“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Benjamin Franklin.
When you think about being a homeowner, what potential biohazard exposures come to mind? Sometimes the signs of biohazard contamination are obvious, like rodent droppings or a backed-up sewer drain. Other times, the dangers are hidden, such as with unhealthy mold growing behind walls or contaminants circulating through your HVAC system. The key to safeguarding your home involves recognizing that biological threats can originate from both external sources (including a widespread infectious disease outbreak) and internal household issues, both of which demand proactive measures to protect health.
Are you ready for this?
It’s a fact that microorganisms naturally exist in our homes. This includes a diverse world of bacteria, viruses, and fungi (like molds and yeasts). They’re on surfaces, in the air, in our dust, and even on us – eek! As a normal part of any indoor environment, most of these microbes are harmless. However, when certain conditions within a home allow these microorganisms to thrive and multiply excessively, they can become a biohazard, posing risks to our health and the integrity of our homes.
The three types of biohazard exposures.
Ready.gov identifies three primary categories of biological agents that could pose a threat, whether released accidentally or intentionally:
- Bacteria: these are harmful single-celled organisms, such as those that cause the plague or anthrax. Contaminated food, sewage backups, and pet waste contamination are all sources of bacterial biohazard exposures.
- Toxins: these are poisonous substances, often produced by living organisms (bacteria, fungi, or plants); examples include botulinum or ricin toxins. Botulism from improperly canned foods and aflatoxins from moldy food are examples of toxic biohazard exposures.
- Viruses: these are infectious agents that require a host to replicate, like the viruses responsible for Ebola or smallpox. Norovirus can quickly spread in a household from contaminated surfaces or food. Influenza and colds spread when an infected household member sneezes or coughs into the air, releasing virus-laden droplets that others in the home inhale or pick up from contaminated surfaces.
Biohazard exposure stats in US homes.
This is a tough one to pin down simply because many household biohazard exposures go unreported and are managed by homeowners themselves, especially with seemingly minor incidents like small mold patches or routine pest control. But here are a few statistics of note:
- In 2019, the US Census Bureau reported that almost 14.8 million Americans saw mice or rats in their homes in the last year.
- The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates there are between 23,000 and 75,000 sanitary sewer overflows in the US annually.
And that right there should be enough to encourage you to plan for a biohazard exposure in your home. Yuck.
Documenting for Disaster: How DomiDocs can help you navigate through unexpected emergencies.
The keys to helping you weather any disaster are always the same: knowledge and organization. It comes down to homeowner responsibility and doing due diligence to protect your family and home before a disaster strikes. Use the secure, award-winning DomiDocs homeowner platform to:
- Upload a detailed home inventory list itemizing your home’s contents, including receipts, photos, and videos of your home’s current condition.
- Store and catalog your proprietary household paperwork using the Insurance Document Bundle feature: your insurance policies are listed to show the company, coverage, cost, and start- and end dates, displayed with a calendar timeline for quick reference when needed. Besides for your own use, you can share with your insurance agent at the touch of a button if you need to file an insurance claim.
- Work through our comprehensive DomiDocs New Homeowner Guide, offering best-use instructions to help prevent homeowner claims.
How DomiDocs Can Help You Navigate Through a Disaster
The key to weathering any natural disaster is preparation—knowledge and organization are your best tools. As a homeowner, taking proactive steps to protect your family and property before disaster strikes is essential. The secure, award-winning DomiDocs Homeowner Enablement Platform® helps you stay prepared by allowing you to:
- Create a detailed home inventory – Upload receipts, photos, and videos documenting your home’s condition and contents to ensure an accurate record for insurance purposes.
- Store and manage essential insurance documents – Use the Insurance Bundle feature to securely organize policies, including company details, coverage, cost, and policy start and end dates. A calendar timeline provides quick reference, and with one click, you can share documents with your insurance agent when filing a claim.
- Prepare for and recover quickly from any disasters – Ensure quick and easy access to critical homeownership and insurance documents before and after a natural disaster. Use the Disaster Bundle to safely store everything from insurance policies and mortgage information to your home inventory list, photos & videos and emergency vendors—allowing you to recover faster when you need it most.
- Stay ready for emergencies – Keep all your most important documents—such as IDs, medical records, financial statements, and emergency contacts—securely stored and instantly accessible. The Digital Go Bundle ensures you have everything you need in one place, whether you’re evacuating or managing post-disaster recovery.
- Follow expert homeowner guidance – Access the comprehensive DomiDocs New Homeowner Guide, which offers best practices to help prevent insurance claims and keep your home in top condition.
By leveraging these tools, you’ll have the critical information you need at your fingertips, making it easier to recover and rebuild after a disaster.
The Basics of Biohazard Exposure Preparedness.
Ready.gov, the American Red Cross, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following:
| Before a Biohazard Exposure Emergency, Take the Time to: | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Understand the common biohazard exposures homeowners face. |
Airborne pathogens:
Animal and pest waste:
Blood and bodily fluids:
Contaminated water:
Contaminated HVAC systems:
Food spoilage and foodborne pathogens:
Hoarding:
Mold and mildew:
Sewage backups:
|
|
|
Understand where external biohazard exposure information will be coming from. |
External events where you’re exposed to biohazards accidentally or intentionally may or may not be immediately recognizable. Typically, biological threats would be announced by local healthcare workers who notice a pattern of unusual illnesses or through a surge of people seeking emergency medical attention for the same set of symptoms. If a biological event were to occur, you’d be notified through emergency radio or TV broadcasts, home visits, emergency response workers, or an emergency notification to your cellular phone. |
|
|
Mitigate the risks of biohazard exposures. |
You can significantly reduce the risks of biohazard exposure by:
|
|
|
Protect your home by installing a HEPA filter in your furnace. |
A High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter captures a remarkable 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 micrometers in diameter. Since most bacteria and mold spores are larger, a HEPA filter is highly effective at trapping them. And while viruses may be smaller, HEPA filters can still help to reduce the overall concentration of viruses circulating throughout a home. |
|
|
Ensure everyone in your family has up-to-date immunizations. |
Ensuring that every member of your household has up-to-date immunizations provides:
If you’re unsure about your family’s immunization status, check with your family doctor or local public health unit. |
|
|
Review/update your homeowner insurance policy. |
It’s estimated that 40% of Americans can’t find an important household document when needed, so the first step is to upload your vital household documents to our user-friendly digital platform, so there’s easy access 24/7/365. Secondly, reassess your homeowner policy to ensure you have the best coverage to fit your needs. Compare the cost and coverage you have in place to what else is available from your current insurer and other companies. If there have been any major additions to your home and/or contents in the last year, it’s time to review your homeowner insurance policy to ensure it’ll cover your new additions. |
|
|
In general, you should always have disaster supplies on hand for your family members and your pets. |
The American Red Cross recommends gathering 2 emergency supply kits:
|
|
|
Take the time to emergency life-saving skills. |
The American Red Cross recommends that adults and kids around nine learn first aid and CPR skills. |
|
| During a Household Biohazard Exposure Emergency: | |
|---|---|
|
Wear a face mask or cover your mouth and nose with layers of fabric that can filter the air but still allow you to breathe. This can include cotton t-shirts, handkerchiefs, or towels. |
|
|
Recognize and respond to symptoms of biohazard exposure. If you have been exposed:
|
|
|
Check the Internet, listen to the radio, or watch TV for official news and information, including:
|
|
|
Quickly evacuate areas if you notice suspicious substances. |
|
|
Follow the directions of public health officials, which may include, but are not limited to:
|
|
| After a Household Biohazard Exposure Emergency: | |
|---|---|
|
When in doubt, contact a professional biohazard remediation company that has the training, equipment, and licensing to handle and dispose of hazardous materials correctly. |
|
|
Wear personal protective equipment (PPE). |
|
|
For small biohazard exposures, like a localized mold spot or small blood spill from a nosebleed, it’s important to:
|
|
|
For large biohazard exposures, such as infectious diseases, hazardous material spills, or sewage backups, do NOT attempt to clean it yourself. |
|
|
Monitor your health by paying close attention to signs and symptoms for days to weeks following a biohazard exposure. These may include, but are not limited to: cough, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, nausea, or a rash. |
|
|
Restock any PPE or other supplies that were used. |
|
|
Replace any contaminated items in your home and/or the affected area/s. |
|
Navigating Insurance Claims: What Every Homeowner Should Know
When you’re facing the aftermath of a natural disaster, working with your insurance company is an inevitable part of the recovery process. DomiDocs® CEO and Founder, William McKenna advises homeowners to carefully review their insurance company’s initial settlement offer, as it may not fully cover all damages. Many experts recommend assessing the offer to ensure it aligns with your policy coverage.
What should you do? Access your personal profile on the DomiDocs® home management platform to easily submit your documented receipts, photos, and videos to your insurance adjuster with just one click. Before accepting a settlement, take the time to consider all potential losses, including missed wages, medical expenses (both current and future), vehicle repairs, and any other damages. Being thorough can help ensure you receive the full coverage you’re entitled to under your policy.
DomiDocs has your back! Whether it’s a hurricane, tornado, flood, or fire, the DomiDocs Resouce Page: How To File An Insurance Claim is here to guide you through the claims and recovery process.
Take Control of Your Homeownership Journey with DomiDocs®
Managing your home shouldn’t be stressful. DomiDocs® empowers homeowners with innovative technology, expert guidance, and unparalleled organization—all within a secure, cloud-based platform. From protecting your property and finances to streamlining essential tasks, our tools help you save time, reduce expenses, mitigate costly risks, and maximize your home’s value.
Explore the DomiDocs suite of solutions:
- Homeowner Enablement Platform® – A centralized, digital hub for organizing documents, tracking home value, and managing property details effortlessly.
- HomeLock™ – Protects your home from fraud and title theft with 24/7 monitoring and instant alerts.
- TrueValueIndex® – Provides real-time insights into your home’s value to help you make informed financial decisions.
- propRtax® – Identifies potential property tax savings and ensures you’re not overpaying.
- Documenting for Disaster® – Securely stores critical homeownership documents, ensuring quick access before and after a disaster.
Join the home management revolution today and experience the confidence that comes with having everything you need in one place.
Author – Connie Motz