriously messed up stuff in my days of working this job. I’ve seen double murder suicides, death by shotgun to the temporal lobe, remnants of 2 month old corpses, and toilet bowls full of blood. I’ve seen things that would get a movie NC-17 rating. The job I’m about to discuss however, is like something out of a movie co directed by Rob Zombie and David Lynch. So brace yourself, cause it’s about to get gross.

--This post contains real scene photos. Viewer discretion is advised. Click Here to reveal the rest of the post--

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2009-10-05
Bed Bugs! Attack! *EMMY WINNING DOCUMENTARY*
As I was surfing the tubes of the interwebs, I came across this video on Bedbugs. It's a pretty informative little piece that tells about where bedbugs live, and how restrictions on certain chemicals have made the elimination of bedbugs even harder in modern times. Seeing as these were DEADLY chemicals like DDT, restrictions on these chemicals are definitely for the best, even if bedbugs are harder than ever to eliminate.

If you're interested in learning more about bedbugs, check out the vid!





REMEMBER! If you suspect you have bedbugs,
CALL BIO-CLEAN TODAY!
The problem only gets worse as time goes by.
(609) 352-2180

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The Benefits of Clean Air Ducts!
Is Air Duct Cleaning Worth It?

Published on June 1, 2009
by Paul F. P. Pogue


Linda Wetzel of Shaker Heights, Ohio, says she was skeptical about air duct cleaning until a friend told her it had improved her allergies. “I figured common sense said, if there’s dust on the table, there has to be dust in the vents,” Wetzel says.


After hiring a highly rated cleaner she found on Angie's List, Wetzel was very pleased with the results. She says she noticed an immediate improvement in air quality - everyone in the house suffered fewer allergies afterward - and the entire HVAC system worked more efficiently.

"We used our air conditioner less in the summer because it had so much more airflow," she says. "And we used the heater less during an incredibly cold winter."

Despite such anecdotal experiences, there's no scientific evidence that regular du
ct cleaning improves air quality, according to a 1997 brochure published by the Environmental Protection Agency. Laureen Burton, senior scientist in the EPA Indoor Environments Division, says that while the document is more than a decade old, the science hasn't changed and the agency stands by its recommendations.

"Checking and changing filters, keeping systems maintained, having regular inspections, and ensuring moisture doesn't get in are more important," she says.

However, both EPA and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association – which represents more than 1,000 cleaning companies nationwide – agree that there's some value in the work.

Buck Sheppard, NADCA president and duct cleaner in Portland, Ore., says the association consulted on the EPA pamphlet and agrees with all but one of its findings. "Where we differ is on how often it should be done," he says.




Duct cleaning cost
Angie's List members who hired duct cleaners last year spent an average of $460.

Bio-Clean of New Jersey offers Residential Duct cleaning (up to 12 ducts, and 1 HVAC) for only $169.00+tax!





NADCA experts argue the need for cleaning depends on a variety of factors, including pets, smoking, recent renovations, local weather conditions and overall home cleanliness. Sheppard recommends cleaning them every three to five years. He says a good contractor will offer to do an inspection beforehand for a nominal charge, if any, to see if a cleaning is necessary.

NADCA executive director John Schulte says the organization's standards dictate that a cleaning doesn't just sweep the ducts, but addresses every component air passes over, including coils and the central system. The task involves at least a couple of workers, several hours and costly equipment, which is why it generally costs $400 or more, according to EPA and NADCA.

A thorough cleaning can yield long-term energy savings. Bob Baker and Ross Montgomery, who study air quality and energy efficiency for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, say their research shows dirty coils and blowers in commercial buildings can cut efficiency by as much as 40 percent.

NADCA expects to complete its first residential energy efficiency study within the year. Sheppard calls duct cleaning an essential part of home maintenance, akin to mopping and vacuuming. "Because it's out of sight, people don't think about cleaning the system that delivers the air they breathe," he says.

EPA and NADCA agree that if you do hire someone to clean your air ducts, make sure they know what they're doing - a poor job is worse than no cleaning at all, as it can kick up particles or even break portions of the HVAC system. EPA recommends all duct cleaners follow NADCA standards.

Customers can look up NADCA members at nadca.com. Member companies must keep at least one technician on staff who has passed a NADCA test.

Tom Bergendahl of Wakefield, Mass., wishes he'd hired a reputable service to clean his air ducts instead of a local company that has since gone out of business. "Duct cleaning is a fragile operation, and if you don't do it right, you can damage the system," he says. "They completely wrecked the motor."

The company eventually paid to repair the damage, but Bergendahl still doesn't feel the work improved air quality or energy efficiency. "Why did I even bother?" he asks.

Despite Bergendahl's experience, Sheppard says NADCA's certification standards, developed in 1992, have improved the situation. "A lot of [service companies] weren't going about it the correct way," he says.

Other organizations have also established guidelines. The EPA's brochure available online provides a post-cleaning checklist, and in 2007, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America published criteria for HVAC service providers.

While none of the groups claim health benefits from clean ducts, many Angie's List members report an improvement. "I haven't woken up stuffy or congested since," says Margaret Hopkins of Glen Ellyn, Ill. "After the cleaning, my home smelled better and there was less dust on my furniture."

Experts say research on the health benefits of residential duct cleaning is still in its infancy. Glenn Fellman, the Indoor Air Quality Association's executive director, says that despite the lack of scientific data, he's seen and heard much common-sense evidence of improved air quality.

"This is the heart and circulatory system of your house," Fellman says. "If any of it is gunked up with dust or mold, the core system isn't going to function correctly."

Ultimately, the decision to clean air ducts comes down to a homeowner's own judgment. "Get a screwdriver, open up the register and look in there yourself," Schulte says. "Most can make up their mind at that point."

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