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VDS™- BLOG vdscom, , , , , , , , 9 Comments on How Disinfection Services Can Eliminate COVID-19 on Your Premises

How Disinfection Services Can Eliminate Covid-19 on Your Premises

By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS - Virus Disinfecting Services™

The Covid-19 pandemic is a global problem; the virus has limited everyone to his or her households. Many people are working from home which means that the majority of the workplaces are shut down until further notice.

Offices and workplaces are a significant cause of concern for the professionals. It is because different people are coming to work under a single roof. It is the ideal place where a virus can spread rapidly. Hence, it is the responsibility of the business owners to disinfect the place in order to prevent viral transmission of the virus.

What Does CDC Suggest About Disinfection of Workplaces?

CDC recommends cleaning and disinfection of all surfaces at the workplace, especially the high touch surfaces like

  •         Tables
  •         Doorknobs or handles
  •         Light Switches
  •         Countertops
  •         Handles
  •         Desks
  •         Phones
  •         Keyboards
  •         Toilets
  •         Faucets
  •         Sinks
A trained VDS™ technician electrostatically spraying disinfecting solution to workspace desktops and equipment.

Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting?

Cleaning is the practice of washing all surfaces with soap and water. It is something that we do in the routine. On the other hand, disinfecting is a much thorough cleaning process. It involves the use of disinfectants or chemicals that are EPA registered.

Procedure for Disinfection

To disinfect the soft surfaces, clean those with EPA registered disinfectants. Consider sending whatever is possible to laundry by taking certain precautions.

Electronic Surfaces

These include:

  •     Tablets
  •     Touch screens
  •     Keyboards
  •     Remove controls
  •     ATMs

These areas are challenging to clean. It is because of the crevices between the buttons. Do not use soap or water to disinfect. Use 70% alcohol to clean these surfaces. Make sure to dry it carefully.

 Laundry

These include:

  • Clothing
  • Towel
  • Linen or others

Launder all the above items in warm water and dry them. When you are handling the laundry of a sick person, avoid shaking it. You can then clean these items using the guidelines for disinfecting soft surfaces. Laundry of items is only useful for workplaces where the employees work overnight.

 

The VDS™ team can disinfect large areas and get your business back up and running right away.

Why Are Disinfection Services Important?

The guidelines by the CDC about the disinfection of the workplace require extreme care. There are several things to look after when disinfecting the workplace. Here is where the disinfection services come in. Below are some reasons why their services are important

Trained professionals

An untrained person will not know how or what to do in such a case. Such people are not aware of what disinfectant to use. Furthermore, they will not be able to disinfect the workplace properly. People at disinfection services are highly trained in this field. They know the standard procedures and guidelines to do the task. These people are well aware of all the prerequisites of disinfecting the workplace. Overall, they are professionals of the disinfection procedure.

Handling the disinfectants

There are many hazards to handling disinfectants. The list for EPA registered disinfectants has its lists of hazards. If you do not follow precautions, then it can lead to some severe negative results. People disinfecting the workplace must know about OSHA’s hazard standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). But luckily, the people at disinfection services know about these standards as well. They will perform the entire process by considering these standards.

Safety for the employees at the workplace

The people at disinfection services not only disinfect the workplace. They are well aware of how to reduce side effects due to exposure to the disinfectants. Hence, they are careful about not leaving any residues behind. Additionally, these people also provide your employees with knowledge about the disinfection procedure. Employees more aware of the procedure can practice cleaning at home as well.

CONCLUSION

Disinfection is a tedious procedure. If you do not perform it carefully, it can lead to the spread of the virus in the workplace. Disinfection services, on the other hand, are professionals in their field. They are well aware of all the standard requirements and practices. Therefore, we should always prefer to hire companies that provide disinfection services over non-standard ways of disinfection.

 
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Covid-19 Can Stay on Surfaces for up to 28 Days

By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS – Virus Disinfecting Services™

Many research studies were conducted ever since WHO declared the spread of coronavirus as a pandemic. Many of these studies focus on the duration that the virus survives on a variety of surfaces. According to scientists, the maximum number of days that the virus can stay active was five (5) days. 

However, new research adds a question mark to the old ones. The latest research states that the virus can survive for up to twenty-eight (28) days on surfaces. Let us look into a few points about this research and see what safety precautions we can learn from this.

About the research

This research is from a team of scientists who belong to the Australian Centre for disease preparedness (ACDP) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation(CSIRO), which is the national science agency that backs this research.

Two research centers in Australia do a joint study to determine Covid-19 lifespan on surfaces. [Image courtesy of CSIRO-Australia]
COVID-19 remains on the surface for 28 days

The Australian research team states that COVID-19 can remain active on surfaces for twenty-eight days. This statement is valid for the following surfaces.

  • Glass surfaces, such as desks, tables and mobile phones
  • Stainless steel surfaces
  • Vinyl surfaces
  • Semi-porous surfaces such as paper, banknotes and cheques

The survival of the virus depends on temperature

The novel coronavirus can survive for a longer time in cold temperatures, which means that the virus can die faster during the summers due to warmer climates.

The survival of the virus also depends on the material of the surface

The virus can also remain for a longer duration on paper notes. Plastic notes or credit cards do not allow the virus to stay on for longer. Paper notes contain cotton or paper, which are more porous in comparison with plastic. 

90% transmission via droplets & 10% via contact

The scientist says that the transmission occurs mostly by droplets. There is a higher chance of catching infection by coughing or sneezing than shaking hands. 

Regardless of this, the practice of washing hands is still critical as it helps to reduce the 10% chance of transmission because of a handshake. 

The coronavirus lives longer than Influenza Virus

The influenza virus is a type of virus that scientists already know a lot about. This is commonly known as the flu. It was also the cause of the Spanish flu of 1918, caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. However, scientists believe that coronavirus lives longer than the influenza virus on surfaces.

What can we learn from such research?

Such research helps us to learn about the nature of the new virus. For example, the activeness of the virus on different surfaces also depends on the temperature. At 20 degrees centigrade, the virus can survive for twenty-eight days. 

These surfaces include the mobile phones that we use. Hence, mobile phones can also become a significant source of transmission in today’s modern world. As the temperature increases, the survival time of the virus also decreases. 

The current reopening of lock downs is allowing social interaction, which can increase the chances of the coronavirus spread. This virus can find its hidden spot in public areas, work places, shopping centers, and other environments, making it essential for these places to be properly sanitized and disinfected.

Such research will help in the development of strategies to reduce the risk of infection. Till then, we must continue the practice of regular hand washing and sanitizing of places where the chances of infection are prevalent because we have yet to know the amount of virus that causes the infection.

If we want to eradicate this pandemic, we need to ensure that our cleaning regimen is perfect. VIRUS DISINFECTING SERVICES, LLC  now offer additional antimicrobial protection called BIOPROTECT™. The patent-pending antimicrobial protectant and coating is designed to eradicate infectious viruses, bacteria and mold for up to 90 days on soft and hard surfaces. The chemical is water-based, EPA-approved and non-toxic. Click here to read the latest COVID-19 efficacy research studies.  A strong believer in the antimicrobial treatment, Acme Paper & Supply Co., Inc. vice-president Andy Attman says, “BioProtect is a surface protectant. What that means is you put the product down after you disinfected the surface, and now that surface is protected for 60 days. Therefore, if someone sneezes on the surface, it doesn’t matter, you’ve protected that surface.”

VIRUS DISINFECTING SERVICES, LLC holds proper knowledge of disinfectants and sanitizing methods that ensure specialized services at affordable prices.

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A PPE Mask That Can Deactivate Coronavirus

  By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS – Virus Disinfecting Service
Image courtesy of i3 Biomedical Inc. (https://i3biomedical.com)

Covid-19 is causing massive disruption in terms of its spread and fatalities. Globally, every country is struggling to introduce new ways to combat the coronavirus.

According to researchers at the University of Toronto, and based on their latest laboratory results, they have confirmed that a face mask created by i3 Biomedical Inc., can deactivate the coronavirus. Operated by the U of T department of molecular genetics, in the Faculty of Medicine, the independent tests were headed by Professor Scott Gray-Owen. The state-of-the-art containment level 3 (CL3) lab was approached by i3 Biomedical Inc, to perform and test the efficacy of the new PPE mask.

The Quebec-based company released the mask on July 7th of this year. It is claimed as the world’s first anti-viral face mask.  On the company website, it is sold under the trade name TrioMed™ Active Mask.

The idea behind this mask: 

Since the start of the pandemic, many textile and technical industries have accelerated their production for PPEs and face masks. Most of the companies have used creative solutions such as lamination and coating technologies to create chemical and biological protection for individuals. 

However, not all masks are created equal in stopping Covid-19.  For example, there are huge protection differences between your typical fabric masks and the N95 masks. 

  • N95 masks were capable of giving maximum protection against Covid-19, but they weren’t washable, which made them high on cost. 
  • While fabric masks were washable, but they did not have enough capacity to protect against COVID-19. 

The health field needed a product that could address these issues.

How can these new masks deactivate the virus? 

The company says about the TrioMed™ Active Mask, 

“We do not claim for these masks to kill the coronavirus, but still, it can deactivate this virus.” 

Image courtesy of i3 Biomedical Inc. (https://i3biomedical.com)

How does it work?

This mask works on the same principle as washing your hands with soap. There are chemical reactions in regular soap which can easily deactivate the coronavirus present on your hands, fingers, and even body. 

This company implemented the same idea into these face masks. They impregnated some specific chemicals into the face masks material to deactivate the virus. 

The company went to three or four chemical manufacturing companies who were claiming to have products for deactivation of the virus. 

These products were anti-microbial, but they were successful in deactivating the covid-19 virus as well. 

The chemical which the company used is called HeiQ Viroblock. They combined it with other chemicals and fused it into the top fabric layer of the mask. 

What are the other benefits of these masks? 

Benefits and the features of the face mask include: 

  • VFE (Viral filtration Efficiency) of more than 99.99 percent 
  • BFE (Bacterial Filtration Efficiency) of over 99.99 percent 
  • Active protection against microbes with an outer layer of masks is more than 99.99 percent 
  • Meets Level 3 of ASTM F2100 
  • Can easily meet the EN 14683 Type IIR European Medical Device Standard 
  • This mask has five years of shelf-life 
  • The cost of this mask is not high to make it available for the use of a common man. 

According to the manufacturer, coronavirus takes about 3-5 minutes for deactivation. 

Both polyester and cotton are used in the manufacturing of this mask. The most inner layer of the mask is of cotton. The next layer contains a chemical protection filter layer not to make contact with the skin. The outer layer of the mask comprises the HeiQ Viroblock layer of chemicals. 

The TrioMed™ Active Mask is designed for one time single use.  It is non-washable, and considered a medical mask. It is projected to be used within a typical 8hr shift.

Conclusion: 

Virus Disinfecting Services (VDS™) will be providing these new masks to all of the service technicians and field agents. With the latest technical achievements in the biomedical sector, these masks will help create another layer of protection to all employees, the health care professionals and laboratory technicians to fight against COVID-19 outbreaks. The new face mask is cost-effective, innovative, and capable of deactivating coronavirus.

VDS™- BLOG vdscom, , , , , , , 8 Comments on Environmental Disinfection Certification to Help Businesses Mitigate Against Infectious Pathogens

Environmental Disinfection Certification to Help Businesses Mitigate Against the Pandemic

 
By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS – Virus Disinfecting Services™

Background

Potentially deadly pathogens in the public and private environments call for immediate disinfection services. A new and advanced infection, named COVID-19, has created an urgency for businesses and individuals to seek disinfection services offered by VIRUS DISINFECTING SERVICES, LLC (VDS™). With spread of new aggressive pathogens, service-providers such as VDS™ hold excellent knowledge and expertise in the field of disinfection.

COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate, hence, requiring high-quality disinfection services to mitigate against the spread of this communicable disease. Disinfection services operator such as VDS™ holds sufficient knowledge of disinfectants procedures and methods and uses them properly to yield excellent results. There are only a few service-providers who hold certification in the field that ensures 100% results against certain pathogens.

When looking for experts who can provide guaranteed results against COVID-19 and other human life hazardous communicable diseases; for utmost protection against the disease, certification is proof that VDS™ technicians are experts in the field and how much they understand disinfection techniques.

VDS™ Owner Tu A. Le exiting a residential property that was just sanitized and disinfected due to a recent Covid-19 outbreak.

NIDS Environmental Disinfecting Certification

Tu A. Le, the owner of VIRUS DISINFECTING SERVICES, LLC recently completed his specialization in environmental disinfection. He stands among a small list of individuals in the State of California who holds the certification from the National Institute of Decontamination Specialists (NIDS).

Mr Le states, “Our knowledge in the field is enhanced and improved after receiving the certification, which enables us to manage certain outbreaks and pandemic with distinction. We have a team of elite technicians who understands their job and offer high-quality services to clients.”

Our Advanced Methods of Environmental Sanitation

The certification involves hands-on training that equipped us with the latest technology and methods of disinfection. Furthermore, it enhances our knowledge of disinfectants and ensures we use the most current and effective approaches that are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against certain pathogens. The certification helps in improving the knowledge regarding pathogens as well, which is extremely helpful in tackling a variety of pathogens. The certification further helps with disinfecting dwelling such as hospitals, parks, offices, houses, and much more.

Case Study

VDS™ follows a stringent but efficient technique when working in a hospital environment. Our company uses electrostatic spraying technology in hospitals to remove hospital-acquired infections (HAI). For example, in conjunction with our EPA List N. approved disinfectants, the dwell/kill time for stubborn pathogenic spores such as C. diff is only 4 minutes (based on a 4306 ppm concentration). Therefore, we are able to quickly disinfect the whole vicinity in time for the next room patient. Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that is the leading cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea worldwide. This is just one treatment, whereas we use other sanitizing treatments in conjunction with this one for excellent results.

Why Is Disinfection Necessary?

Disinfection is the quickest and easiest way to rid an environmental of potentially human pathogen hazards. It keeps overall dwelling clean and healthy. As COVID-19 is infecting millions of people in the world, a proper disinfection technique can assist in ridding of infectious pathogens in no time. Our certification enables us to use proper disinfectants that work against this stubborn pathogen. Our experts in the team are here for you to provide you exceptional services with 100% effectiveness.

Contact Us

Call VIRUS DISINFECTING SERVICES, LLC now and hire a team of professional experts to disinfect your hospital, daycare, school, park, office, restaurant, or any dwelling at affordable prices. You can contact our team of experts who are available 24/7 to help you.

VDS™- BLOG vdscom, , , , , , 2 Comments on Business Insurance Coverage During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Business Insurance Coverage During the Covid-19 Pandemic

By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS – Virus Disinfecting Services™

The effects of the CoronaVirus are widespread. A single virus has brought down the entire structure of society as we all are aware of it. Businesses are now in a state of dilemma. They are wondering about the specific insurance possibilities to combat this unprecedented situation. The revenue loss, accountability of the employee’s health, and welfare remain important issues. These issues are the top priority of every business around the globe.

Insurance Options for Businesses

The effectiveness of a policy depends on how well it works in various situations. Below is a summary of some strategies that may help businesses deal with this pandemic.

  1. Environmental Policies

Environmental policies come to mind almost immediately when dealing with a virus outbreak. However, there is a certain limitation on these types of policies. Furthermore, these would require a thorough review to ensure maximum coverage. A general environmental policy includes coverage of bodily injury and property damage. However, these policies are often tailor-made. The majority of these are according to the exposure to risks of a company/business.

  • COVID-19 Specific Environmental Policy

In the case of a pandemic like the COVID-19, a policy for ‘decontamination Expenses’ may come into play. This coverage would cover the cost of decontaminating a specific site post-disinfection. In this case, coverage may not be fit for COVID-19.

But, it is difficult to utilize this policy to face unexpected situations in a business. However, it may still apply to the loss of expenses due to disinfection and contamination.

  • Health Specific Environmental Policy

This policy works for all those workers who have coverage for healthcare policy. The policy limits itself to cover only bodily injury. It also only applies to those employees who are not showing any symptoms of COVID-19. However, insurance will cover the third person infected by the worker.

 

 

Event Cancellation Insurance

Many events have undergone cancellation due to the pandemic. Such event organizing businesses have suffered a lot during these difficult times. This insurance policy covers all the losses arising from the cancellation of events.

  • Event Cancellation in the Case of COVID-19

Although coverage may depend on the limitations of the policy, certain companies consider this and will offer coverage, whereas, some may not. It includes a cancellation that was not in control of the organizer. This policy does not extend to the lack of popularity of an event under any circumstances.

Travel Cancellation and Business Travel Coverage in the Case of Accidents

Another widely affected industry is the travel industry. The Travel Cancellation Policy no longer includes ‘CoronaVirus’ in their coverage.

  • Policy for Travelers

Limiting the coverage still has some opportunities for travelers. Travelers will get coverage if they are suffering from COVID-19 due to travel. Also, 24/7 services are available globally to passengers who wish to travel back home.

  • Policy for Business Travelers

The ‘Business Travel Accident Policy’ covers expenses in case of illness. This illness also includes infectious diseases. The policy also provides coverage for trip cancellations. These cancellations should be in the case of the passenger being too ill to travel.

‘Trip Interruption Coverage’ covers the passenger unable to travel. It may even be due to restrictions by the government. It applies well to the lockdown imposed in various countries across the globe.

Conclusion

There is no concept of ‘one policy fits all’. Primarily in an unprecedented situation like the coronavirus. Businesses must review their policies thoroughly so that they can ensure protection against possible losses arising from this pandemic.
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How to Clean Your Vehicle to Help Protect Against COVID-19

By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS - Virus Disinfecting Services™

COVID-19 is the new pandemic that everybody is talking about. We hear experts suggest that we wash our hands regularly. They also suggest cleaning disinfect houses. Furthermore, the CDC recommends paying special attention to high touch surfaces around us. Hence, people are doing so in their homes. But, people forget about the one thing that is also a high touch surface, our vehicles that can be the source of transmission of the virus.

Vehicles may be the only means of transport for many people. They are still using these to get essential items or to go to their offices. According to a research study, only a small percentage of Americans clean their cars once a year. Another surprising fact is that 12% of the Americans have never cleaned the inside of their vehicles.

HIGH TOUCH SURFACES IN YOUR CAR

High Touch Surfaces are not only present in your home. These are also present on the inside of your car. Sit down in your car and pay attention to its detail. Look around the interior and find out the places that you often touch. Examples of high touch surfaces inside your vehicle include:

  •  Steering Wheel
  •  Door Handles
  •  Shift and Gear Lever
  •  Buttons
  •  Touch Screens
  •  Wipers
  •  Indicator signals
  •  Armrests
  •  Grab handles
  •  Levers to adjust seats

You must disinfect all these areas to stop the spread of infection.

SPECIAL POINTS TO CONSIDER

Cleaning the interior of your car is a challenging job. You need to be careful not to ruin any of the material. It is suggested to avoid using harsh chemicals that can damage the interior of the vehicles. Examples of such disinfectants include bleach or hydrogen peroxide. It is better to use a 70% alcohol solution to clean the interiors. Soap and water can also be used to clean the interiors as well. When cleaning electronics, it’s better to read the safety manual before disinfecting.

PERSONAL PROTECTION IS IMPORTANT

Make sure that you wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting your vehicles. Disinfectants are harsh chemicals. Therefore, it is essential that you properly ventilate the car. You can open the windows and doors for this purpose. After cleaning and disinfection, remove the gloves and discard them immediately. Wash your hands properly. Make sure that you do not touch your eyes, mouth, or nose with dirty hands.

STEPS TO DISINFECT YOUR VEHICLE

Hard non-porous surfaces include:

  •  Armrests
  •  Hard seats
  •  Door handles
  •  Seat belt buckles
  •  Grab handles

The soft porous surface includes seats and any other fabric present inside your vehicle. Soap and water should be used to clean both types of surfaces. Then disinfect the surface with a disinfectant that you have.

In the case of electronic surfaces, remove the dirt with the help of a dry cloth. If the manual states, then you can use alcohol wipes for disinfection as well.

CONCLUSION

If you are using your vehicle to commute, then make a schedule for cleaning the interior of the vehicles. If you are sharing cars, always make sure that you have hand sanitizers inside. It will allow everyone to disinfect his or her hands properly. Moreover, you will not have to worry about the frequent disinfection of your car.

 
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Recommendations for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities

By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS – Virus Disinfecting Services™

Health care facilities are crucial in controlling the spread of infections. It is because every inch of a healthcare facility can transmit infection. The cleaning and disinfection of the health care facilities are thus extremely crucial. Cleaning helps to clear the microbial contamination from the surfaces. On the other hand, we are aware that cleaning is not enough. Disinfection and sanitation are more thorough. They get rid of the microorganisms that remain even after cleaning.

What are health care facilities?

Health care facilities are institutions that provide medical aid to patients. During emergencies, health care facilities receive a large number of patients. These patients often suffer from diseases. For instance, these days, health care institutions mostly consist of COVID-19 patients. Examples of health institutions include:

  •  Hospitals
  •  Primary health care centers
  •  Isolation camps
  •  Burn units
  •  Feeding centers

The importance of disinfection and sanitation of the health care facilities

According to the CDC, health care facilities can harbor microorganisms. These microorganisms are harmful to the patients as well as visitors. Therefore, such an environment is quite risky for patients. Disinfection and sanitation on a routine basis help in reducing the risk. Approximately 30 to 40% of the infections are by the hands of health care workers. Apart from these, other non-critical surfaces can cause secondary infections. Non-critical surfaces include bedside tables and railings. This is why sanitation and disinfection are essential processes.

 

Recommendations for the sanitation and disinfection of health care facilities

CDC and WHO draft guidelines relevant to health. They have given us guidelines that help in controlling the spread of infection. A breakdown of these guidelines are as follows:

Sterilization

Sterilization is killing off the microorganism. However, sterilization does not always guarantee this. However, it is more effective than cleaning. According to guidelines, it kills 99.9999% of the microorganisms. You can sterilize an object by chemical and physical means. Physical means include the application of heat or radiation. Chemical sterilization is with the help of chemicals such as ethylene oxide.

Disinfection

EPA registered disinfectants are most common in health care facilities. These disinfectants are rapid-acting and non-toxic. It is important to dilute the disinfectant according to the directions by the manufacturer. Disinfectants can kill bacteria, fungi as well as viruses.

CDC recommends disinfecting all the health care equipment and also those areas which can cause secondary infection. The process of disinfection should take place regularly. This frequency can be daily or thrice a week. It is also preferable to replace mopping solutions with adequate disinfectant solutions.

CONCLUSION

A review of the guidelines shows that disinfection is the preferred method. It is vital to practice caution when preparing dilutions of disinfectant. Furthermore, do not use disinfectants on infants, bassinets, or incubators. It is important to note that cleaning of non-patient areas with detergent and water is enough. It includes the administrative areas of the health care facilities. Special care and instructions are important during the disinfection and sterilization process. Inadequate practices are ineffective and may aggravate the problems within the facility.

 
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What is the Best Way to Disinfect at Home?

By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS - Virus Disinfecting Services™

The rise in epidemics and a variety of illnesses in our society have left us worrying about plenty of stuff. Every time we leave our house to buy groceries or even to go to our workplace, we worry about one thing, the fear that we will somehow contaminate ourselves and everything around us with bacteria or viruses. It is an authentic cause of concern. Mainly due to the different types of outbreaks that we see daily. Improper cleaning can increase the risk of getting infected for everyone in the house. Every time we step back into our house, there is a risk that we may contaminate our homes.

Plenty of methods and tutorials will ask you to disinfect your house. However, rarely do they tell you about the right procedure to do so. Read on further to learn about the standard procedure to disinfect your homes.

 
 
CDC GUIDELINES TO DISINFECT YOUR HOME

Viruses and bacteria are not that easy to get rid of. Therefore, CDC recommends that you clean as well as disinfect your house. Before starting this process, you should be aware of the high touch surfaces. People can contaminate these surfaces. Hence, they require cleaning and disinfection much more frequently.

Examples of High Touch Surfaces Include:
  •  Doorknobs
  •  Counters
  •  Controllers which includes remotes of all appliances
  •  Faucets and their knobs
  •  Toilet seats and handles
  •  Switches

You are the only one who is aware of your homes. Pay close attention to the types of surfaces in your homes. Also, note the different surfaces that come in contact most frequently.

CLEANING

Before starting the cleaning process, wear disposable gloves. Routinely clean your house with soap and water. Create a schedule for cleaning the house. Mainly include high touch surfaces during this routine.

DISINFECTION

CDC recommends that you use EPA registered disinfectants for this purpose. However, the below-mentioned household disinfectant agents are easily available.

Household bleach solution

To use bleach for disinfection, you will need to dilute it first. For making a dilution mix 5 tablespoons of bleach for every gallon of water. Allow proper ventilation in the room during disinfection. You will have to leave the bleach solution for a minute on the surface.

Alcohol solution

Read the manufacturer’s label. If it is 70% alcohol, then you will not have to dilute it. On the other hand, if it is concentrated alcohol, then dilution is necessary. To make 70% dilution mix 70mL of alcohol and 30mL of water.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
  •  Always make sure that you wear disposable gloves.
  •  Always make sure that the area you are about to disinfect is properly ventilated.
  •  Always make sure to wash your hands after disinfecting the house.
  •  Always make sure that you do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth without washing your hands.
  •  Always read the instructions before using any type of chemical for disinfection.
  •  Always make sure that you dispose of the contaminated gloves in a separate trash bag.
FINAL WORDS

The disinfection of the house is the most important thing to do. It is important to protect your loved ones from getting ill. However, you can always get help from professional services to assist you with the process.
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Not all Protective Masks are Built the Same
How to Protect Yourself During a Pandemic

By Dr. Afzaal -VDS™ Chief Biomedical Staff Writer.
Copyright ©2020 VDS – Virus Disinfecting Services™

We all know about the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Being in a pandemic is scary for many of us out there. The media, medical, and government officials have all asked us to remain indoors, not to touch our face, and to wash our hands regularly.

Due to social distancing and protecting yourself and others around you, people are now seen wearing masks. These masks are of different make and material. Very few people are aware of what type of mask to wear. Let us first discuss the different types of masks available on the market.

TYPES OF MASKS AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS

The main reason to wear a mask to protect our nose and mouth from the virus. It means that it protects us from the sneeze and cough droplets of a sick person. Wearing a mask prevents the droplets from landing on surfaces and other people. However, not all masks are useful for this purpose. Let us have a look at what is best during the pandemic

  1. Homemade masks

These masks are those made out of cloth. Many people are teaching how to make masks at home. However, are these effective? CDC recommends that you can wear cloth masks in a public environment. It applies the same for a place where people cannot maintain social distance. You must wash this mask regularly.

  1. Surgical masks

These are green colored three-ply masks available in the market. You must have seen doctors wearing them all the time. Sick people and their caretakers must wear these masks at all times. It protects the sick people from spreading the germs to healthy ones. However, an ill-fitted surgical mask can allow the virus to enter your airway.

  1. N95 respirator

Health care workers must wear this mask at all times. This is because of their constant exposure to sick people. It blocks 95% of the germs from entering into the airway.

NOT ALL MASKS ARE THE SAME

Studying about the masks, we know that N95 masks are the best options. However, the CDC recommends that the public should not use these masks. It is because of the shortage of N95 masks for health care workers. It is also essential to know the right practices to wear and remove the mask to make it more effective. Remember that not wearing a mask the right way, always leaves a chance to contract an infection.

THE RIGHT PROCEDURE TO WEAR AND REMOVE A MASK

Wash your hands before wearing a mask. Fix the loops on your ears. Bend the metallic strip (if available) over the bridge of your nose to fit it. Pull the mask so that it completely covers your chin. Make sure that your masks fit perfectly. Do not touch the mask after it is in position. Replace the mask after a day.

When you wish to remove the mask, wash your hands. Never touch the mask. You can handle it from the loops. Dispose of the used masks in a covered trash can and wash your hands.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF DURING PANDEMIC?

If you follow these steps, then there is a high chance that you will not be one of the patients during this pandemic.

  •  Stay at home. We cannot emphasize this enough. Only leave your homes in case of emergency
  •  Wash your hands with soap and water. An alcohol-based sanitizer can be an alternative to washing your hands.
  •  Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with dirty hands.
  •  Wear a mask in public settings.
  •  Maintain social distance in public settings.

 

 
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