2009-11-25
Winter Weather Tipsheet #1
With less than a month before December 21st, the official start of Winter, it becomes more and more important to make sure that your home is properly weatherized, especially in the case of your water pipes. Every year, 250,000 properties in the United States have at least one room damaged by a burst pipe. When water freezes, it expands by approximately 9%. Because of this, cold winter weather can often cause the water in your pipes to freeze, expand, and burst your pipe. Burst pipes are a serious and all too frequent problem, causing homeowners to file home insurance claims 5x more often than fire damage claims.
OUTDOOR WINTER WEATHER PREPARATION TIP SHEET!
1.) Don’t keep your garden hose connected to the faucet during winter!
The first pipes to freeze are ones that run outside the property. This includes the spigot to your garden hose! Remove the hose to ensure that the spigot’s valve is completely closed. If the hose is left connected (and even worse, if it’s connected with water still in the hose) water can freeze in the pipe from the outside of the house in. This can lead to serious pipe cracking and bursts. Always remove your garden hose, and consider buying a Styrofoam spigot cover from a local home improvement store.
2.) Trim your trees!
Heavy snow, winds, or ice can easily break trees and tree branches, which could possibly fall onto your property or vehicles! Trim your trees before winter comes, and pay special attention to dead branches.
3.) Check your Windows!
Look in the tracks of your window sills. Make sue that they aren’t pooling wate, and that all drainage holes are clear. If water can’t properly drain, it will seep right into the walls of your property, setting up a perfect environment for mold growth!
4.) Clean your gutters!
If gutters are clogged, ice dams can form! This can cause your gutters to drain improperly, and allow water to seep into the walls and ceilings of your home!
5.) Check out your crawlspace!
If your property has one, check and see that all the pipes in your crawlspace are properly insulated. You can find pipe insulation at any home improvement store. If the pipes in your crawlspace are being insulated by fiberglass insulation, make sure the insulation is only on the side facing away from the house. The heat from your home helps keep your pipes warm if it’s trapped between your floor and your properly installed insulation.
**REMEMBER** Any time you do air-sealing or add insulation, you’re changing the dynamics of what goes on in the house. That means air pressures will change and may cause back drafts in oil- or gas-fueled appliances, so service them to avoid risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors are also inexpensive and can save lives. **REMEMBER**
If winter weatherizing isn’t enough to stop subzero temperatures from cracking a water pipe in your home, call the professionals. With over 15 years of industry experience, Bio-Clean of New Jersey is New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania’s best choice for water damage restoration. If your basement floods this winter – Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey.
OUTDOOR WINTER WEATHER PREPARATION TIP SHEET!
1.) Don’t keep your garden hose connected to the faucet during winter!
The first pipes to freeze are ones that run outside the property. This includes the spigot to your garden hose! Remove the hose to ensure that the spigot’s valve is completely closed. If the hose is left connected (and even worse, if it’s connected with water still in the hose) water can freeze in the pipe from the outside of the house in. This can lead to serious pipe cracking and bursts. Always remove your garden hose, and consider buying a Styrofoam spigot cover from a local home improvement store.
2.) Trim your trees!
Heavy snow, winds, or ice can easily break trees and tree branches, which could possibly fall onto your property or vehicles! Trim your trees before winter comes, and pay special attention to dead branches.
3.) Check your Windows!
Look in the tracks of your window sills. Make sue that they aren’t pooling wate, and that all drainage holes are clear. If water can’t properly drain, it will seep right into the walls of your property, setting up a perfect environment for mold growth!
4.) Clean your gutters!
If gutters are clogged, ice dams can form! This can cause your gutters to drain improperly, and allow water to seep into the walls and ceilings of your home!
5.) Check out your crawlspace!
If your property has one, check and see that all the pipes in your crawlspace are properly insulated. You can find pipe insulation at any home improvement store. If the pipes in your crawlspace are being insulated by fiberglass insulation, make sure the insulation is only on the side facing away from the house. The heat from your home helps keep your pipes warm if it’s trapped between your floor and your properly installed insulation.
**REMEMBER** Any time you do air-sealing or add insulation, you’re changing the dynamics of what goes on in the house. That means air pressures will change and may cause back drafts in oil- or gas-fueled appliances, so service them to avoid risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide detectors are also inexpensive and can save lives. **REMEMBER**
If winter weatherizing isn’t enough to stop subzero temperatures from cracking a water pipe in your home, call the professionals. With over 15 years of industry experience, Bio-Clean of New Jersey is New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania’s best choice for water damage restoration. If your basement floods this winter – Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey.
Labels: burst pipes, flood restoration, frozen pipes, water damage, water damage restoration, weatherizing
2009-11-24
Trauma Cleaning: Without Standards, The Pain Can Keep Coming
by Kent Berg
November 4, 2009
As an instructor in crime and trauma-scene recovery and a board member of the American Bio-Recovery Association, I am often approached by attorneys, the public and insurance adjusters to evaluate the service they or their clients received from other crime-scene cleanup companies.
For the most part, these are just routine questions from people who want to make sure that the service they received was within the normal parameters of good practice. But a few times each month I receive calls that just cause my stomach to knot up and my blood to boil.
With the bio-recovery industry in its 14th year, it is mind-boggling to find individuals who still decide that they are going to start-up a new company and declare themselves “experts” in crime and trauma scene cleanup without any research or training.
It is even more outrageous to find that, although they know almost nothing about the science, chemistry, biology or laws of our industry, they are charging fees that are often four or five times the industry average.
The majority of those operating in the industry today are honest, ethical professionals. It’s the few bad apples in the bio-recovery barrel, so to speak, that amplify the problems tainting our industry.
Example 1: The Hit-and-Run Guys
A husband argues with his wife in their kitchen. As she prepares supper, he grabs a shotgun and, standing in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room, blows his head off.
It is still daylight when the police arrive. In order to see better, they open the brain-splattered dining room drapes. Splatter is on the dining room and kitchen walls, but since the body fell onto the vinyl tile floor of the kitchen, the largest amount of blood pooled there.
The family asks the police about scene cleanup, and is directed to a local company. The company tells the family that payment will have to be made in cash prior to starting the job, and that the family will not be allowed inside of the house while the cleaning process takes place.
The family agrees and stays with relatives until they get the call that the job is complete and they can return. The company is long gone, and upon cursory inspection, the rooms look contaminant-free.
It is now night and, in an effort to keep neighbors from seeing into the dining room, the wife pulls the drapes closed. To the horror of the family, the drapes had apparently never been checked and still have blood and brain matter clinging to the material.
The kitchen floor appears to be clean but, when the wife walks across the floor, bright red blood spurts up between the tiles, making little puddles and polka-dotting her shoes.
If this isn’t enough to re-traumatize the family, the wife goes to remove the now-cold pot of chili from the stove and promptly throws up when she sees a 3-inch piece of her husband’s skull nestled neatly atop the pot.
The family contacted the attorney general for their state, who then called me to review the family’s statements prior to a decision on prosecution.
Example 2: The Little-Extra-on-the-Side Guys
A man who lived alone died in his bed of natural causes, but wasn’t found for several weeks. When the authorities were finally called, the decomposition could be smelled from the street.
When a crime-scene-cleanup company was called in, the man’s relatives were told that the odor had permeated everything in the house with disease. Their recommendation was that everything in the house should be removed and destroyed.
The family, already nauseated from the smell, relied on the “professional opinion” of the technicians and agreed to let them remove everything from the good silver and china to the appliances.
In short, every piece of furniture, appliance, electronic component and fixture was removed because they were declared “not salvageable.”
The relatives were then presented with a bill for approximately $40,000! If this wasn’t obscene enough, a few weeks later the family found many of the home’s contents that were supposedly “not salvageable” being sold at a local flea market.
Example 3: The Cutting-Down-on-Overhead Guys
It is standard practice for crime and trauma-scene cleanup companies to dispose of human-blood-contaminated items that can’t be salvaged. They do this by red-bagging and boxing these items and sending them to a medical waste processing facility. This includes dismantling recliners, mattresses, and other large items to fit in these containers.
In this case, a company responded to a gunshot suicide in an apartment. The victim had sat in his favorite recliner and put a pistol in his mouth. The subsequent wound bled profusely until there was no more blood for the heart to pump. This resulted in the complete saturation of the recliner.
In an apparent effort to save on labor and disposal fees, the crew decided that they would dispose of the recliner by wrapping it in plastic, putting it in the back of their truck and then dumping it in the woods of a neighboring county.
All seemed to go well until a few days later, when hunters found the chair and called police. Thinking that they had stumbled upon evidence of a homicide, the police launched a full-scale investigation that lasted for weeks and logged many detective hours before they were actually able to review the crime scene photos of every police department in the surrounding counties.
When the mystery was finally attributed to this particular crime-scene-cleanup company, not only were they slapped with fines for littering, they were saddled with reimbursing the cost of the investigation. Every law enforcement agency that heard about this dropped the company like a hot potato, and the subsequent media attention tarnished the reputation of crime-scene-cleanup companies everywhere.
I would like to emphasize the fact that these complaints are not clients disappointed with a poorly painted wall or an out-of-true vanity top. These are abuses by unscrupulous companies that are subjecting their clients to financial greed, improper disinfection, and re-traumatizing that no one should have to endure.
Could training and certification eliminate these types of abuse? Perhaps a good portion of them, but in the end, it is the honesty and character of the companies themselves that should be monitored. I believe the way to do that is to pursue standards, as well as meeting with our state legislators to create specific regulations for our industry.
November 4, 2009
As an instructor in crime and trauma-scene recovery and a board member of the American Bio-Recovery Association, I am often approached by attorneys, the public and insurance adjusters to evaluate the service they or their clients received from other crime-scene cleanup companies.For the most part, these are just routine questions from people who want to make sure that the service they received was within the normal parameters of good practice. But a few times each month I receive calls that just cause my stomach to knot up and my blood to boil.
With the bio-recovery industry in its 14th year, it is mind-boggling to find individuals who still decide that they are going to start-up a new company and declare themselves “experts” in crime and trauma scene cleanup without any research or training.
It is even more outrageous to find that, although they know almost nothing about the science, chemistry, biology or laws of our industry, they are charging fees that are often four or five times the industry average.
The majority of those operating in the industry today are honest, ethical professionals. It’s the few bad apples in the bio-recovery barrel, so to speak, that amplify the problems tainting our industry.
Example 1: The Hit-and-Run Guys
A husband argues with his wife in their kitchen. As she prepares supper, he grabs a shotgun and, standing in the doorway between the kitchen and dining room, blows his head off.
It is still daylight when the police arrive. In order to see better, they open the brain-splattered dining room drapes. Splatter is on the dining room and kitchen walls, but since the body fell onto the vinyl tile floor of the kitchen, the largest amount of blood pooled there.
The family asks the police about scene cleanup, and is directed to a local company. The company tells the family that payment will have to be made in cash prior to starting the job, and that the family will not be allowed inside of the house while the cleaning process takes place.
The family agrees and stays with relatives until they get the call that the job is complete and they can return. The company is long gone, and upon cursory inspection, the rooms look contaminant-free.
It is now night and, in an effort to keep neighbors from seeing into the dining room, the wife pulls the drapes closed. To the horror of the family, the drapes had apparently never been checked and still have blood and brain matter clinging to the material.
The kitchen floor appears to be clean but, when the wife walks across the floor, bright red blood spurts up between the tiles, making little puddles and polka-dotting her shoes.
If this isn’t enough to re-traumatize the family, the wife goes to remove the now-cold pot of chili from the stove and promptly throws up when she sees a 3-inch piece of her husband’s skull nestled neatly atop the pot.
The family contacted the attorney general for their state, who then called me to review the family’s statements prior to a decision on prosecution.
Example 2: The Little-Extra-on-the-Side Guys
 |
When a crime-scene-cleanup company was called in, the man’s relatives were told that the odor had permeated everything in the house with disease. Their recommendation was that everything in the house should be removed and destroyed.
The family, already nauseated from the smell, relied on the “professional opinion” of the technicians and agreed to let them remove everything from the good silver and china to the appliances.
In short, every piece of furniture, appliance, electronic component and fixture was removed because they were declared “not salvageable.”
The relatives were then presented with a bill for approximately $40,000! If this wasn’t obscene enough, a few weeks later the family found many of the home’s contents that were supposedly “not salvageable” being sold at a local flea market.
Example 3: The Cutting-Down-on-Overhead Guys
 |
In this case, a company responded to a gunshot suicide in an apartment. The victim had sat in his favorite recliner and put a pistol in his mouth. The subsequent wound bled profusely until there was no more blood for the heart to pump. This resulted in the complete saturation of the recliner.
In an apparent effort to save on labor and disposal fees, the crew decided that they would dispose of the recliner by wrapping it in plastic, putting it in the back of their truck and then dumping it in the woods of a neighboring county.
All seemed to go well until a few days later, when hunters found the chair and called police. Thinking that they had stumbled upon evidence of a homicide, the police launched a full-scale investigation that lasted for weeks and logged many detective hours before they were actually able to review the crime scene photos of every police department in the surrounding counties.
When the mystery was finally attributed to this particular crime-scene-cleanup company, not only were they slapped with fines for littering, they were saddled with reimbursing the cost of the investigation. Every law enforcement agency that heard about this dropped the company like a hot potato, and the subsequent media attention tarnished the reputation of crime-scene-cleanup companies everywhere.
I would like to emphasize the fact that these complaints are not clients disappointed with a poorly painted wall or an out-of-true vanity top. These are abuses by unscrupulous companies that are subjecting their clients to financial greed, improper disinfection, and re-traumatizing that no one should have to endure.
Could training and certification eliminate these types of abuse? Perhaps a good portion of them, but in the end, it is the honesty and character of the companies themselves that should be monitored. I believe the way to do that is to pursue standards, as well as meeting with our state legislators to create specific regulations for our industry.
Reprinted With Permission of Kent Berg
Kent Berg is the Director of the National Institute of Decontamination Specialists, an international crime and trauma scene cleanup training center certified by the American BioRecovery Association (ABRA). He is also a consultant and expert witness in the field of crime and trauma scene biorecovery. Kent can be reached at (864) 855-3400 or at www.NIDStraining.com
Don't let a crooked Trauma Scene cleaning company take advantage of you during your most vulnerable time. Bio-Clean of New Jersey is licensed, bonded, fully insured and well accredited. If tragedy strikes you or your loved ones, call Bio-Clean of New Jersey an honest trauma cleaning company.
Labels: American Bio Recovery Association, bio-recovery corporation, biohazard, biorecovery, d, death cleanup, traumatic death cleaning
2009-11-20
A History of Pandemic Flu
On June 11, 2009, the World health Organization officially declared H1N1 a, “Pandemic 6.”According to the WHO, Pandemic 6 is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region. It is also characterized by human-to-human spread in at least two WHO countries.
While H1N1 is now officially the first pandemic of the 21st Century, it’s not the first Pandemic to strike in recent history. Today, we’re going to take a look back at three flu pandemics of the 20th century – the “Spanish Flu,” the “Asian flu” and the “Hong Kong Flu.”
SPANISH FLU – 1918
I think the quickest way to get you up to speed on the general, “vibe” of the Spanish flu, is that it has been described as the, “WORST MEDICAL HOLOCAUST IN HISTORY.” The 1918 Flu pandemic spread to almost every part of the world—even remote pacific islands and the arctic had cases of the disease. Between March 1918 and June 1920, Spanish flu killed anywhere from 50 to 100 MILLION people worldwide. To put this into perspective, that is three to seven times the amount of people killed in WWI, or 3-6% of the world population. One-third of the world population (500 million people) was infected with disease.
If widespread infection and a death toll that surpassed that from a WORLD WAR wasn’t enough, Spanish flu had a few more horrible tricks up its sleeve. Spanish flu greatly weakened the immune system, allowing bacterial pneumonia to creep in and kill those who were infected. The virus itself also took many lives, as it cause massive hemmorages and edema in the lungs. This led to people bleeding to death via hemmorages in the stomach, intestines, lungs, ears, and skin. Talk about a HORRIBLE way to die!
Spanish flu was first recorded in the United States, and quickly spread to Europe. So why isn’t Spanish Flu called United States Flu? Spain was neutral during WWI, so they had no censorship on information about the disease, its effects, and how to treat it. Therefore Span gave the most legitimate and reliable news n the pandemic, and in the process gave a false impression that Spain was the most or only country affected.
Spanish Flu spread quickly with help from WWI. Soldiers were kept in close quarters in cold, wet trenches. They were also exposed to chemical weapons, stress, and were frequently malnourished, leaving them with weakened immune systems. Another reason the disease was so brutal, was that modern transportation was available during a pandemic for the first time, greatly increasing the worldwide spread of the disease. Finally, the lack of true modern medicine meant that Spanish Flu was frequently misdiagnosed as dengue, cholera, or typhoid, and therefore was not properly treated.
Noo ne is completely sure how the Spanish Flu virus came to infect humans. Some researchers believe it may have jumped from a mammal to humans, but most believe it to be a type of Avian flu.
ASIAN FLU – 1957
Asian Flu was a type of Avian Influenza that originated in China. The Pandemic lasted from 1956-1958. A Asian flu jumped from wild ducks to human beings via a genetic mutation. The flu spread throughout china and parts of Asia in 1956, and made its way to the United States in June 1957.
According to the World Health Organization, Asian flu killed 2 million people worldwide, and 69,800 in the US. Due to scientific advancements science 1918, the Asian flu virus was quickly identified, and a vaccine was developed within a year of its discovery.
HONG KONG FLU – 1968
July 1968 marked the first recorded outbreak of Hong Kong Flu. By the end of the month, the virus had already spread to Vietnam and Singapore. The Hong Kong Flu virus evolved directly from the Asian Flu virus, and despite the similarity between the two viruses, little improvements had been made in how to handle a flu pandemic.
The Hong Kong flu made it to the United States in September 1968, brought home by returning Vietnam War troops. The disease became widespread in America by December 1968, and by 1969 the disease had made it to Japan, Africa, and South America.
Compared to the Spanish and Asian flu, the Hong Kong flu had a low mortality rate. Only 0.5% of those infected died. Hong Kong flu killed 1 million people worldwide, with 33,800 of those people being American.
Besides improved medical and scientific advancements, another reason that the Hong Kong Flu was not as deadly was that many people were partially vaccinated before it even existed. Since the Hong Kong flu evolved directly from the Asian Flu, anyone who contracted the Asian Flu had a significant immunity to the Hong Kong Flu.
SO – while H1N1 could almost never be as bad as the 1918 Spanish Flu, it’s still a very serious disease. One of the main reasons that H1N1 is not as deadly as the Spanish Flu is that we now have improved antibiotics, vaccines, and plans to follow to stop pandemics in their tracks. Remember – you are the first line of defense against the spread of H1N1. If you’re sick: STAY HOME! Wash your hand frequently, and always cough into a tissue or your bent elbow.
Furthermore, if you are a teacher or business owner who believes that H1N1 may be present in your property, do the right thing: Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey. As the years passed during the 20th Century, flu pandemics became less and less deadly – But that’s only because scientific advancements got better. Bio-Clean uses a cutting edge, broad spectrum disinfectant and dispersal system to statistically lower you and your employee’s risk of infection. Check it out on our website! Don’t risk having sick employees or having to close your business- Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey today and ask about the scientific advancements in Flu Decontamination.
While H1N1 is now officially the first pandemic of the 21st Century, it’s not the first Pandemic to strike in recent history. Today, we’re going to take a look back at three flu pandemics of the 20th century – the “Spanish Flu,” the “Asian flu” and the “Hong Kong Flu.”
SPANISH FLU – 1918I think the quickest way to get you up to speed on the general, “vibe” of the Spanish flu, is that it has been described as the, “WORST MEDICAL HOLOCAUST IN HISTORY.” The 1918 Flu pandemic spread to almost every part of the world—even remote pacific islands and the arctic had cases of the disease. Between March 1918 and June 1920, Spanish flu killed anywhere from 50 to 100 MILLION people worldwide. To put this into perspective, that is three to seven times the amount of people killed in WWI, or 3-6% of the world population. One-third of the world population (500 million people) was infected with disease.
If widespread infection and a death toll that surpassed that from a WORLD WAR wasn’t enough, Spanish flu had a few more horrible tricks up its sleeve. Spanish flu greatly weakened the immune system, allowing bacterial pneumonia to creep in and kill those who were infected. The virus itself also took many lives, as it cause massive hemmorages and edema in the lungs. This led to people bleeding to death via hemmorages in the stomach, intestines, lungs, ears, and skin. Talk about a HORRIBLE way to die!
Spanish flu was first recorded in the United States, and quickly spread to Europe. So why isn’t Spanish Flu called United States Flu? Spain was neutral during WWI, so they had no censorship on information about the disease, its effects, and how to treat it. Therefore Span gave the most legitimate and reliable news n the pandemic, and in the process gave a false impression that Spain was the most or only country affected.
Spanish Flu spread quickly with help from WWI. Soldiers were kept in close quarters in cold, wet trenches. They were also exposed to chemical weapons, stress, and were frequently malnourished, leaving them with weakened immune systems. Another reason the disease was so brutal, was that modern transportation was available during a pandemic for the first time, greatly increasing the worldwide spread of the disease. Finally, the lack of true modern medicine meant that Spanish Flu was frequently misdiagnosed as dengue, cholera, or typhoid, and therefore was not properly treated.
Noo ne is completely sure how the Spanish Flu virus came to infect humans. Some researchers believe it may have jumped from a mammal to humans, but most believe it to be a type of Avian flu.
ASIAN FLU – 1957Asian Flu was a type of Avian Influenza that originated in China. The Pandemic lasted from 1956-1958. A Asian flu jumped from wild ducks to human beings via a genetic mutation. The flu spread throughout china and parts of Asia in 1956, and made its way to the United States in June 1957.
According to the World Health Organization, Asian flu killed 2 million people worldwide, and 69,800 in the US. Due to scientific advancements science 1918, the Asian flu virus was quickly identified, and a vaccine was developed within a year of its discovery.
HONG KONG FLU – 1968July 1968 marked the first recorded outbreak of Hong Kong Flu. By the end of the month, the virus had already spread to Vietnam and Singapore. The Hong Kong Flu virus evolved directly from the Asian Flu virus, and despite the similarity between the two viruses, little improvements had been made in how to handle a flu pandemic.
The Hong Kong flu made it to the United States in September 1968, brought home by returning Vietnam War troops. The disease became widespread in America by December 1968, and by 1969 the disease had made it to Japan, Africa, and South America.
Compared to the Spanish and Asian flu, the Hong Kong flu had a low mortality rate. Only 0.5% of those infected died. Hong Kong flu killed 1 million people worldwide, with 33,800 of those people being American.
Besides improved medical and scientific advancements, another reason that the Hong Kong Flu was not as deadly was that many people were partially vaccinated before it even existed. Since the Hong Kong flu evolved directly from the Asian Flu, anyone who contracted the Asian Flu had a significant immunity to the Hong Kong Flu.
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SO – while H1N1 could almost never be as bad as the 1918 Spanish Flu, it’s still a very serious disease. One of the main reasons that H1N1 is not as deadly as the Spanish Flu is that we now have improved antibiotics, vaccines, and plans to follow to stop pandemics in their tracks. Remember – you are the first line of defense against the spread of H1N1. If you’re sick: STAY HOME! Wash your hand frequently, and always cough into a tissue or your bent elbow.
Furthermore, if you are a teacher or business owner who believes that H1N1 may be present in your property, do the right thing: Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey. As the years passed during the 20th Century, flu pandemics became less and less deadly – But that’s only because scientific advancements got better. Bio-Clean uses a cutting edge, broad spectrum disinfectant and dispersal system to statistically lower you and your employee’s risk of infection. Check it out on our website! Don’t risk having sick employees or having to close your business- Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey today and ask about the scientific advancements in Flu Decontamination.
Labels: flu, H1N1, H1N1 decontamination, Pandemics, seasonal flu
2009-11-19
Swine Flu Kills Six More in New Jersey
Thursday, November 19, 2009
By Susan K. Livio
Statehouse Bureau
State health officials yesterday announced six adults died from the swine flu in nine days this month.
The recent string of deaths does not mean the swine flu, or H1N1 flu as it is also known, has evolved into a more deadly virus, said Deputy Health and Senior Services Commissioner Susan Walsh. Most who contract the illness miss some school or work but recover quickly without a hospital stay.
But the illness has now been reported in every county since the initial outbreak in April, so people should take precautions, Walsh said.
"It is important that everyone remember the public health measures that can reduce the chances of contracting the disease Ð get vaccinated against H1N1, wash your hands frequently, cover your cough and stay home when you're sick," Walsh said.
The swine flu has killed 28 New Jerseyans since April. However only two were children, bucking a national trend.
"The main point is the (outbreak) is so unpredictable, nothing surprises me," said state Health Commissioner Heather Howard.
The six who died this month had underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and obesity, Walsh said. They are: a 24-year-old Passaic County man who died Nov. 2; a 30-year-old Passaic County man who died Nov. 5; a 36-year-old Burlington County woman who died Nov. 6; a 42-year-old Somerset County woman who died Nov. 7; a 42-year-old Burlington County woman who died Nov. 8; and a 33-year-old Ocean County woman who died Nov. 11.
Walsh used the announcement to publicize telephone and online resources to help people locate the vaccine, which is in short supply. Today, the state is expected to submit new orders for certain forms of the vaccine Ð a sign back orders are clearing, said state health department spokeswoman Donna Leusner.
Google Inc. has launched a flu shot finder with the locations of clinics that offer seasonal and H1N1 vaccines, Walsh said. The link is available at www.google.com/flushot and the department's Web site at http://nj.gov/health/flu/h1n1.shtml. State residents may call New Jersey's H1N1 Information Hotline, (866) 321-9571, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week.
If H1N1 has broken out in your school or business, check out our new H1N1 decontamination page for more information on how to greatly reduce the risk of contracting H1N1! Don't let H1N1 effect those near to you or close your school/ business--Contact Bio-Clean today!
Labels: flu, H1N1, H1N1 decontamination, seasonal flu
2009-11-18
FLU FACTS: Know What you’re Talking About!
With Avian and Swine Flu dominating cable news broadcasts for the last few winters, people are a little more familiar with how the flu works. It’s now fairly well known that the flu comes from various viral varieties, not just one type of virus. Specifically, [NERD ALERT] Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a general term referring to a contagious respiratory disease that is caused by several different viruses in the Orthomyxoviridae family.
Although the majority of the nation knows a little more about the flu than their grandmother did, there’s still a lot of room for confusion. Cable news flu coverage is simultaneously chock full of specific terminology and vague medical terms. It can get confusing quick! Here’s a little fact sheet to help clear the haze:
EPIDEMIC – The rapid spread of a disease that affects some or many people in a community or region at the same time. (Spreads quickly, effects locally)
PANDEMIC – An outbreak of a disease that affects large numbers of people throughout the world and spreads rapidly. (Spreads quickly, effects globally)
INFLUENZA A – Flue viruses are broken down into three divisions; Influenza A, Influenza B, and Influenza C. Influenza A strains appear in several types of animals, including human. Yes, along with Bird and Swine Flu, there is a Human Flu. Human Flu in humans is the typical seasonal flu that comes around every year. It’s bad, but manageable. The problem with Influenza A viruses arise when animal strains mutate and/or transfer over into the human population.
H5N1 – “Avian Flu/ Bird Flu” H5N1 is a strain of Influenza A that usually effects only birds. The virus can cause epidemics in bird populations, decimating entire poultry farms. 1997, a Hong Kong boy was the first human to be effected by H5N1. An outbreak that began in 2003 has infected over 250 people in 10 countries. More than half of them have died, demonstrating just how deadly H5N1 is to humans.
As of now, H5N1 can only be spread from infected birds to humans, not from humans to other humans. However, H5N1 mutates and changes very rapidly, so it has a high potentiality of mutating into a virus that can be spread from human to human.
H1N1 – “Swine Flu” H1N1 is like H5N1 in that they are both Influenza A strains that originated in non-human animals, but is unlike H5N1 in that it is now easily communicable between humans.H5N1 was first detected in its human-human state in April 2009. On June 11th 2009, the World Health Organization signaled that a pandemic of H1N1 was underway. There is now an H1N1 flu shot, but supplies are still limited. In order to help control this pandemic, those who suspect they may have H1N1 should stay home, and contact a doctor.
INFLUENZA B – Unlink Influenza A which effects a variety of different animals, Influenza B affects only humans and seals (weird, right?). Because Influenza B has been around plaguing humans for ages, we know how to combat it.
SEASONAL FLU - The good old fashioned flu you grew up with. “A contagious respiratory illness cause by Influenza (flu) viruses occurring every year. It affects an average of 5 to 20 percent of the US population by causing mild to severe illness, and in some instances can lead to death. Adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and as long as 5 days after getting sick.” Different strains of Human Influenza A and Influenza B are what give us the seasonal flu we know and love… or hate. The seasonal flu shot contains weakened strains of both Influenza A and Human Influenza B.
Well, I hope that my explanations of these flu terms will help you get a better understanding of the flu—A key part of staying healthy.
Although the majority of the nation knows a little more about the flu than their grandmother did, there’s still a lot of room for confusion. Cable news flu coverage is simultaneously chock full of specific terminology and vague medical terms. It can get confusing quick! Here’s a little fact sheet to help clear the haze:
EPIDEMIC – The rapid spread of a disease that affects some or many people in a community or region at the same time. (Spreads quickly, effects locally)
PANDEMIC – An outbreak of a disease that affects large numbers of people throughout the world and spreads rapidly. (Spreads quickly, effects globally)
INFLUENZA A – Flue viruses are broken down into three divisions; Influenza A, Influenza B, and Influenza C. Influenza A strains appear in several types of animals, including human. Yes, along with Bird and Swine Flu, there is a Human Flu. Human Flu in humans is the typical seasonal flu that comes around every year. It’s bad, but manageable. The problem with Influenza A viruses arise when animal strains mutate and/or transfer over into the human population.
H5N1 – “Avian Flu/ Bird Flu” H5N1 is a strain of Influenza A that usually effects only birds. The virus can cause epidemics in bird populations, decimating entire poultry farms. 1997, a Hong Kong boy was the first human to be effected by H5N1. An outbreak that began in 2003 has infected over 250 people in 10 countries. More than half of them have died, demonstrating just how deadly H5N1 is to humans.As of now, H5N1 can only be spread from infected birds to humans, not from humans to other humans. However, H5N1 mutates and changes very rapidly, so it has a high potentiality of mutating into a virus that can be spread from human to human.
H1N1 – “Swine Flu” H1N1 is like H5N1 in that they are both Influenza A strains that originated in non-human animals, but is unlike H5N1 in that it is now easily communicable between humans.H5N1 was first detected in its human-human state in April 2009. On June 11th 2009, the World Health Organization signaled that a pandemic of H1N1 was underway. There is now an H1N1 flu shot, but supplies are still limited. In order to help control this pandemic, those who suspect they may have H1N1 should stay home, and contact a doctor.
INFLUENZA B – Unlink Influenza A which effects a variety of different animals, Influenza B affects only humans and seals (weird, right?). Because Influenza B has been around plaguing humans for ages, we know how to combat it.
SEASONAL FLU - The good old fashioned flu you grew up with. “A contagious respiratory illness cause by Influenza (flu) viruses occurring every year. It affects an average of 5 to 20 percent of the US population by causing mild to severe illness, and in some instances can lead to death. Adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and as long as 5 days after getting sick.” Different strains of Human Influenza A and Influenza B are what give us the seasonal flu we know and love… or hate. The seasonal flu shot contains weakened strains of both Influenza A and Human Influenza B.
Well, I hope that my explanations of these flu terms will help you get a better understanding of the flu—A key part of staying healthy.
Labels: American Red Cross, disease, flu, H1N1, h5n1, seasonal flu
2009-11-12
115 Pedigree Cats Found Living In Filth
11/11/2009 2:57 p.m.
115 purebred cats and two dogs living in filthy conditions are uncovered by animal welfare officers in a Montgomery County home.
The Pet Adoption and Lifecare Society removed the animals from a home on Berkley Road in West Norriton Township Wednesday in what investigators call a "hoarder situation." They are now working to nurse them back to health.
The cat breeds include Siamese, Persian, Ragdoll, Balinese, Himalayan and Maine Coon.
The homeowner, Jean Coady, allegedly told officials she collected the animals because they were slated to be put to sleep but she just couldn't afford to feed them.
Animal officers say the pets were found in poor health, many emaciated with severe skin and coat problems, fleas, internal parasites, and ear mites.
Three of the felines may not survive, Fox 29 has learned.
Coady would go into local shelters to adopt them and even went as far to buy the pedigreed animals on Craigslist, said authorities.
"They're cats everywhere. They're cats all over the sofa, on top of the refrigerator, on the counters, on the stove, on the kitchen table, on the floor," said Pat Maloney of PALS. "What was notable was that for all of these cats, there were only a few litter pans and there was no food. We had 115 starved cats alive with fleas, lots of hair loss, lots of skin problems, ear mites and starved."
"I don't have any sympathy because these are highly adoptable animals, they're mostly pedigreed animals," continued Maloney. "They would've been easy to adopt out, she could've reached out to any of the humane societies or other rescues for help."
Coady faces various counts of animal cruelty.
Anyone interested in supporting or adopting these cats are urged to call PALS at 610-299-1860.
Check out our website if you or someone you know may be hoarding animals or possessions.
115 purebred cats and two dogs living in filthy conditions are uncovered by animal welfare officers in a Montgomery County home.
The Pet Adoption and Lifecare Society removed the animals from a home on Berkley Road in West Norriton Township Wednesday in what investigators call a "hoarder situation." They are now working to nurse them back to health.
The cat breeds include Siamese, Persian, Ragdoll, Balinese, Himalayan and Maine Coon.
The homeowner, Jean Coady, allegedly told officials she collected the animals because they were slated to be put to sleep but she just couldn't afford to feed them.
Animal officers say the pets were found in poor health, many emaciated with severe skin and coat problems, fleas, internal parasites, and ear mites.
Three of the felines may not survive, Fox 29 has learned.
Coady would go into local shelters to adopt them and even went as far to buy the pedigreed animals on Craigslist, said authorities.
"They're cats everywhere. They're cats all over the sofa, on top of the refrigerator, on the counters, on the stove, on the kitchen table, on the floor," said Pat Maloney of PALS. "What was notable was that for all of these cats, there were only a few litter pans and there was no food. We had 115 starved cats alive with fleas, lots of hair loss, lots of skin problems, ear mites and starved."
"I don't have any sympathy because these are highly adoptable animals, they're mostly pedigreed animals," continued Maloney. "They would've been easy to adopt out, she could've reached out to any of the humane societies or other rescues for help."
Coady faces various counts of animal cruelty.
Anyone interested in supporting or adopting these cats are urged to call PALS at 610-299-1860.
Check out our website if you or someone you know may be hoarding animals or possessions.
Labels: animal decontamination, animal hoarding, Audubon PA, cathouse, hoarding
Cumberland County Gangs Cont'd: Latin Gangs!
Today in the third and final gang-related post, we’re going to talk about Latin gangs in the Cumberland County area. While the Bloods, Crips, and their various Sets will allow just about anyone to join (men and women of any ethnicity), Latin gangs allow Latinos exclusively.
LATIN KINGS/ ALKQN (Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation)
The Latin Kings originated in Chicago in the 1940’s, to protect and preserve the identity of their culture. Fearing verbal, mental, and physical attacks by their American counterparts, various coalitions, strike back groups, and traditional street gangs developed. New Jersey chapters started throughout New Jersey in 1994. The Latin Kings are known for their HIGHLY organized operation. The Latin Kings have released a DVD, have marched in Latino Pride parades, and even tried to incorporate themselves as a religious group in order to overcome RICO statutes. They have a strict and detailed charter/constitution known as the Latin King Manifesto. When the Latin Kings come together for meetings, they have weapon and security checks. The entire group stands in a circle around whoever is speaking, to show respect, and keep order. Internal discipline is a high priority.
The Latin Kings wear yellow, gold and black. Yellow and gold stand for life, while black stands for death. Their symbols include; five pointed crowns, five pointed star, lion heads with crowns, coats of armor, and most recently, a bulldog with a crown. The five-points on the crowns and stars stand for respect, honesty, unity, knowledge, and love. Common Latin King terminology includes:
Amor de Rey – Love to the King
Black Pearl – A secret Latin King assassination team.
360/ 360% Strong – Refers to the circular meetings
Motherland – Chicago
T.O.S – Terminate on Site
B.O.S. – Beat on Site
The Latin Kings are one of the most highly organized gangs in the United States, so naturally they have a clearly defined gang structure. Here’s how it works on the East Coast:
Over Leader (Inca)
Advisor (Counselor)
Division Leaders – First Crown, Second Crown, Third Crown, Fourth Crown, Fifth Crown
Tribe Leaders – Leader, Vice President, Warlord, Educator/Counselor, Treasurer
The Cumberland County Latin Kings Set is currently working as a, “Ghost Chapter,” a tactic used by the Latin Kings in which a particular Set lays low and goes underground or into hiding to avoid the Police. The Ghost Chaptering Latin Kings are letting the local Blood Sets take the heat until Police interest drops.
NETA (Never Ever Tolerate Abuse)
Neta was established in Puerto Rico by Carlos Torres-Irriarte. Neta was created to advocate for injustices experienced at the hands of prison officials and other prison gangs. In 1993, the Netas joined the Latin Kings as a dominant force in the New York prison system.
Neta Members wear Red, White and Blue, with Black occasionally replacing blue. Neta’s emblem is a heart pierced by two crossing Puerto Rican flags with a shackled right hand with the middle and index fingers crossed (sign language for the letter N). Neta members wear beaded necklaces and handkerchiefs sticking out of their pockets to show their allegiance. Neta Members also display the Puerto Rican Flag and are even known to carry Neta identification cards!
Despite carrying gang membership cards, Neta is known as a secretive group. Members will not freely admit to being a part of Neta.
Neta is a very dangerous gang. Almost all members of Neta are Ex-Convicts. Members of Neta are NOT deterred by police, and will not hesitate to attack or kill an officer if necessary. Neta members like to carry firearms, especially semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons.
REMEMBER! The biggest way to assist in combating gang Involvement in your neighborhood is to GET RID OF GRAFFITI as soon as possible if it is on your property. Bio-Clean of New Jersey offers emergency graffiti removal! For more information visit our website or call (856) 307-1051. Advise local authorities if you notice any graffiti on any public buildings or objects, and contact authorities for any suspicious persons or activities. Don’t wait for something to happen! Check your children; books, bookbags, bedrooms, clothing, and writing on their bodies are good places to find gang affiliated words, images, and paraphernalia. And don’t forget- TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN. Know their friends, and the parents of their friends. If we all work together as a community, we can take a bite out of gang violence.
LATIN KINGS/ ALKQN (Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation)
The Latin Kings originated in Chicago in the 1940’s, to protect and preserve the identity of their culture. Fearing verbal, mental, and physical attacks by their American counterparts, various coalitions, strike back groups, and traditional street gangs developed. New Jersey chapters started throughout New Jersey in 1994. The Latin Kings are known for their HIGHLY organized operation. The Latin Kings have released a DVD, have marched in Latino Pride parades, and even tried to incorporate themselves as a religious group in order to overcome RICO statutes. They have a strict and detailed charter/constitution known as the Latin King Manifesto. When the Latin Kings come together for meetings, they have weapon and security checks. The entire group stands in a circle around whoever is speaking, to show respect, and keep order. Internal discipline is a high priority.The Latin Kings wear yellow, gold and black. Yellow and gold stand for life, while black stands for death. Their symbols include; five pointed crowns, five pointed star, lion heads with crowns, coats of armor, and most recently, a bulldog with a crown. The five-points on the crowns and stars stand for respect, honesty, unity, knowledge, and love. Common Latin King terminology includes:
Amor de Rey – Love to the King
Black Pearl – A secret Latin King assassination team.
360/ 360% Strong – Refers to the circular meetings
Motherland – Chicago
T.O.S – Terminate on Site
B.O.S. – Beat on Site
The Latin Kings are one of the most highly organized gangs in the United States, so naturally they have a clearly defined gang structure. Here’s how it works on the East Coast:
Over Leader (Inca)
Advisor (Counselor)
Division Leaders – First Crown, Second Crown, Third Crown, Fourth Crown, Fifth Crown
Tribe Leaders – Leader, Vice President, Warlord, Educator/Counselor, Treasurer
The Cumberland County Latin Kings Set is currently working as a, “Ghost Chapter,” a tactic used by the Latin Kings in which a particular Set lays low and goes underground or into hiding to avoid the Police. The Ghost Chaptering Latin Kings are letting the local Blood Sets take the heat until Police interest drops.
NETA (Never Ever Tolerate Abuse)
Neta was established in Puerto Rico by Carlos Torres-Irriarte. Neta was created to advocate for injustices experienced at the hands of prison officials and other prison gangs. In 1993, the Netas joined the Latin Kings as a dominant force in the New York prison system.Neta Members wear Red, White and Blue, with Black occasionally replacing blue. Neta’s emblem is a heart pierced by two crossing Puerto Rican flags with a shackled right hand with the middle and index fingers crossed (sign language for the letter N). Neta members wear beaded necklaces and handkerchiefs sticking out of their pockets to show their allegiance. Neta Members also display the Puerto Rican Flag and are even known to carry Neta identification cards!
Despite carrying gang membership cards, Neta is known as a secretive group. Members will not freely admit to being a part of Neta.
Neta is a very dangerous gang. Almost all members of Neta are Ex-Convicts. Members of Neta are NOT deterred by police, and will not hesitate to attack or kill an officer if necessary. Neta members like to carry firearms, especially semi-automatic and fully automatic weapons.
REMEMBER! The biggest way to assist in combating gang Involvement in your neighborhood is to GET RID OF GRAFFITI as soon as possible if it is on your property. Bio-Clean of New Jersey offers emergency graffiti removal! For more information visit our website or call (856) 307-1051. Advise local authorities if you notice any graffiti on any public buildings or objects, and contact authorities for any suspicious persons or activities. Don’t wait for something to happen! Check your children; books, bookbags, bedrooms, clothing, and writing on their bodies are good places to find gang affiliated words, images, and paraphernalia. And don’t forget- TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN. Know their friends, and the parents of their friends. If we all work together as a community, we can take a bite out of gang violence.
Labels: ALKQN, gangs, graffiti, graffiti removal, Latin Kings, NETA
2009-11-11
Cumberland County Gangs Cont'd: Bloods and Crips
As a follow up to yesterday’s post about the Vineland City gang seminar, let’s talk about some general gang information.
First, a gang is defined as, “a group of 3 or more people who have a common name, sign, or identifying symbol, who engage in criminal activity. Both males and females from all neighborhoods, races, cultures, religions, and economic levels are affiliated with gangs.” According to the Vineland PD, gangs exist because people are looking for several things; Monetary gains, stature, protection, territory, racism, politics, religion, and popularity.
HOW AND WHY PEOPLE JOIN GANGS
Gangs look at juveniles from the ages of 14-17 as “wannabes.” Wannabes are curious young youths. Gang members start by asking these kids for small favors. These small favors quickly add up to asking kids to participate in criminal mischief, robbery, burglary, thefts, and drug sales. Sooner than these kids know it, they’ve gone from wannabes to gonnabes.
Once these kids have gotten involved with the gang enough, they or the gang decides that it’s time for them to be initiated. An initiation may be as simple as learning a set of rules and regulations and reciting them in front of current gang members. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the initiation may require the individual to endure a painful undergoing. A very popular type of induction is a “beat-in.” The gang will crowd around the inductee and brutally beat them for half a minute.
When women join a gang, they sometimes get the option of being, “sexed-in.” The female inductee rolls a pair of dice, and the number she rolls is the number of men in the gang she must have sex with. It’s a pretty brutal practice, especially since many times the gang’s will beat and have sex with female inductee’s regardless of being beat-in or sexed in.
The easiest way to gain gang membership is being, “blessed-in.” If you are the child of a current gang member, you are in that gang from birth. Police records show family photos of parents giving gang signs while holding their young children, with some photos even showing the young children themselves throwing gang signs.
Now, let’s check out some information on individual gangs.
BLOODS
The Bloods originated in Compton, CA in the late 60’s to protect themselves from the already existing gang, the Crips. (Protection from other gangs is a common reason for a new gang to come into existence). The Bloods most frequent criminal activities are distribution of narcotics, gang assaults, and contract killings. They are very violent towards other gangs, especially the crips.Although the bloods originated on the West Coast, in 1993, the recognized godfathers of the East Coast Bloods, Omar (OG Mack) Porter and Leonard (OG Deadeye) McKenzie organized prisoners in Rikers Island to fight and defend against the current gangs in the prison (Latin Kinds and NETA). The Bloods are now recognized as the largest NJ street gang.
Bloods are known for their Red clothing, although they may also wear brown (the color of dried blood). They also occasionally wear pink (in prison, a red marker thrown in with white laundry means that incarcerated bloods can still “represent”). They frequently have M.O.B. tattoos. M.O.B. stands for Member of Bloods or Money Over Bitches. They also get Dawg Paw tattoos after completing particularly dangerous missions for the gang. This can be a literal tattoo of a dog paw, or three cigarette burns that make an equilateral triangle. Bloods cross out the letter, “C” when they write, as a gesture of disrespect towards the Crips. Bloods will refer to each other as Demu.
The bloods are broken up into different, “Sets” across New Jersey. Their gang structure is organized as follows:
-First Superior or General
-Second Superior or Captain
-Third Superior of Minister of Defense
-Fourth Superior or Minister of Education
-Fifth Superior/ Field Commander (Drug Manager)
-Blood Soldiers/ Male and Female Dawgs
CRIPS
In 1969, Raymond (Tookie) Williams, co-founded the Baby Avenue Crips. By 1972 the word “Crip” had become so common among CA street gangs that members adopted the name. Other than CA, Chicago is known as a Crip homeland.The Crips are the 3rd largest NJ gang according to a 2004 NJSP survey. The Crips appear to be the most heavily armed group in the Cumberland County area. They are frequently found with weapons when pulled over or stopped by police.
The Crips are mortal enemies of the bloods. Crips are known for wearing Blue. They also will wear Grey and Purple (gangs have multiple color options to help them avoid police and other gangs when alone). Crips use the 6-pointed star of David as a logo when spraying graffiti. They frequently wear British Knights shoes (the BK also stands for Blood Killer). Crips refer to the Bloods as, “Slobs,” so in addition to British Knights, the Crips wear Adidas (All Day I Destroy A Slob) and K-Swiss (Kill A Slob When I See A Slob). Crips are also known for a unique style of speech known as, Crackalackin, and a unique dance called the, “Cripwalk”. Of all the gangs, Crips have the most members involved in the entertainment industry.
Unlike the Bloods, Crip Sets are less structured. Sets are frequently comprised of family members, with the older members as leaders, and the younger members as street drug dealers. Local Cripsets include; YT Young Thugs, 5 Hoover Duece, and Grape Street.
Check back tomorrow for New Jersey’s Latin Gang Info!
Labels: bloods, crips, cumberland county, gangs, graffiti, voilence
2009-11-10
Monmouth U Students put on Anti-Gang Seminar in Vineland, NJ
Concerned Citizens this Monday got a gang of new information on Cumberland County gangs this Monday.
Monmouth University Students held a Gang Violence Awareness Seminar at the Vineland City Library this Monday, November 9th. Spurred to action by Cumberland County’s rise in gang related crime in the last year, Grad Students Janice Powell, Coraline Evans, and Brenda Herbert, enlisted Detective Martinez to help give the community of Vineland the information they need to know about Gang Activity in the area.
Detective Martinez works with a 5 member gang unit within the Vineland Police Department. Martinez spoke about what gangs are, what gangs are in the area, the warning signs of gang activity, and most importantly of all, how to know if young friend or family member is getting involved with gang activity.
A Gang is defined as, “a group of 3 or more people who have a common name, sign, or identifying symbol, and who engage in criminal activity. Both males and females from all neighborhoods, races, cultures, religions and economic levels are affiliated with gangs. “
Bloods, Crips, the 18th Street Gang, and the 7th Street Gang/ Uptown Boys are the most prevalent gangs in the Cumberland County area.
Different gangs often communicate with each other via graffiti. Graffiti can be a mark of one gang’s territory, or it can be a call to war against other gangs. Graffiti helps keep police current on gang activity, but it also agitates relations between gangs, which can lead to violence and homicides. That’s why the Vineland Chief of Police is hard on graffiti, initiating a strict policy of, “report, record, remove.”
According to Bio-Clean of New Jersey CEO Andrew Yurchuck, “Graffiti is a crime stimulant. A town laden with graffiti will see higher crime rates then a town that is graffiti free. We will dispatch a team immediately and get the property back to its original condition quickly and efficiently. We have recently invested thousands of dollars in state of the art graffiti removal equipment. Our professional staff is highly trained so the business owner can get back to their daily activities with the peace of mind that their building will look brand new once again. Insurance companies will pay for the graffiti removal.” (For more information on our graffiti removal services, check out our website, or call (856) 307-1051. )
Detective Martinez went on to stress the importance of all parents monitoring their children for potential gang activity. Modern gangs know no bounds of age, race, or gender. Many gangs prefer kids who wouldn’t be suspected of doing crime, and will make friends with socially outcasted nerdy kids only to use them to peddle drugs. Gangs look for “wannabes” who could be an, “asset,” to the gang. If the gang can exploit and use your child, they will try to. Kids join gangs because they seek a sense of belonging, power, self-worth, status, physical protection, income, excitement and companionship. No child is safe from gangs unless a parent takes preventative action.
Detective Martinez then gave some tips on how to find out if your child is in a gang.
-If your child admits to “hanging out” with kids in gangs.
-If your child shows an unusual interest in one or two colors of clothing or a particular logo.
-If your child has an unusual interest in gangster-influenced music, videos, movies or websites.
-If your child uses unusual hand signals to communicate with friends
-If your child has specific drawings or gang symbols on school books, clothes, walls or tattoos.
-If your child comes home with unexplained physical injuries (fighting-related bruises, injuries to hands and/or knuckles.
-If your child has unexplained cash or goods, such as clothing or jewelry
-If your child carries a weapon
-If your child has been in trouble with the police.
-If your child exhibits changes in behavior such as:
-Withdrawing from family
-Declining school attendance
-Declining School performance, and or behavior
-Staying out late without reason
-Displaying an unusual desire for secrecy
-Exhibiting signs of drug use
-Breaking rules consistently
-Speaking in gang-style slang
Martinez stressed that parents should not be afraid to deeply investigate into their child’s life if they suspect gang activity. Parents should not be afraid to search their child’s room if gang membership is suspected. Kids may draw gang logos on the inside of their jackets and then flip them inside out when at school. Kids also keep gang colored handkerchiefs hidden in their back pockets underneath of large white T-shirts.
Parents should be concerned about the criminal activity that their child would be involved in if members of a gang, but even more concerning is the violence they would be exposed to. Gang members frequently carry weapons, and if two rival gangs meet up it could mean homicide. Furthermore, many gangs initiate their members with, “beat-ins,” an initiation process in which a new member is beaten by a gang of current members for 30 seconds.
The war on gangs continues, but hopefully, the City of Vineland is a little more educated about gangs, and a little more ready to battle gangs with preventative measures in the home.
Check back tomorrow for information about specific gangs in Cumberland County!
Monmouth University Students held a Gang Violence Awareness Seminar at the Vineland City Library this Monday, November 9th. Spurred to action by Cumberland County’s rise in gang related crime in the last year, Grad Students Janice Powell, Coraline Evans, and Brenda Herbert, enlisted Detective Martinez to help give the community of Vineland the information they need to know about Gang Activity in the area.Detective Martinez works with a 5 member gang unit within the Vineland Police Department. Martinez spoke about what gangs are, what gangs are in the area, the warning signs of gang activity, and most importantly of all, how to know if young friend or family member is getting involved with gang activity.
A Gang is defined as, “a group of 3 or more people who have a common name, sign, or identifying symbol, and who engage in criminal activity. Both males and females from all neighborhoods, races, cultures, religions and economic levels are affiliated with gangs. “
Bloods, Crips, the 18th Street Gang, and the 7th Street Gang/ Uptown Boys are the most prevalent gangs in the Cumberland County area.
Different gangs often communicate with each other via graffiti. Graffiti can be a mark of one gang’s territory, or it can be a call to war against other gangs. Graffiti helps keep police current on gang activity, but it also agitates relations between gangs, which can lead to violence and homicides. That’s why the Vineland Chief of Police is hard on graffiti, initiating a strict policy of, “report, record, remove.”
According to Bio-Clean of New Jersey CEO Andrew Yurchuck, “Graffiti is a crime stimulant. A town laden with graffiti will see higher crime rates then a town that is graffiti free. We will dispatch a team immediately and get the property back to its original condition quickly and efficiently. We have recently invested thousands of dollars in state of the art graffiti removal equipment. Our professional staff is highly trained so the business owner can get back to their daily activities with the peace of mind that their building will look brand new once again. Insurance companies will pay for the graffiti removal.” (For more information on our graffiti removal services, check out our website, or call (856) 307-1051. )Detective Martinez went on to stress the importance of all parents monitoring their children for potential gang activity. Modern gangs know no bounds of age, race, or gender. Many gangs prefer kids who wouldn’t be suspected of doing crime, and will make friends with socially outcasted nerdy kids only to use them to peddle drugs. Gangs look for “wannabes” who could be an, “asset,” to the gang. If the gang can exploit and use your child, they will try to. Kids join gangs because they seek a sense of belonging, power, self-worth, status, physical protection, income, excitement and companionship. No child is safe from gangs unless a parent takes preventative action.
Detective Martinez then gave some tips on how to find out if your child is in a gang.
-If your child admits to “hanging out” with kids in gangs.-If your child shows an unusual interest in one or two colors of clothing or a particular logo.
-If your child has an unusual interest in gangster-influenced music, videos, movies or websites.
-If your child uses unusual hand signals to communicate with friends
-If your child has specific drawings or gang symbols on school books, clothes, walls or tattoos.
-If your child comes home with unexplained physical injuries (fighting-related bruises, injuries to hands and/or knuckles.
-If your child has unexplained cash or goods, such as clothing or jewelry
-If your child carries a weapon
-If your child has been in trouble with the police.
-If your child exhibits changes in behavior such as:
-Withdrawing from family
-Declining school attendance
-Declining School performance, and or behavior
-Staying out late without reason
-Displaying an unusual desire for secrecy
-Exhibiting signs of drug use
-Breaking rules consistently
-Speaking in gang-style slang
Martinez stressed that parents should not be afraid to deeply investigate into their child’s life if they suspect gang activity. Parents should not be afraid to search their child’s room if gang membership is suspected. Kids may draw gang logos on the inside of their jackets and then flip them inside out when at school. Kids also keep gang colored handkerchiefs hidden in their back pockets underneath of large white T-shirts.
Parents should be concerned about the criminal activity that their child would be involved in if members of a gang, but even more concerning is the violence they would be exposed to. Gang members frequently carry weapons, and if two rival gangs meet up it could mean homicide. Furthermore, many gangs initiate their members with, “beat-ins,” an initiation process in which a new member is beaten by a gang of current members for 30 seconds.
The war on gangs continues, but hopefully, the City of Vineland is a little more educated about gangs, and a little more ready to battle gangs with preventative measures in the home.
Check back tomorrow for information about specific gangs in Cumberland County!
Labels: gangs, graffiti, graffiti removal, new jersey, Police, Vineland
Etc
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