Biohazard events in the home can range from a backed-up toilet to moldy and otherwise dirty flood water in the basement. What makes it a biological hazard is that there are substances present that are risk to your health. These risks can include mold, feces, microorganisms, toxins and so forth. How you handle such an event is important to your safety but also to how soon you get your life back to normal.
1. Assess the Risk
Step number one is to assess the risk for you and your family. If there is any risk that you may inhale or ingest a biological hazard, then you should avoid all contact and even leave the home if necessary. Some toxins can affect you just by coming in contact with your skin or a mucous membrane. At this point, skip the next step and onto the third. If you do deem it to be reasonably safe, take safety precautions before moving onto step two, such as wearing rubber gloves, a mask and so on.
2. Identify and Stop the Biohazard Source
If you can identify the source of the contamination and put an end to it, then you should do so before anything else in order to prevent additional damage. For instance, if you have a pipe leaking graywater into the basement and you can disable that flow, then go ahead and do that.
3. Contact a Restoration Company That Handles Biohazards
Contact a restoration company that handles biohazards even if its 3am in the morning. Most such companies are available around the clock for emergencies, and this situation counts. Restoration specialists may not to complete the biohazard cleanup in Phoenix that first visit, but they can at least ensure that the biohazard source is accounted for and that all potentially dangerous materials have been removed from the area.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
Contact the insurance company for your homeowner insurance and any other relevant insurance policies. Again, it doesn’t matter if it’s the middle of the night. Most insurance companies have 24-hour hotlines, and the earlier you call, the faster you ensure that the resources you need are available.
In conclusion, be mindful that proactiveness is often the key to success. Avoid being reckless, but the sooner you act, the lower your costs will generally be. You’ll avoid unnecessary additional damage, and the sooner you’ll be able to move past this event and on with your life.
