[craignozza]

Got a call yesterday to go  and clean some blood stains up .turn up to job and the lady explains that her husband had died that evening after a massive hemorrhage ..i have never seen so much blood in my life some of it was pure black i didnt have the heart to walk away from it after that . It took me around four hours to get it to a state in which in didnt look like blood and didnt even have the heart to charge her but she insisted and gave me the money . all the family was round consoling her all mourning from the death of there dad and husband and im there cleaning up the aftermath i felt very uncomfortable and dont ever want have to do anything like that again ..

[Steve Barnett (Carpet Care Plus)]

I applaud your effort Craig but it should have been ripped up and disposed of as it's a health hazard, plus the chances of wick back are high as that amount of blood will have almost certainly soaked into the underlay.

I know it's difficult at times like that but sometimes you've got to write it off.

[craignozza]

Hi steve i tried to tell her to write the carpet off and rip it up but she wanted any reminder of the incident gone asap even if she was going to rip the carpet up at a later date .. I  tried every way possible to talk my way out of this one but it was one of them difficult situations in which i wasnt going to win 

[Craigp]

You put yourself at some risk there too...blood bourne pathogens !

It should have been replaced.

[craignozza]

Maybe craig buts what the real risk here just some old guy with a heart condition i wore gloves a face mask and have sanatised the machine . I mean what are the facts regarding cross contamination cleaning up blood stains wearing full ppe and taking controlled measures . Isnt it true most viruses and diseases cant live outside the body for a long time anyway ??

[Craigp]

I'm no expert but was told about this on a course, the risk is you could catch a blood disease that you be stuck with forever, we all clean up small bits but this amount..

That would have been a good excuse too "sorry I can't touch this it needs a trained professional"

[charles911]

thats probably what she thought she was doing! What sort of long term blood diseases affect the body without bodily fluids making contact? blood bourne pathogen risks refer to open sures or exposure to mucus membranes.
gloves and skin protection and effective sanitization suffice as it would say working in an office with someone who has Hepititus and cuts there finger. same risk.

I think its the mark of a person to help out for 4 hours and try to not charge! Sounds grim tho 

[charles911]

I mean sore's and their... dam laptop. Also - Most blood diseases cannot survive when exsposed to air like HIV. Its one form of hepitius that can survive in saliver for a period of time. to become infected your skin would also need to be penetrated as just skin contact even on a fresh cut would bleed away from the blood streem (however you would not take the risk)  just to point out that while possible - highly unlikley.

[Alban Cleaning]

Craig

Sounds like you did a great job in a very difficult situation. Well done fella

Paul

[diamond]

I have done a couple like that and have wicked back.
I think it is more than likley to come back snd then you have the problem of do you charge again especially when the customer is in distress.

[BDCS]

Its best to have hep b jabs whenever your involved in these jobs. I spray the area with chemspec 429 and allow to dwell which will deal with any blood bourne pathogens - BBP's. Ideally the carpet should be replaced but it may not be possible. The back and the underlay should also be cleaned and maybe even the boards. Always work from a clean area. Suck up a jug of sanitiser to sort the hoses at the end.
   I recently cleaned a hoodie that a lady's son had died in which was'nt fun but she wanted to keep it - I used enz all and then sodium percarb before washing and 99% of it came out. I did that as a favour but in these situations people deal with situations in different ways and its always nice to help out

[Ian Gourlay]

I was called to a house by a Solicitor where it had been left for several days the place was covered in flies.

I said I could not do it and the carpet needed to be disposed off.

I then when outside and spewed up.

I have not been right since but the two are not connected

[Colin Day]

I was called to a house by a Solicitor where it had been left for several days the place was covered in flies.

I said I could not do it and the carpet needed to be disposed off.

I then when outside and spewed up.

I have not been right since but the two are not connected

I can't stomach blood, the smell of it makes me heave...

Having said that, I am partial to black pudding....

[wynne jones]

I think we have all been in these situations at one point and caved. The professional thing would have been to be assertive in the nicest way and stick to your guns, but I understand it ain't easy.

[Jamie Pearson]

Having said that, I am partial to black pudding....

mmmmmmmmm black pudding.

[wynne jones]

Just the idea of it sounds offal.

[Alban Cleaning]

Wynne

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