How Do We Do It? Maintaining Good Mental Health

How Do We Do It?
Maintaining Good Mental Health

JUNE 14, 2019 by REBECCA WALLACE

Owning a crime and trauma scene cleaning business, the question we are asked the most is, "How do you handle what you see?" We completely understand why this is the most common question we are asked. We do see and deal with a lot of things that are unimaginable for most. But for us, it is every day life.

There are a few things we believe and do to help with our mental health. Once the ambulance sirens are silenced and the police lights are off and everything is starting to sink in for the family members, that is when we arrive. Our job is to remove the picture of the death scene so that the family can remember their loved one as they were when they lived, and not in the moment they were found. Knowing that we can help the family in this way and also being able to get them information for funeral services, grief councilors and other resources helps us to know we are making a difference. We might see some things that are difficult, but we are helping people when they need it the most. This mindset helps our mental state be positive. But, there are other things we do once we leave a scene to help with good mental health as well. Our team members take Mental Health First Aid to help them identify and be able to help people in crisis. This is not only beneficial when talking with clients but also when around fellow colleagues. It has helped set the stage for a healthy environment to debrief about what we have seen and work through it. The thing that helps me the most with my mental health, is being involved with the community. We teach our staff that our "help first" attitude is not just about helping on peoples worst days, but also on their best days. We get to laugh, have fun, raise money for charity and see helping in a different way. On average we volunteer and sponsor 1 or 2 events a month and our staff always comes and helps out with us. It is always a positive experience and a lot of fun.

Everyone has a different way to promote good mental health in their own life. For some people it is exercising or reading a book, it can be so many different things. The best thing to remember is that whatever it is you do to help with your mental health, stick with it. Our mental health is so important and shouldn't be taken lightly. For ways to help maintain good mental health please visit the links below.

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-mental-health

https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/31-tips-boost-your-mental-health

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/building-better-mental-health.htm

Animal Hoarding
What Happens to the Animals Once They are Rescued?

JUNE 12, 2019 written by Rebecca Wallace

Animal hoarding is something that is more common than you might think. And unfortunately, it is on the rise. The most common animals that are hoarded are cats and dogs and hoarding can consist of hundreds of animals. The media shares a lot about animal hoarding cases, but what they do not talk about as much, is what the animals go through once they are rescued.

There are 3 major things that are seen with animals once they are rescued, malnourishment, disease/illness and severe trauma. Rescuers work hard to help the animals regain their health, but it is a big undertaking and can cost thousand of dollars. Every animal that leaves a hoarding situation needs to be examined by a veterinarian and the vast majority will need some type of medical care. Some will need life long care, and those animals are usually harder to find homes for. In addition to that, these poor animals have undergone trauma by the hoarding situation and by the rescue. These animals normally come from dirty, tight quarters with little veterinary care and without enough food or water. It is traumatic. It takes time, patience, money, and usually foster homes to get the animal ready for adoption. Sue Marue the founder of the Arizona based cat rescue, Ark Cat Sanctuary had this to say, "We have taken in dozens and dozens of cats from all over Arizona that have been rescued from hoarders. The lucky ones can be up for adoption within weeks. But for some, they will never be ready for adoption and will live out their days at Ark or we cannot save them because they are just too sick. We have one little tabby that we rescued from a hoarder in Phoenix over a year ago that just last week allowed us to pet her and love her. Sometimes it takes that long. The problem with that is, most rescues cannot take a year for an animal to come around. They don't have that kind of space or time. It isn't their fault, it is just how it is. We deal with overpopulation, under-funding and just not enough help. Unfortunately, its the animals that suffer."

As a community, how can we help? What impact can we make?
* Please contact your local animal rescue to make a donation or volunteer your time
* If you see an animal in distress, contact authorities
* Let the animal hoarder know that it is okay to ask for help
* Contact your local social services department

For more information on how to identify an animal hoarder please visit https://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/animal-hoarding/closer-look-animal-hoarding

Germs have been rough this year and continue to hit during spring. Reports on the potential dangers of antibiotic-resistant superbugs mingle with discussions of the effectiveness of vaccinations and various other medical interventions. While germs may be too small to be seen with the naked eye, encountering them can have a major impact on your health, and these microscopic menaces can lie in wait on a wide array of common surfaces. How long can germs live on surfaces? And what can you do to protect yourself and your health?

HOW LONG CAN GERMS LIVE ON SURFACES?

When germs are on the prowl, no place is safe. Buses, commuter trains, rental cars, and private vehicles transport both people and virulent germs. Retail establishments, health clubs, educational institutions, restaurants, hotel rooms, and even cruise ship cabins can shelter germs. In fact, practically anything that you touch can expose you to germs, putting your health at risk. According to the National Health Service, the lifespan of a germ varies depending on the type of germ and the surface that it is on. How long can germs live on surfaces? Below we explore a few common examples.

COLD GERMS

The common cold is a frequent source of misery. A variety of viruses can trigger it, and like other viruses, cold germs tend to survive for longer periods on hard, nonporous surfaces like desktops and handrails. On suitable indoor surfaces, cold germs can linger for days, but fortunately they rarely remain infectious for more than 24 hours. Cold viruses can also thrive on the skin, but their survival time there is generally measured in mere minutes or hours.

INFLUENZA GERMS

Viruses that cause influenza can survive in the air as droplets for hours and live on hard surfaces like phones and keyboards for up to 24 hours. Infectious flu viruses clinging to a tissue can last for about 15 minutes, but viruses on the hands tend to fade quickly. Most will be only a minimal threat after five minutes. It may be a small window of time, but influenza germs don’t warn you of their presence and can make you very sick if you’re unlucky enough to encounter them when they’re infectious.

NOROVIRUS GERMS

A highly contagious virus that triggers stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea in those unfortunate enough to catch it, a norovirus can spread through small droplets that travel through the air before settling on surfaces like elevator buttons, table tops, and clothing. While they don’t thrive as successfully on porous materials like tissues and fabrics, noroviruses can survive on hard surfaces for days or weeks if the conditions are favorable.

MRSA GERMS

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, the culprits behind dangerous MRSA infections, are unfazed by many of the antibiotics that are effective in combating other staph infections. Like viruses, these germs tend to survive for shorter periods on porous surfaces than they do on nonporous ones, but they’re capable of living for days or weeks on surfaces if the circumstances are right.

PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM GERMS

Everyone has seen it. If you’ve worked in restaurants or other public venues, you may even have wielded it: the dreaded wet, grey rag. Habitually passed over tabletops between customers with a few desultorily swipes, it is an obviously inadequate weapon when it comes to eradicating germs. But what is required to disinfect a surface?

DISINFECTING BASICS

If you want to kill the germs lurking on a surface, you need to choose an appropriate disinfectant. You also have to apply it properly. That means saturating the surface with enough of the germ-fighting chemical to get the job done and ensuring that there’s enough contact time (time when the chemical is on the surface) to allow it to eliminate any germs present. Choosing a low-grade disinfectant or skimping on either saturation or contact time can compromise your germ-fighting efforts, so it’s vital that you choose your products carefully and read and follow their directions.