Help others achieve their dreams and you will achieve yours.
~Les Brown
Ever wondered why you might need to call a Biohazard Remediation company? We hope that the information in this newsletter helps you understand when you need to call us!
Simply put, we provide custom solutions to tough problems. Bio-One Columbus offers 24/7 unattended death, crime scene, suicide cleanup and other biohazard cleanup services. We are a group of trusted, experienced, and discreet professionals serving Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you’re in law enforcement, government, property management, or a local resident, Bio-One of Columbus has over a decade of experience serving you.
We guarantee:
Whether you need help remediating a crime scene, suicide, or other trauma event in Columbus, we are ready to answer the call.
For more information, visit our website or give us a call at 614-743-1795.
We will take your call 24/7 and provide free estimates.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards. Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus
LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus
Facebook: Bio-One Columbus
Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
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Copyright © 2025 Bio-One Columbus, All rights reserved.
"Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it's a rebirth of the spirit."
~Toni Sorenson
Happy Spring! Spring is a time for renewal, brighter days and cleaning after a long winter. Whether you own a single-family home or manage a larger set of properties, there is routine maintenance and cleaning that can be done to make the rest of the year go smoothly.
If you are doing routine maintenance or spring-cleaning tasks and find yourself faced with piles of clutter, strong odors, rodent droppings or unexpected biohazard materials, please call Bio-One Columbus for assistance. We are experts in professionally and efficiently cleaning spaces of all sizes and in varying degrees of disorder. Call us today at 614-743-1795 for a free consultation.
Spring Cleaning Fun Facts
It is easy to feel overwhelmed when you start spring cleaning, so here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Start by decluttering. It is easier to clean when there is less "stuff" in the way.
2. Create a realistic plan for cleaning. Cleaning is a multi-day process and breaks are helpful to keep you energized.
3. Focus on one space at a time. It can be difficult to try and clean multiple rooms or spaces simultaneously.
4. Gather your supplies before you start. If you've forgotten something, it's easy to feel like giving up.
5. Motivate yourself with music while you clean! Making cleaning fun can pass the time faster.
6. Take a sniff -- smelling for odors can help you detect hidden areas that need cleaning.
6. Ask for help. Cleaning with friends can be fun and rewarding.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards. Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus
LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus
Facebook: Bio-One Columbus
Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
Bluesky: Bio-One Columbus
Copyright © 2025 Bio-One Columbus, All rights reserved.
"Insects are the silent storytellers of the natural world, narrating tales of survival, adaptation, and coexistence."
~Mary Jane West-Eberhard
Tick? Flea? Bedbug? Something else?
Unless you are in the field of Entomology (the scientific study of insects), it is highly likely that any bug you find in your home or office will give you the "ick." Insects are a natural part of our environment, found on all continents and in every environment. There are some insects that you just do NOT want where you live.
Bio-One Columbus does not provide extermination services, but we do run into bugs in many of the homes where we work. Here are some of our suggestions on how to identify a few of the most common insects and what to do!
Fleas are small, wingless blood-sucking parasites that live on the exterior of their host. Adult fleas feed only on the blood of warm-blooded hosts, preferring the body temperature of dogs or cats. While they feed on non-humans, they may bite humans. Bites from fleas look like small red dots and may occur in two or three groups or clusters around feet, ankles, and legs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a four-step process to combat a flea infestation, including sanitation of the areas where fleas breed, treat every pets in the home, use a licensed pest control application, and follow-up frequently to prevent re-infestation.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the CDC, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all consider bed bugs a public health pest. However, unlike most public health pests, bed bugs are not known to transmit or spread disease. Bedbugs prefer to feed on humans and can hide in spaces the width of a credit card - not just mattresses but seams of couches, electrical outlets, under wallpaper, or even doorframes.
Every year termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage, and property owners spend over two billion dollars to treat them. Termites rarely emerge from soil, mud tubes, or food sources through which they are tunneling. Most people are not aware they have termites until they see a swarm or come across damage during construction. Many termiticides are highly toxic, making it critical to follow label directions with added care. Pest management professionals have the knowledge, expertise, and equipment as required by the label, which minimizes risks and maximizes effectiveness.
Midges and gnats are common names for a large number of small, non-biting flies. Many species look like mosquitoes and may form annoying swarms or clouds in the air but they do not bite. The immature stages develop in water in pools, containers, ponds, clogged rain gutters, or in some cases, wet soil or seepage areas. Most feed on living or decaying plant matter or food remains. It is helpful to know if the flying bugs in your kitchen are drain flies, fruit flies, biting gnats, fungus gnats, or midges before you choose an extermination method.
Great question!
Extermination of all life-stages of insects (adult, juvenile and egg) requires that the treatment reach all surfaces and areas where the bugs live. If a home is filled with possessions, cluttered with deep filth, or has biohazardous material that is a source of nourishment for the insect, extermination will not be successful. We can come in and expose surfaces for treatment, remove food sources for the insects and safely dispose of heavily-infested possessions.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards. Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus
LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus
Facebook: Bio-One Columbus
Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
Bluesky: Bio-One Columbus
Copyright © 2025 Bio-One Columbus, All rights reserved.
"Recovery is not a race. You don't have to feel guilty if it takes you longer than you thought it would."
Anonymous
In 2019, Governor DeWine announced a targeted effort to reduce opioid overdose deaths in Ohio. Efforts appear to be working, as the Ohio Department of Health (ODH)’s 2023 Ohio Unintentional Drug Overdose Report, released in October of 2024, revealed a 9% decline in verified overdose deaths across the state. In 2023, Ohio recorded 4,452 unintentional drug overdose deaths, down from 4,915 in 2022.
Unfortunately, from 2022 to 2023, there were increases in the number of unintentional drug overdose deaths involving the non-opioid drug categories of cocaine and benzodiazepines. The number of drug overdose deaths involving cocaine increased 7%, and deaths involving benzodiazepines increased 4%. Exposure to these substances can be dangerous. We strongly encourage law enforcement, health officials and property managers not to proceed in a scene unless appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and naloxone (e.g., NARCAN®) is available for use.
Despite the apparent success in the 2023 report, Ohio still ranks 6th overall in the nation in overdose deaths. One of the continued leading causes of drug overdose deaths is fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is used in medical settings as a pain reliever. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Illegally manufactured fentanyl is routinely found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and other non-regulated substances.
Production and use of fentanyl-containing products can lead to fentanyl contamination in homes, vehicles and drug laboratories. These pose a serious health threat to first responders, law enforcement and anyone entering a contaminated area. Exposure to even a very small amount of fentanyl can lead to compromised breathing, respiratory arrest and death.
If you come across a scene with possible fentanyl exposure, do not enter or attempt to clean it up yourself. Avoid disturbing the area or touching your eyes, hands or mouth after touching any potentially contaminated surface, even if you are wearing gloves. Restrict access to the area, and call Bio-One Columbus. Our trained technicians can safely decontaminate the scene with state-of-the-art equipment and proper safety and isolation gear.
If you feel that you or someone else is in immediate danger or is experiencing a drug overdose, call 911 immediately.
Signs of overdose include the following:
Remember: Fentanyl is measured in micrograms not milligrams, so the smallest amount can knock out your respiratory drive and stop your breathing. Please do not to try to clean these scenes by yourself.
For anyone who is currently struggling with opioid or other substance addiction, there is hope and help.
If you or a loved are experiencing a mental health or substance abuse related emergency, please contact any of the following resources:
Remember, you can get free Naloxone or fentanyl test strips in Ohio - just go to https://naloxone.ohio.gov/ to learn more.
Please call Bio-One Columbus so that we can decontaminate safely and reduce the risk of harm. Our trained and professional staff use full PPE and follow state and federal guidelines to stay safe while using state-of-the-art tools to remediate the area. For more information on our cleanup process, visit our website.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards. Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus
LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus
Facebook: Bio-One Columbus
Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
Bluesky: Bio-One Columbus
Copyright © 2025 Bio-One Columbus, All rights reserved.
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
~John Holmes
Bio-One Columbus provides 24/7 death, crime scene, suicide cleanup and other biohazard cleanup services from trusted, experienced, and discreet professionals serving Columbus and the surrounding areas. Whether you’re in law enforcement, government, property management, or a local resident, Bio-One of Columbus has over a decade of experience serving you.
We guarantee:
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
“Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.”
~Saadi
by Tim Lockard, Owner Bio-One Columbus
It was a Monday in June, and we were half a day into a week-long project. The home in which we were working was moving its way through the docket of the Franklin County Environmental Courts for several code violations involving unsafe conditions due to excessive clutter, non-functioning mechanicals and general unsanitary living conditions.
It’s not uncommon for us to be working in a home that Code Enforcement has “Red Tagged”, a status in which the owner(s) may not legally occupy the residence until safety violations have been remedied. In this particular home, we were tasked with removing what ended up being approximately 17 tons of non-salvageable clothing, household items, furniture, appliances and trash.
On that particular Monday in June, Becky, one of my Project Managers, called me over to show me something she’d found while sorting for family photographs and other irreplaceable items in a waist-deep pile of mostly trash in the living room. It was one of my business cards.
Having gone through several styles of cards over the years, I recognized it as being at least five years old. Someone in the client’s life had given her my card, and she’d kept it for all those years without calling until just recently. It makes me wonder how her life might have been impacted had she called sooner.
There are many reasons a home can reach this degree of dysfunction and why it takes people a long period of time to reach out for help. Compulsive Hoarding Disorder (also known as Hoarding Disorder) is a mental disorder characterized by accumulation of possessions due to excessive acquisition of or difficulty discarding them, regardless of their actual value (APA). This leads to significant distress or impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning.
While this disorder is often a root cause of the clutter and decline in function, we find that most of our clients living in hoarding-like conditions don’t have a formal diagnosis. Most would describe themselves as struggling with periodic bouts of depression and living with some degree of physical disability (often age-related). They may hide their condition from family, friends, doctors and others. The shame, embarrassment, fear, and overwhelming anxiety around compulsive hoarding and possible consequences can paralyze the person's decision-making capabilities.
It reminded me of another client who had my card for eleven months and had even set a daily reminder in her phone to call me. Eleven months was how long it took her to work up the courage to call. When she finally called, I told her that she’d called the right place and that we could help. I remember her sobbing through the phone with relief that she had finally made the call and was met with compassion and concern, rather than shame.
These are our clients, and regardless of the reasons that they find themselves living in these conditions, we help to restore the functionality and safety in their homes. We do this without judgment and with respect for their right to dignity and self-determination. I know we’ve made an indelible, positive impact on those lives and many others. It’s why we do what we do.
If someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or in an unhealthy living situation, but is struggling to ask for help, there are many ways to help them.
Here are a couple of tips, whether you are a friend, family member or an acquaintance:
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards.
Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
~Leonard Cohen
Take a moment to consider your surroundings. Do you feel safe? Do you have access to health care and grocery stores? Does your home support you, both physically and mentally?
This Mental Health Month, challenge yourself to look at your world and how different factors can affect your mental health. Where a person is born, lives, learns, works, plays, and gathers, as well as their economic stability and social connections, are part of what is called “social determinants of health” (SDOH). The more these factors work in your favor means you are more likely to have better mental well-being. However, when it seems like the world is working against you, your mental health can suffer.
While many parts of your environment can be out of your control, there are steps you can take to change your space and protect your well-being.
• Work toward securing safe and stable housing: This can be challenging due to finances, age, and other reasons, but there are a few things you can try, such as reaching out to state/local agencies to secure housing, removing safety hazards in the home, or finding another space (such as a community center or friend’s home) where you can get the comfort you are missing at home.
• Focus on your home: Consider keeping your space tidy, sleep-friendly, and well-ventilated. Surround yourself with items that help you feel calm and positive.
• Create bonds with your neighborhood and community: Get to know the people living around you, join or start neighbors-helping-neighbors groups and support local businesses to challenge gentrification.
• Connect with nature: Hike in a forest, sit in a city park, bring a plant inside, or keep the shades open to absorb natural light.
If you’re taking steps to improve your surroundings but are still struggling with your mental health, you may be experiencing signs of a mental health condition. Take a free, private screening at mhascreening.org to help you figure out what is going on and determine next steps.
The world around us can be both positive and negative – bringing joy and sadness, hope and anxiety. Learn more with Mental Health America’s 2023 Mental Health Month toolkit, which provides free, practical resources, such as how an individual’s environment impacts their mental health, suggestions for making changes to improve and maintain mental well-being, and how to seek help for mental health challenges. Go to mhanational.org/may to learn more.
Memorial Day honors those who have died while serving in the United States military. On this date, Bio-One Columbus is honoring those who have died serving our country and protecting our freedom. We are grateful for their sacrifice.
Did you know?
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards. Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry.
For more information, visit us at https://bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus Instagram: Bio-One Columbus
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
~Abraham Lincoln
February is National Senior Independence Month. During this month, we celebrate those older adults who are successfully living in our communities and focus on how to preserve that independence long-term. Successful and healthy aging “in place” requires community engagement & assistance that we all can provide to our seniors.
Risks to losing independence in late life include limited mobility and social isolation. Older adults in the community may struggle to keep up with cleaning due to health issues or hide problems with hygiene due to shame or embarrassment, ultimately resulting in a decline of well-being and loss of independence.
Here are some simple tips to successfully age in place and keep a home safe:
Decluttering is a significant challenging in late life because of the sentimental attachment to objects, fatigue preventing the person from deep cleaning, fear of change, or undiagnosed mental or physical health issues. Hiring a professional to assist with this process can reduce the fear and anxiety as well as reduce the physical burden on the person.
If you know an older adult struggling to maintain their independence due to hoarding behaviors, pile-up of gross filth, or clutter that impairs mobility, call Bio-One Columbus today. We can remediate home spaces to be livable and support seniors to maintain independence for as long as possible.
Ohio has the 18th largest population of adults over 65 in the United States! Other informative statistics include:
The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging supports healthy aging in the community. They plan, fund, & deliver services to keep older adults and those with disabilities safe and independent in their home. Services include assistance in finding home health care, transportation, meals, and homemaking. They also provide educational programs for caregivers and the public. For more information, visit their website at COAAA
In 2022 Bio-One Columbus helped a total of 223 families and businesses. It’s a number that reflects a staggering amount of need for services here in our community. When I talk about that level of need, I’m often asked, “What’s your most common job?” While the scope of our remediation work ranges from trauma scenes to hoarding remediation and beyond, the most common call I consistently receive is from an older adult (or a family member of an older adult).
The situations are invariably similar in their presentation. The resident has some degree of physical disability, often paired with depression, and the situation in the home has progressed beyond their ability to recover without outside help. The home may be full of trash that was too heavy for the resident to get to a proper receptacle. Pets may not have been taken outside for days or longer, and litter boxes may not have been changed in weeks, months or even years. The end result is an environment that is not safe for the resident. Shame makes it nearly impossible to ask for help once this cycle has begun.
This is where Bio-One makes a significant difference. Health, safety and dignity are at the core of what we strive to restore for our clients in these situations. My advice: Reach out for help early and often. There’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. There are resources in place to help.
Bio-One of Columbus is a leader in crime scene cleanup and biohazard decontamination services in Columbus. Our technicians are highly skilled and have been trained on OSHA's safety standards. Bio-One of Columbus continues to be the most passionate and caring company in the cleaning services industry. For more information, visit us at https://www.bioonecolumbus.com/
Twitter: @BioOneColumbus LinkedIn: Bio-One Columbus Facebook: Bio-One Columbus
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.
Arizona Law Enforcement Grant - Voting Ends August 15
Voting for the 2021 Bio-One AZ Law Enforcement Grant is almost over. Don't miss your chance to vote for an AZ law enforcement agency! First place receives a $5,000 grant from Bio-One and second place will receive a complimentary brats and burgers catered BBQ.
Last year, congratulations went to the Snowflake Taylor Police Department. The $5,000 allowed them to purchase 15 fully stocked Modular Trauma & Bleeding First Aid Responder Kits, enough to equip every patrol vehicle!
Thank you to the AZ Bio-One offices for making this possible!
National Law Enforcement Museum Post - 9/11 Exhibit
Bio-One, Inc. is a sponsor of the newest exhibit at the National Law Enforcement Museum, Post - 9/11: The Evolution of American Law Enforcement.
As described on LawEnforcementMuseum.org:
Since 9/11 law enforcement has come together – in partnership with other agencies, the private sector, and the general public – to help make us all safer. In response to the threats raised by 9/11, law enforcement has seen changes in the areas of intelligence collection and analysis, interagency partnerships and information sharing, technology and innovation, training and preparation, and community engagement.
The National Law Enforcement Museum will present a new exhibition to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and honor the officers who rose to the challenge that day. This will be the first exhibition to focus on the significant changes to U.S. law enforcement that occurred in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.
The exhibit opens August 27, 2021 and tickets are available for purchase.
To learn more about the exhibit, register for the August 19 virtual conversation The Post-9/11 Story: Questions, Reflections, and a Museum Exhibit. This program will pull 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. Learn more and register here!
What to Ask Before Hiring a Crime Scene Cleaner
New blog post! Today, there are hundreds of companies that advertise crime and trauma scene cleaning, and a simple Google search may prove overwhelming when you're experiencing one of the most traumatic moments in your life.
To help, we've listed pre-qualifying questions to ask before choosing a crime and trauma scene company. Here's a link to our recent blog post!
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.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
On August 3, Bio-One teams participated in their local National Night Out, an annual crime prevention event and community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships.
Check out these National Night Out Facebook posts from Bio-One teams in Marion County and Des Moines!
U.S. POLICE AND FIRE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Bio-One was the Presenting Sponsor of the 2021 U.S. Police and Fire Championships and we were thrilled to meet first responders all over the U.S. To see the action, scroll through our Bio-One Inc Instagram Highlights.
Here's a sneak peek!
IN THE NEWS
In case you missed it, Bio-One has been in the news! Here's the latest from Franchise Times and The Denver Gazette.
