I started working for Bio-Clean of New Jersey a little over a year ago. Originally, I was just the graphic design guy, but as time went on, after some training, I started to go out on jobs. Some people (including myself at first) may think, “Why would you VOLUNTARILY put yourself in a situation where you had to clean up the most disgusting and dangerous stuff on earth?” For me, I think it was because I had to prove I was tough enough. I wanted to look the remnants of death in the face, and man up to the fear of real-life death and gore. I’m a pacifist, so there was no way I was ever going to war unless there was a draft, so this was the only way to really see death.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not some weirdo with a perverted fascination with death. I didn’t get into this thinking, “YEAH, REAL BLOOD AND DEAD PEOPLE, I CAN’T WAIT!” The day of my first job, I was a little scared on the way up. I wanted to see this stuff because I wanted to make myself tough enough that I wouldn’t be scared or completely freaked out by a real crime scene. Watching a horror movie is one thing, but actually going into a REAL murder scene, with REAL blood from a REAL person… It’s intense. I thought that seeing this stuff in real life would prepare me if I was in a violence filled situation later in life, and now that I’ve done it, I think I was right. Blood and gore, real or Hollywood, no longer phases me. Sure there are still jobs that FREAK me out, but the blood and remnants of violent acts don’t send shivers up my spine like they once did. If terrorists attack, if there’s a violent situation in front of me, if the sh!t just hits the fan; I think I’ll be able to think clearer than the average person just because I’m used to the sights and smells of violent trauma.

Other than proving that I was tough enough to handle actually walking through a crime scene, I think the other thing that made me want to go on a bio-cleaning job was Mike Rowe. Mike Rowe is the man- period (I mean, the guy was an opera singer before he hosted TV!), and dirty Jobs is one of my favorite shows. I went to Rowan University for Radio/TV/Film, with a focus on documentary filmmaking. Bio-Clean let me prove I can handle the dirtiest and most terrifying job; any assignment I could be sent on, or choose to go on while filming would be well within my capacity (so Discovery and A&E, if you’re reading this, send me an e-mail!)

So now you know my thinking going into this job. It’s my first time, I’m a little nervous, but I’m ready to look the reality of life and death in the face. Time to talk about the job.

--This post contains real scene photos. Viewer discretion is advised. Click Here to reveal the rest of the post--

Labels: bio-recovery corporation, biohazard, crime scene cleanup, death cleanup, homicide, suicide, technician's journal, traumatic death cleaning

We've had a lot of work lately, so we arranged for a medical waste pickup today. Now it's on its way to the incineration facility!

Labels: biohazard, medical waste

Scientific research on bedbugs has shed new light on a possible extermination technique.

Homosexual mounting is a common behaviour in bed bugs as male sexual interest is directed towards any newly fed individual. The only mode of copulation in the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius, is by traumatic insemination, where the male pierces the female abdomen with his needle-like penis. Homosexual mating would result in abdominal injuries in mounted males, as males lack the female counteradaptive spermalege structure. I here show that bed bug alarm pheromones, previously hypothesized to be a predator chemical defence, can be used by newly fed males to signal their sex and reduce the risk of homosexual mating. Mechanical blocking of the male pheromone glands significantly increased homosexual mounting duration compared to control males, while applying male extracts containing mainly alarm pheromone onto male–female mating pairs completely interrupted or shortened mating duration and reduced sperm transfer. Males confined with other males received piercing scars, demonstrating that homosexual mating occurs. The focal males in the all-male confinement experiment had reduced longevity compared to singly held males, but why this reduction in longevity occurred is not clear. Mounted males thus benefit from being able to discharge alarm pheromones, while mounting males consider the alarm signal a major sex identification cue, suggesting that male bed bugs use alarm pheromone communication to avoid homosexual harassment and mounting.To sum all that up for you, male bedbugs will mate try to mate with any bedbug that has fed recently. The male bedbug also has an extremely sharp, needle like penis, which is used to piece the abdomen of a female bedbug. Because of this, female bedbugs have a special piece of armour plating that directs the male bedbug's razor sharp member into its safe and proper place. Male bedbugs do not have this piece of armor plating.

If specific pheromones are applied to a bedbug infestation, it can cause the males of the species to go into a sex crazed frenzy, essentially causing the male population of bedbugs to rape each other to death.

While this study is interesting (you can read it here), and could possibly play an important role in future bed bug control methods, there is no product on the market today that uses this method. Bizarre though, huh?

If you suspect you have bedbugs, CALL BIO-CLEAN IMMEDEATLY! They spread exponentially over time, infesting an entire house within just a few days. Not only do they reproduce quickly, but their sticky eggs attach to shoes and clothing-- your bedbugs infestation could quickly be shared by your friends and loved ones! If you think you have bedbugs, call bio-clean today.

Labels: bed bugs, bedbugs

Today I've got an interesting post for you guys, courtesy of Cracked.com and my internet buddy Lex10. Here at Bio-Clean, during the course of any given work day, we see some things that we just can't believe are real. Horrifying murder scenes, toilets full of blood -- things that could take a movie from rated R to NC-17. The truth is many times stranger and creepier than fiction. SO - on that note, check out 6 Creepy Urban Legends That Happen To Be True! Hope you enjoy it!

Labels: American Bio Recovery Association, bio-recovery corporation, bloody, crime scene cleanup, homicide, suicide

A report from the Jan. 1, 2010 issue of the journal Sleep found a surprising link between the typically late bedtimes of teenagers and teen depression and suicide.

Parent-set bedtimes affect teen's mental state

Adolescents with parent-set bedtimes after midnight had a 24% increased incidence of depression and a 20% increase in suicidal thoughts compared to teens with a bedtime before 10 pm.

Most of the teens in the study reported adhering to the bedtimes their parents set for them, showing that it's up to parents to give appropriate guidelines for avoiding sleep deprivation.

Length of Sleep Matters for Adolescents

The length of sleep matters, too, according to the researchers. Teenagers who reported getting less than five hours of sleep a night had a 71% higher risk of depression and a 48% higher risk of suicidal thoughts than adolescents who got 8 hours or more of sleep.

The AASM (The American Academy of Sleep Medicine) recommends nine or more hours of sleep a night for adolescents.

The study was conducted by James E. Gangwisch, PhD, assistant professor at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, N.Y and colleagues and looked at over 15,000 teenagers' sleep habits and mental states. The teens in the study ranged from 12-17 years old.

Other studies indicate more benefits from increased teen sleep.

In previous studies, shorter sleep durations in children and teens have been linked to higher rates of obesity, school performance and general social well-being. And adolescents who don't get enough sleep due to insomnia are far more likely to develop mental health problems, including substance abuse.

Read more here

Labels: bio-clean restoration, crime scene cleanup, crimescenecleaning.net, death cleanup, suicide

L.A. Gangs Seek Profit in Peace
Violence Ebbs as Criminal Alliances Emerge in New Test for Authorities
By TAMARA AUDI

LOS ANGELES -- After nearly two decades fighting gangs, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective Robert Lyons thought he had seen it all. Until he saw members of the Bloods and the Crips -- rival gangs that spent years in brutal conflict -- meeting amiably in a restaurant.

"They were talking. There was hugging and high-fiving. It was unbelievable," Mr. Lyons said. He has heard a refrain from gang members: Red (the Bloods) and blue (the Crips) make green (money).

Left, members of the Bloods and the Crips, rival Los Angeles street gangs, during a truce attempted in 1992 after the acquittal of police officers in the beating of Rodney King. Below, Crips members in Los Angeles in 1988.

Gangs that were once bloody rivals now are cooperating to wring profits from the sale of illegal drugs and weapons, law-enforcement officials and gang experts say. In some cases, gangs that investigators believed to be sworn enemies share neighborhoods and strike business deals. The collaboration even crosses racial lines, remarkable in a gang world where racial divisions are sharp and clashes are often racially motivated.

"You see African-Americans dealing with Hispanics on obtaining narcotics and weapons. We're seeing Hispanic gang members involved with the Eastern European criminal figures," said Robert W. Clark, acting special agent in charge of the criminal division of the Los Angeles field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Where they see opportunities to collaborate, they do."

Gang activity has been one of the most intractable crime problems facing Southern California for decades, terrorizing communities, claiming hundreds of lives a year in some periods and also breeding a nexus of criminal activity that has been exported to other communities. Los Angeles, along with Chicago, has long been considered one of the centers of gang activity in the U.S.

But gang-related violence is at a 30-year low in Los Angeles, according to experts. Gang-related homicides in Los Angeles totaled 128 in through October of this year, compared with 312 in all of 2002. All reported gang-related crimes, including rape, assault and robberies, totaled 4,899 through October, compared with 7,432 in 2002.

The sharp drop is undoubtedly a landmark success for law-enforcement officials and policy makers, who have used aggressive policing and rehabilitation programs to tackle the problem. But the reports of alliances between formerly warring gangs potentially offers a different explanation: Gangs are committing less violence because they are partnering on criminal activity, creating new challenges for law enforcement.

"Now, instead of having 200 guys that are arch-enemies with 200 other guys, you have 400 guys working together against law enforcement," said the sheriff's detective, Mr. Lyons.

There are still plenty of rivalries and violence. One Los Angeles-area Latino gang, Barrio Hawaiian Gardens, was charged this spring with hate crimes against African-Americans -- including targeted shootings.

Tracking the number of gang members is notoriously tricky, and membership is fluid. But a November report from the California Gang Node Advisory Committee, which attempts to track gang membership, put the number of gang members at 85,832 in Los Angeles County, up slightly from recent years.

And the number of gang members has been on the upswing nationally. There were about one million gang members in the U.S. in 2008, up from 800,000 in 2005, according to the National Gang Threat Assessment, compiled by the National Gang Intelligence Center and the National Drug Intelligence Center.

Some regions of the country -- like New England, with 640 gangs -- are seeing an increase in violence as gangs grow and fight for control of neighborhoods and the drug trade, the report said. But there is cohesion in other regions, like Washington and Oregon, where "alliances between gangs may result in the expansion of criminal networks and increased criminal activity in the Northwest Region," the report says.

In Los Angeles, federal and local law-enforcement agencies have launched massive investigations and raids against gangs. In 2009, law-enforcement officials arrested more than 650 gang members in Southern California, according to the FBI.

City officials also credit gang-prevention and rehabilitation programs for the drop in crime. Gang intervention workers -- often former gang members -- work alongside police to prevent retaliatory shootings. Homeboy Industries, a privately funded gang-rehabilitation program in Los Angeles, serves around 12,000 people a year who have left gangs, providing job training, counseling and tattoo removal. And the mayor's office has sponsored activities like basketball games and picnics among neighborhoods that are home to feuding gangs.

But intensifying pressure from police has also prompted gangs to work together, said Jorja Leap, a University of California, Los Angeles professor and gang expert. "They really are united against what they perceive to be a common enemy -- law enforcement," said Ms. Leap, who now advises Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca on gangs.

Ms. Leap said gangs form links to survive -- and to maximize profits. "The market is tougher and they're consolidating," she said.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said gangs are "treating their activities more like businesses than before. In business, you work with whoever you have to."

This collaboration can make tracking gang crime and dismantling gangs more complicated. Members of street gangs are showing up unexpectedly in health-care and credit-card fraud investigations, which have traditionally been run by Eastern European crime rings.

During a two-year investigation of the Athens Park Bloods, an African-American gang entrenched in south Los Angeles, investigators learned the members had formed a pact with a Hispanic gang called Barrio 13. Eventually, 22 people were charged -- 20 African-Americans and two Hispanics.

"They shared the same guns, the same narcotics, the same neighborhood," said Mr. Lyons, the sheriff's detective.

Write to Tamara Audi at tammy.audi@wsj.com
Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A3

Labels: crips, gangs, graffiti, graffiti removal, help, Latin Kings, NETA, new jersey, pictures, Police, voilence

Knauf Tianjin Plasterboard Co. Ltd., a Chinese drywall manufacturer, is responsible for sending hundreds of thousands of sheets of dangerous drywall into the United States. This Chinese Drywall is responsible for corroding copper wires and pipes in electrical systems and HVACs. The Chinese drywall also contains contaminants that are causing a foul odor of rotten eggs, irritated eyes, respiratory problems, nose bleeds, and headaches that alleviate only when homeowners are away from their homes. One of the hypothesized reasons for the drywall is harmful is as follows; As the Chinese drywall was stored in barges for several months at a time, awaiting entrance into the US, the products soaked in excessive levels of moisture from the sea. When the Chinese drywall was installed into homes, the drywall would dry out and release toxic sulfuric fumes known as hydrogen sulfide.

While the Chinese drywall was first thought to have only been installed in homes in Florida and Virginia, more and more states are reporting homes with Chinese drywall. New Jersey is one of the latest to have homes with the dangerous gypsum board. New Jersey homes that are likely affected by defective Chinese drywall are usually built between the years 2004 and 2007. It is reported that over 550 million pounds of Chinese drywall have been offloaded to U.S. Ports since 2006. This equates to at least 60,000 average sized homes that are likely to be affected

by defective Chinese drywall, many of which could be located in New Jersey. Some analysts place the estimated number of homes affected by defective Chinese drywall over 100,000, making it all more likely that this may become a disaster of colossal magnitude.

If you or a loved one is showing medical symptoms similar to those caused by Chinese drywall, or if copper wiring in the home is turning black and corroded, call Bio-Clean. Our staff can identify if your drywall is in fact dangerous Chinese drywall, then if necessary remove and replace it.

Labels: Chinese Drywall

Check out www.BioCleanRestoration.com for some important information on Sewage Damage!

Labels: bio-clean restoration, Sewage, sewage backup, sewage remediation

Good news for people and the families of people suffering from compulsive hoarding disorder. Bio-Clean's website has been updated to include a Hoarder Help page! Check it out here! And because no blog post is complete without some media, here's a video clip from "Help! I'm a hoarder!"

Labels: crimescenecleaning.net, help, hoarders, hoarding

Whose childhood wasn’t filled with the sound of their Mother saying, “Don’t put those coins in your mouth! Take them out! And stop licking that dollar!”… … … What you guys didn’t constantly lick money as a kid? Jeez, now I feel kind of awkward… WELL – anyway – regardless of whether your mom told you not to put money in your mouth once or on a near hourly basis, she was right to do so! Paper money passes between hundreds of hands, and those hands are frequently also used to cover sneezes and coughs. Money can carry serious diseases… But what diseases? And how serious? And what about H1N1? Well let’s find out!

IS H1N1 ON MY MONEY?

Because H1N1 is a virus, it isn’t able to live long outside of a host body. That means that Swine flu dies within about 20 minutes when outside of an infected person. This means that most dollar bills encountered in your daily life will be free of H1N1. But notice I said most. When H1N1 is suspended within human mucus on paper money, it can live up to TEN DAYS !

Now you may be thinking, “Okay, well, as long as my cash isn’t dripping in snot, it looks like I’m in the clear!” Not so! Four out of Five paper bills are contaminated with at least tract amounts of cocaine. Users of cocaine will roll up bills, insert them in their mucus-rich noses, and snort up the powdery drug. When these bills are put back into circulation, they are able to cross contaminate and spread mucus, bacteria, viruses, and trace amounts of cocaine to other bills. If a few contaminated bills get into a money counting machine, hundreds of bills can all become contaminated within a matter of seconds! The same thing goes for infected bills that are introduced into ATM machines, money tills, or even the one dollar bills your grandmother put in your birthday card!

WHAT ELSE IS ON MY MONEY!?

H1N1 and flu viruses aren’t the only pathogen that can survive and spread via paper currency. “Researchers at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio collected 68 dollar bills from people at a grocery store and a high-school sporting event. According to Dr. Peter Ender, lead researcher, sixty-four (94%) of the bills were contaminated with bacteria known to cause either serious or mild illness. Five bills (7%) were found to be contaminated with bacteria which can cause infections in healthy people. Those bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, both of which can cause pneumonia or blood infections. Fifty-nine bills were contaminated with bacteria that are usually harmless in healthy individuals, but can still trigger serious illness in those with depressed immune systems, such as people undergoing various types of medical treatment or those with HIV.”(From Hawaii Reporter, May 15, 2008)

While those were some staggering statistics and diseases on paper currency are a big problem, on average a dollar bill poses no more of an infectious threat than the average computer keyboard or office doorknob. (Fun Fact – studies have shown that a dollar bill IS dirtier than the average toilet seat!) However, as time progresses, international monetary transactions become more and more commonplace. Your office doorknob has, and will always be, connected to a door in your office. A dollar bill could travel to Hong Kong, then to India, then to Las Vegas, and then to you! The risk of slightly different mutations of common diseases that exist in other continents traveling back to the US is a very real possibility. In this world full of modern, drug resistant germs and bacteria, a treatment-resistant version of a common disease could very well be introduced to the United States from a foreign land via paper money.

IS ANYONE DOING ANYTHING TO MAKE MONEY LESS FILTHY?

Yes there is! But unfortunately, only in Japan. Since the late 1990’s, certain Japanese banks have been introducing new ATM machines designed to dispense clean, sterile money. These special, “clean ATMs,” take in contaminated, wrinkled, old yen. The old bills are then fed through metal rollers heated to 392°F. This kills 90% of all bacteria and leaves the notes flat and crisp. Hitachi invented this sanitization process by accident when trying to create a machine to iron out crumbled bills. When the designers realized that the high temperature required to iron the bills also killed bacteria, the clean ATM was born. Cash is a favored gift at Japanese weddings, and because of Japan’s extremely high regard for cleanliness, no respectable Japanese would give anything but untainted bills.

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT MY FILTHY MONEY?

If you have any contaminated money you would like to get rid of, please e-mail me, and I can arrange the pickup and disposal of any contaminated bills, from $1 to $100. Hahahaha. Seeing as no one wants to do that, there are other ways you can feel safe about handling money. Day to day money handling won’t lead to a high risk of infection, but for people who handle lots of paper bills a day, like people who work at cash registers, catching something from money can be a real possibility. Keep hand sanitizer with you, and use it often. Until the US gets clean ATMs, washing your hands frequently is the best way to prevent getting sick from your money.

Hopefully this article helped you realize how any why money becomes contaminated. Remember, if you have an outbreak of disease in your home, school, or office, Bio-Clean of New Jersey offers complete decontamination services. For more information on Bio-Clean Disease Decontamination, give us a call or check out our website!

Until the next post, stay healthy- and get that five’r out of your mouth!

Labels: disease, H1N1, H1N1 decontamination, infection control, money

Labels: water damage, water damage restoration, weatherizing

With less than a month before December 21^st, 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.

That having been said, let’s take a look at how you can protect your home from harsh winter weather. It’s a little colder out than last week, so hopefully your outdoor preparations are complete, and you can go ahead and move indoors.

INDOOR WINTER WEATHER PREPARATION TIP SHEET!

1.) INSULATE YOUR ATTIC
Heat rises, so it’s no surprise that much of the heat from your house can quickly escape through a poorly insulated attic. When this happens, losing money on heating bills could just be your first problem. When snow falls on a roof with a poorly insulated attic underneath, the heat from the home escapes and begins to melt the snow on your roof. The snow then begins to refreeze. As more snow piles on, more snow freezes and refreezes on your roof. This can cause ICE DAMMING, a phenomenon that can cause water seepage (and mold damage down the line) or even a collapsed roof! Make sure your attic is properly insulated this winter.

2.) LOCATE YOUR PLUMBING SYSTEM SHUTOFF VALVE
If a pipe does break and leak inside your home this winter, where your plumbing shutoff valve is located will be a critical piece of information. Some shutoff valves aren’t easy to operate without a pipe wrench, so keep one near your shutoff valve in case of emergency.

3.) KEEP IT HEATED EVEN WHEN YOU’RE AWAY
If you plan on leaving your home for more than a few days in a row this holiday season, make sure to properly prepare your home before you leave. Keep your home heated to at least 65 degrees while you are gone. Open up under-sink cabinets to allow warm air to reach the pipes. Allow your faucets to drip a little to alleviate pressure in potentially frozen pipes. If you follow these steps, you should be able to leave for grandma’s house with confidence that your property will be safe, warm, and dry when you get back.

4.) ROUTINE SERVICING
Late autumn to early winter is a good time to have your heating system, fireplace, chimney, and wood-burning stoves professionally serviced. Annual servicing not only makes your property safer, but it also improves functionality. It’s always better to find a problem with your heater when its warm, as opposed to having your heater shut off unexpectedly in the freezing dead of winter. Clean air ducts means improved heat dispersal throughout your entire property. Have your air ducts cleaned by Bio-Clean of New Jersey this winter!

5.) INSULATE YOUR PIPES
Insulating the pipes in your home is the most critical step in avoiding a catastrophic pipe burst. Exposed pipes are commonly found in basements, unfinished garages, mudrooms, and laundry rooms. Check these pipes for existing leaks and damage, and make sure they are properly insulated. Heat tape, slide-on foam insulators, and and fiberglass insulation are all available at your local home improvement store.

Even if you follow all of these steps, old man Winter can still sometimes find a way into your home, wreaking havoc along the way. If your property suffers a catastrophic pipe burst, call the water damage remediation professionals-- Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey.

Labels: burst pipes, frozen pipes, water damage, water damage restoration, weatherizing

Sewage back-ups can be very dangerous to home and business owners and their loved ones. There are many risks created by infectious agents found in the waste material that runs over into your house or business.

A sewage back up occurs when the drainage pipes that are connected from your house or business to the main drainage pipes become jammed with tree roots or other materials that have been introduced to the system. The materials in those pipes contain microorganisms that are considered to be harmful. It is not only considered dirty, but also toxic because of the presence of harmful bacteria, germs, viruses and fungi in the organic matter. That wastewater is meant to go directly to a treatment plant that eradicates the dangerous germs and pathogens. If it stops anywhere before making it to the treatment plant, it is considered raw sewage and is very dangerous.
If the over-flow is not taken care of immediately waste water can ooze into the walls, carpets and other flooring, making it much more difficult to clean up. Each surface and area that has come in contact with the wastewater must be decontaminated using proper procedures to insure complete eradication of the bacteria and to inhibit the possibility of dangerous mold growth.

Of course you have the option of cleaning it up yourself. However it is a very arduous task that takes a not only a large amount of physical effort, but there are chances of becoming infected from the toxic water if proper equipment and proper procedures are not used. A professional bio-hazard decontamination company (like Bio-Clean of New Jersey) will have the proper equipment and trained staff already in place to handle the problem. They can also assist with the insurance company claim, leaving the home or business owner to deal with other matters.

If you or someone you know has a sewage backup in their property, Check out our Sewage Remediation webpage, and Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey! Don't put yourself through a disgusting, stinky, dirty, and dangerous ordeal; call the professionals-- Call Bio-Clean of New Jersey.

Labels: biohazard, Sewage, sewage backup, sewage remediation

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.

Labels: burst pipes, flood restoration, frozen pipes, water damage, water damage restoration, weatherizing

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.

Labels: American Bio Recovery Association, bio-recovery corporation, biohazard, biorecovery, d, death cleanup, traumatic death cleaning

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.

Labels: flu, H1N1, H1N1 decontamination, Pandemics, seasonal flu

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.

©2009 Gloucester County Times © 2009 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

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

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.

Labels: American Red Cross, disease, flu, H1N1, h5n1, seasonal flu

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.

Labels: animal decontamination, animal hoarding, Audubon PA, cathouse, hoarding

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.

Labels: ALKQN, gangs, graffiti, graffiti removal, Latin Kings, NETA

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

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!

Labels: gangs, graffiti, graffiti removal, new jersey, Police, Vineland

The Flu Season is officially upon us. In order to prevent a flu outbreak (be it standard influenza, or H1N1) the American Red Cross has released a Flu Checklist.

TAKE THESE COMMON STEPS TO STOP THE SPREAD OF GERMS

-Wash hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.
-Avoid or Minimize contact with sick people (a minimum of three feet distancing is recommended.)
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
-Cover your mouth and nose with tissues when you cough and sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
-If you are sick, get to your doctor and stay away from others as much as possible.

WHAT SHOULD I DO TO AVOID GETTING SICK?

Talk to your doctor about flu shots for both seasonal flu and H1N1. Groups at highest risk for contracting H1N1 should get vaccinated as soon as shots become available.
Always practice good health habits to maintain your body’s resistance to infection.

-Eat a balanced diet.
-Drink plenty of fluids.
-Exercise daily.
-Manage stress.
-Get enough rest and sleep.

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR THE FLU?

-Stock homes with extra food, water, non-prescription drugs and other supplies.
-Ask your health care provider and Health Insurance Company if you can get an extra supply of your regular prescription drugs and medical supplies.
-Store health and cleaning supplies, such as bleach, tissues, a thermometer, disposable gloves, soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Bio-Clean of New Jersey specializes in infection control. If you suspect your home, school, or place of business has been contaminated with H1N1, contact Bio-Clean of New Jersey today.

Labels: American Red Cross, flu, H1N1, infection control

Jason Elias», OCD Institute at Harvard's McLean Hospital OCD Research Program

Compulsive Hoarding is a serious condition that effects the lives of thousands of Americans. If yo suspect that you or a loved one may be suffering from this condition, you can help.

For more information on Compulsive Hoarding, and how to talk to your loved ones about getting help, visit Children of Hoarders.

For assistance in Hoarding remediation, take a look at Bio-Clean's Hoarding Remediation Page.

Labels: help, hoarders, hoarding, service

By: Bob Shryock-Gloucester County Times Staff

"I drink a Scotch every day," says Jim McMenamin. "I'm gonna have a Scotch now."

And you couldn't blame him if some nights he had two. Or more.

Called "the world's oldest crime scene cleaner" by his boss, Andrew Yurchuck, the 84-year-old Oak Valley resident has supervised more than 700 bio-hazardous decontamination jobs for Glassboro-based Bio-Clean of New Jersey ("When tragedy strikes, Bio-Clean is there") in the last five years.

The work can be as unspeakably revolting as it is necessary, but McMenamin often draws the short straw and has adopted his own philosophical approach: "If it's not our blood, it doesn't bother us."



"You have to care for people," says Bio-Clean CEO Andy Yurchuck of the highly sensitive nature of his business. "There's nothing worse than a family having to clean up. We've never turned anyone away. We try to help people through their worst days and make their lives better."

A member of the American Bio-Recovery Association, Bio-Clean removes bio-hazardous substances left at the scene of accidents, homicides, suicides and natural deaths.

Technicians remove and disinfect for H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and other infectious pathogens.

McMenamin warmed up for the late-life assignment by being a Harbison's Dairies milkman for 23 years in the horse-and-wagon days and following that by being a Teamsters union president until retiring in 1968. Neither job was quite as traumatizing as cleaning up after a murder or suicide. (Yes, Jim knew Jimmy Hoffa. No, he doesn't know what happened to him.)

McMenamin became bored with his lengthy leisurely retirement, saying he "couldn't sit still."He learned the work "from scratch" and became fascinated with a job that clearly isn't meant for everyone. Or, for that matter, hardly anyone."You need a strong stomach and you need to be able to take strong odors," understates McMenamin. He has, well, over 700 stories, but many of them will remain untold. "Wherever there's work, we go.


Photo by Jonathan Wells
Gloucester County Times

And every job is a different job."McMenamin works "when needed," sometimes three days a week, sometimes seven, and finds himself essentially on call. He was in Newark last week, helping clean the apartment of a man who'd died a week earlier. "We needed two Dumpsters to get the junk out of there. But we do a thorough job."

"Jim can outpace most of the younger technicians and his work ethic is amazing," says Yurchuck, CEO of Bio-Clean. "He's missed only three days of work since he started five years ago. He's the kind of guy co-workers are happy to work with. He usually works with the younger, less-experienced technicians to show them bio-recovery techniques. Most of the newer ones can't believe how hard he works and ask him for advice daily. He brings wisdom to every job. Sometimes it's difficult to get him to take a break."

As forgettable as some of his jobs can be, McMenamin is mentally strong enough to deal with the work and loves Bio-Clean.

"Our main object is service," he says. "Andrew taught me what I know. He knows his stuff. He can see a spot on the wall. He's the most fabulous man I've ever worked for and never gets angry. It's the only company I know that worries more about its employees than making a profit."

Jim and Zoe have been married 63 years and have three children, three grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Jim calls her "a queen," and says she supports his less-than-traditional choice of octogenarian jobs "even though I drive her insane.

"It doesn't bother her. If I'm happy, she's happy."

And don't look for Jim to be heading back into retirement soon.

"I can go on forever," he says.

But every once in awhile, a Scotch helps.