How to Clean a Small Blood Spill

We are prone to accidents in our daily routine.

Whether getting a minor cut on a finger while chopping onions or a wound on the leg when you fall down – such common day activities are likely to happen and DO involve blood. 

So, does one push the red button and call professional services to clean up the blood?

It wouldn’t make any sense.

Follow this thumb-rule, whenever there is a blood spill:

> If the blood spill is more than 8 ounces or more than the size of a dinner plate, you need to call a professional bio-hazard cleaning service at the soonest. For such assistance, contact Bio-Cleanse (www.bio-cleanse.com.au).

> If the blood spill is less than 8 ounces or less than the size of a dinner plate, you can clean it yourself by doing the following.

•  Before attempting the cleanup, it is advisable to wear proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), such as gloves, masks, etc. It shields you from all possible infectious blood-borne pathogens can cause. The risk of contracting an infection is also high even if the spill is a small one.

• Gently place paper towel(s) over the spill. You can also use a powdered absorbent, allowing it to sop up the blood and then placing paper towel(s) to sop up any traces of remaining liquid.

• Disinfect the area with a solution of water and 10% bleach. When applying bleach to the contaminated area, work from the outer area to the inner. Let it soak the area for nearly half an hour. 

•  If the spill involves any sharps or shards, do not attempt to lift it with your bare hands. Use a pair of tongs or pliers to lift the debris and transfer gingerly to a puncture-resistant bio-hazard bag with a proper seal. Dispose of it.

• Clean the spill area once more with absorbent pads and transfer the materials to another bio-hazard bag. Note that if the surface is concrete, you might need to use a scrub brush. If the surface is upholstery, contact your vendor for a thorough cleanup.

•  Wash the area with fresh water to ensure elimination of any residue.

•  Disinfect all tools used in the process, such as tongs, pliers, dust pans, etc.

• Dispose your used PPE.