U.S. Police & Fire Championships Announces Presenting Sponsor: Bio-One, Inc.
The California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF) is proud to announce that the 2021 United States Police & Fire Championships (USPFC) are now Presented by Bio-One, Inc.
Operating under the motto, "Help First, Business Second," Bio-One provides high-level decontamination and biohazard cleanup services while offering clients the privacy and compassion needed at difficult times. Bio-One operates in 41 states with over 110 locations and is committed to providing first-class service.
"We are thrilled to add Bio-One as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2021 USPFC because First Responders warrant our support," said California Police Athletic Federation President LC Collins. "Bio-One’s reputation is second to none, and with their partnership, we can offer first responders a health and wellness outlet. We look forward to working with them for years to come."
Founded by San Diego Police Lieutenant Veon "Duke" Nyhus, The United States Police & Fire Championships were first held in San Diego in 1967. Duke recognized the need to promote physical fitness and camaraderie among the Public Safety and First Responder community members.
The USPFC caters to active and retired public safety and first responders who participate in Olympic-style competitions and open to individuals representing firefighters, law enforcement, and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration, and customs across the country. Traditionally athletes compete in 45+ sporting events from biathlon to motocross across 35+ venues in Southern California.
"At Bio-One our support for Law Enforcement and Fire Service Officers is unwavering, and we're thrilled to partner with the California Police Athletic Federation during this memorable event," said Nick-Anthony Zamucen, founder of Bio-One. "We wish each athlete success and look forward to celebrating these everyday heroes."
The 2021 USPFC Presented by Bio-One will take place from June 10th to the 19th in venues across San Diego, California, and strengthen the relationship between First Responders and the community for many years to come!
About the United States Police and Fire Championships
The California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF) is the parent organization of two multi-sport programs designed for peace officers and firefighters. The World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) are open to active and retired law enforcement and fire service personnel throughout the world. The United States Police & Fire Championships (USPFC) are open to active or retired public safety and first responder personnel from an eligible agency within the USA. For more information, please visit www.uspfc.org.
Author: Gary Kolek
At Bio-One KC, we are always trying to be as active in the community as possible by continuously supporting and sponsoring positive events and organizations.We have an especially soft spot in our hearts for events that support first responders.Most recently we have sponsored the Annual James Lockard Memorial Golf Tournament, as well as the Dana and Parks Bowling Bash and Guns N' Hoses, all of which support injured and fallen first responders, as well as their families.We already have several more events on the horizon in 2018.
We are also proud supporters and of Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) which is dedicated to putting an end to drunk driving, and the International Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) which promotes educating first responders who respond to those experiencing a mental health crisis.We also support the Suicide Prevention Lifeline as well as the Surviving Spouse And Family Endowment Fund (SAFE), another organization dedicated to the families of injured and fallen first responders.
We are always looking for more events to sponsor and positive organizations to join.If you know of any events in the greater Kansas City area (golf or bowling tournaments, trivia nights, etc.) that could use another sponsor, let us know.Or do you know of any sports teams in the area that could use a sponsor?We want to hear from you!Contact Gary Kolek at 816-492-4210 or bioonekc@gmail.com with your ideas or suggestions.And be sure to follow us on Facebook for more event information and photos:https://www.facebook.com/bioonekc/
Author: Gary Kolek Date: 6/12/18
Following the suicides of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade this week, we have all been bombarded with suicide warning sign and prevention messages on television, radio, and especially social media. Whether it be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media outlet, lately we can't seem to scroll for more than a few seconds without seeing someone posting or sharing a message about suicide.
That's wonderful. It truly is. Suicide is a tragic event that shatters countless lives and it needs our attention. At Bio-One KC we see it first hand on a much too regular basis. But why must it take the suicide of a celebrity to raise these levels of awareness? The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) lists the following statistics on their website (https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/):
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States
Each year 44,965 Americans die by suicide
If you're counting, that's 123 per day
For every suicide, 25 others attempt suicide
These are shocking numbers and they should not be forgotten about until the next celebrity commits suicide, or the suicide of a loved one affects your family. For a list of ways you can help raise awareness, visit the the AFSP website at www.afsp.org. Or if you or a loved one may be contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
Last week we had a very busy week, but a bit of an usual one because it did not involve any “crime scenes,” or any situations involving death or traumatic events. It began with a call from a woman who need her father's apartment cleaned. He was an elderly gentleman who was beginning to have trouble taking care of himself, including, but not limited to, having trouble using the restroom and throwing away spoiled foods. Because he had recently been admitted into the hospital, his daughter requested that we completely clean and disinfect the entire apartment while he was away. As you can see by the before and after photo of just the refrigerator it was no easy task, and it took two of us about a day and a half to complete.
The following day we completed a job for the owner of a rental home. The tenants had moved out, but left an unfinished basement full of dingy old furniture and other miscellaneous items. The tenants also apparently had a dog that went to the bathroom on the concrete floor in the basement that needed to be cleaned up. On top of that, the home had been previously infested with rats, so the kitchen and basement needed all of the rat waste removed and the affected surfaces needed to be cleaned and disinfectd. To make this job a little trickier, there were no utilities on in the home, so we needed to utilize our generator to run our vacuums and lights. No problem though, we finished this job in one day, even with a 1.5 hour delay due to a strong storm that passed through in the afternoon. There were several indicators that we were dealing with rats and not mice. In this photo you'll notice an actual rats nest on the shelf. Luckily there were no rats to be found as we removed it!
The next day we cleaned and disinfectd a 35 foot motor home that had been infested with mice (the normal, not so terrifying kind this time). We removed all of the mouse droppings, then used our chemical fogger to disinfect all of the hard to reach areas, then followed it up with a liquid chemical treatment of all the hard surfaces. That job took us about 3 hours.
While we were on that job I received a call from a family who was desperate because they just found out that their deep freezer, which was filled with meat, had failed and they had not noticed for approximately 2 months. As soon as we finished the motor home we headed over to her home. I have smelled a lot of foul odors in my career, but this freezer was RIPE!!! Thank goodness for respirators. We had it out of the basement and onto the truck within a matter of minutes. Once the freezer was out we noticed that because the drain plug at the bottom of the freezer was either partially open or failed, lots of yummy juices had oozed out onto the concrete basement floor. We gladly removed the mess and cleaned and disinfectd the floor, and also gave the homeowner several tips on how to remediate the lingering odor.
At Bio-One KC, we do everything from suicide, homicide, and undiscovered death clean-ups, to hoarding remediation, animal waste and odor removal, to medical waste pick-ups and much more. If you find yourself in a situation that you aren't sure how to handle it, give us a call and we'll be happy to help with a free quote or even just some free advice.
By now, everyone who is familiar with Bio-One KC knows that we specialize in crime scene cleaning, hoarding remediation, and general bio-hazard removal. And yes, many times when we do clean up blood, vomit, feces, urine, and other body fluids, it is because of a traumatic event or severe hoarding remediation, but there are also many times when we are contacted clean up messes due to medical issues.
Recently, we remediated three homes within two weeks that were contaminated with clostridium difficile, commonly known as C. diff. C. diff is a bacterium that typically causes diarrhea, but in severe cases in can cause life-threatening inflammation of the colon. It most commonly affects older adults in hospitals or in long-term care facilities and typically occurs after the use of antibiotic medications.
Spores from C. diff bacteria are passed in feces and spread by touch to food, surfaces, and objects when people who are infected don't wash their hands thoroughly. These spores can persist in a room for weeks or months, and if you touch a surface contaminated with C. diff spores, you may then unknowingly swallow the bacteria.
When a client calls Bio-One KC about a C. diff contamination, it is usually because the diarrhea had become uncontrollable and they weren't able to make it to the bathroom, causing a mess on the mattress, carpet, bathroom, and in many cases, all of them and more. Knowing the risks of C. diff, that is obviously not a safe environment for an untrained, and unprotected, individual to attempt to clean up themselves.
At Bio-One KC, we have the top of the line chemicals, tools, and personal protective equipment capable of disinfecting the entire home quickly and effectively. Because C. diff is a bacteria transmitted by touch, many people are under the false impression that a home can be disinfectd simply by wiping hard surfaces with a bleach mixture. That may work for some surfaces, but we use high quality chemicals specifically designed to kill these bacteria, as well a chemical fogging machine that creates a dense smoke of potent chemicals to kill all of the hard to reach bio-hazards inside your home. This method is incredibly effective and usually allows our clients to return to their home that very same day.
If you have a question about C. diff or any other bio-hazards, please do not hesitate to contact us.
When people find out I own Bio-One KC and that we specialize in crime and trauma scene cleaning, one question I get asked often is, “How do you find employees that want to do this?” The truth is, they usually come to me. As surprising as it sounds, many people are fascinated by this industry and want to be a part of it. I get phone calls and e-mails on a regular basis from people asking if we are hiring. That doesn't always mean that they're cut out for it, and I'm obviously not hiring all the time, but I appreciate the interest and always forward them an application to fill out and return so I can look it over once I do open up another hiring process.
The last time I put a help wanted ad on-line, I received over 110 applicants within 24 hours. Seriously. I had to take down the ad after one day because I got so many responses. It was extremely overwhelming having to sort through all of those applications and resumes, but eventually I found the perfect fit for the position.
There are no specific qualifications that will necessarily give you an edge when applying for this job, and no experience is necessary. Experience is helpful but that's understandably hard to come by. Once I think you'd be a good fit for the team, I would provide you with all the training you needed to be able to do the job safely and effectively.
The traits I look for when hiring a crime scene technician are (in no particular order):
Personality – I will not hire someone with a bad attitude or that would be incapable of communicating with a client in a professional manner. Not only will we have to work side by side for extended periods of time, but often times the clients are on the scenes with us, and I will not allow someone with a bad attitude ruin the reputation of my company.
Work Ethic – You must be dependable, punctual, motivated, and have an extraordinary attention to detail. When it comes to the crime scene clean-up business, Bio-One is the best. I am very proud of the work we do, and I insist on the best for our clients.
Physical Fitness – It may not seem like it, but the work can be very physically demanding. Just last week we cleaned up a suicide in an attic converted into a bedroom. It was very hot and there was no air conditioning. Even though we weren't doing anything necessarily physically demanding, when I took my bio-hazard suit off it looked like I had jumped in a swimming pool with my clothes on. We also complete many hoarding jobs, so we can be wearing bio-hazard suits for hours at a time while lifting refrigerators, couches, etc. If you are not in decent shape, you won't be able to do it.
Strong Stomach – This should be an obvious one. We work in blood, vomit, feces, urine, and any other body fluid you can think of. We come across spiders, roaches, mice, maggots, and other numerous insects and animals, both alive and skeletalized. It all smells as good as you can imagine. Typically, you either know if you could handle it or not. If you are applying for a job in this industry and you think you can handle it, I would have to think long and hard about hiring you.
Schedule – We are on call 24 ours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. My phone rings regularly in the middle of the night. Sometimes the job can wait until the morning, sometimes it can't. It's whatever the client needs. I understand things happen and all of my employees aren't available 100% of the time, but if you aren't available most of the time, I can't use you.
Pay – Again, this is an on-call business. The work is extremely streaky. Some weeks you will make lots of money, some weeks you will make zero. It's the nature of the business and you have to be prepared for that.
I should clarify that at the time that I am writing this blog, Bio-One KC is not currently looking to hire anyone. I am writing this in the hopes that I answer some questions for the curious. It is a truly fascinating industry that I love, and if you have the positive traits that I listed and think you would someday be a good fit with Bio-One KC, send an e-mail to bioonekc@gmail.com and I'll send you an application that you can return to me for future consideration.
Luckily, very few people are tasked with the unfortunate responsibility of cleaning up a hoarders home. Because it is an uncommon event, there are very few resources out there. Most of the time, I get involved following an internet search that leads people in the Kansas City region to the Bio-One KC hoarding website, www.kchoarding.com. Once the initial call is made, whether it be by a friend, family member, property owner, or the hoarder themselves, one of their first questions to me is always, “I'm not sure where to begin. How does this process work?”
The first thing I request from my clients is complete honesty about the situation. The more honest you are with me about the problem, the more honest I can be with you about the solution. Most of the hoarders I speak with are very embarrassed about their situation and haven't allowed anyone in their home for years. I understand. There isn't much I haven't seen, smelled, touched, and cleaned. But if my crew starts working in piles of clutter and all of a sudden come across an uncapped syringe and we learn the client is diabetic and there are hundreds of them throughout the home, we are now dealing with a serious safety hazard that we should have been made aware of before we started.
During the conversation, the topic of cost always comes up, and understandably so. I try to explain that it is impossible to give an accurate quote over the phone because everyone has a different idea of what is “really bad” and what's “not too bad.” I've been to homes that were described to me as having “a few bags of trash lying around” that literally had piles of garbage up to my waist throughout the entire home, and another that was described as “horrendous,” but turned out to be refreshingly clutter free (to my standards at least!). At Bio-One KC, although no job is too big or too small, we are typically dealing significant problems that require hours of hard work by dedicated and skilled technicians.
Once we are able to agree on a date and time for me to come over and view the property (my bids are always 100% free), all I'll need is maybe 30 minutes to look around and, with your permission, take some photos. The reason I take photos is so I can review them once I get back to my office. They are never shared with anyone unless I have your permission after the job is done. While speaking with you on location, I'll be able to get a better understanding of what exactly you're looking to accomplish, and I'll be able to better explain what I feel should and shouldn't be done, and what you can expect throughout the process. Once I have seen the property in person and have a better understanding of the task at hand, I can go back to my office, look over the photos to refresh my memory, then figure out all of the details, crunch some numbers, and get you a detailed job proposal and cost estimate in writing.
There are many factors that go into bidding a hoarding clean-up job. What is the size of the home? How many floors does it have, and is there a basement or a garage and/or shed? Just how much clutter is there and how many dumpsters will be needed? Are there bio-hazards such as feces, urine, or blood inside the home? Did the hoarder have any diseases such as MRSA, C-Diff, or HIV? How many of my crew members will I need and how long will it take us to finish the job? Is there water damage or mold? Are there mice, roaches, or any other creatures in the home? All of these questions, and many more, need to be considered when I give an estimate.
I hope this has answered some of your questions about the hoarding clean-up process. I also hope it has alleviated some of your concerns. I hear time and time again from clients that have tried to clean up a property themselves, only to barely scratch the surface, become quickly overwhelmed, and realize that it would literally take them months, if not years, to finish the job. I take great pride in making the process as easy and stress free for my clients, usually finishing the job in less than week, with unbelievable results.
If you have any situation you would like to discuss with me, whether it be about hoarding or any other bio-hazard clean-up situation, please don't hesitate to contact me.
