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You are here: Home / Blog

What is Skin Slippage?

June 27, 2022 By Alan Cohen

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As people alive in this world, we don’t often think about what happens to a human body once a person passes away until we are faced with the reality of it. For those who do come across a body because a loved one passed away or they come across one while on a river or on a trail, they may experience sights previously unknown. One of these sights most apparent is called “skin slippage.” Skin slippage on a human body can look abnormal but on a cadaver in the decomposition process, skin slippage is perfectly normal.

The skin slippage process

Skin slippage is a part of the decomposition process when the top layers of skin become disconnected from layers below and can, therefore, “slip” off the body. Taking place relatively early in the process, it happens through a process when enzymes are released and cells holding layers of skin together start to rupture forming what looks like blisters, leaving a sticky surface behind. As the epidermis layer of skin separates from the dermis layer, these superficial layers can then start sloughing off or peeling away. Where this happens on the body can vary greatly but it is particularly common for the skin to first detach on the hands and feet where skin can be removed like a sock or glove cast off and no longer needed.

Structure of the Skin

Many factors speed up or slow down the process

This part of the body decomposition process can vary greatly in speed and appearance depending on many factors around and inside the body. Once the skin has started slipping away, it can look like bubbles on the skin, a bad sunburn where you can peel the skin away, or like melted wax over the skeletal structure. Factors include:

  • Surrounding temperature: The warmer and more humid an environment is around the body, the faster the skin will detach from the rest of the body. In high humidity, this can take place in 2-3 days. If it is cold, the whole decomposition process takes much longer, and skin will stay connected for a longer period of time. This is why cadavers are often refrigerated after death: it slows down the decomposition process while burial arrangements are made or cremation can take place.
  • Size and weight of the body: The condition of the cells in the skin and how large or small a person is when they pass away can speed up or slow down the skin slippage process to a degree.
  • Clothing worn at time of death: If a person has layers of clothing on at the time of death, there are fewer areas of skin exposed to the elements that would speed up the process. The more skin that is exposed to the soil beneath with all the bacteria in that soil, the faster skin slippage will occur.
  • Weather and climate: Skin slippage will occur far faster and more evenly with more moisture in the air. If the surrounding weather is dry, the entire process, including skin slippage, will take far longer.

When a dead body is found in water

When a dead body is submerged in water while it decomposes, skin slippage takes place in around 24 hours. With water soaking through the top layers of skin, the cells holding the layers together separate far faster, letting in more bacteria into the rest of the body to aid in decomposition. This is one of the reasons a body found in a lake or river can be so unrecognizable so quickly—the water speeds the whole process along.

Unattended Death Cleanup

If you’re working on handling the cleanup after an unattended death where a body has decomposed on a property for a time, our team at Bio SoCal has the experienced and compassionate biohazard cleanup services you need. From large jobs to small, we understand what it takes to make sure all bodily fluids are fully removed and body tissues safely and legally disposed of. After removing all biohazards, we then carefully clean, sanitize, and disinfect all the surfaces, nooks, and crannies, so you can rest assured the property is safe and all lingering odor is permanently removed. As most property insurance policies cover our work, we’ll even document the damage and file the claim on your behalf. We are here to make a difficult time as easy as possible.

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Filed Under: Decomposition

Newbury Park Stabbing

June 15, 2022 By Alan Cohen

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Newbury Park Stabbing

Bio SoCal Decontaminates Stabbing Scene in Newbury Park

When tragedy strikes and you don’t know where to turn, Bio SoCal is always here for you to remove all the biohazards and decontaminate the area.

Recently on May 22nd, our team was on the stabbing scene for blood cleanup in a residential neighborhood of Newbury Park near Thousand Oaks to clean up after a fight involving multiple people. When police responded to the report of a disturbance, they arrived at the apartment complex’s parking lot to find one 24-year-old man deceased from multiple stab wounds. To help the community recover from the crime and move forward, our team carefully cleaned the area of all blood and bodily fluids so it is now sanitary and safe.

Whenever we are called to handle blood cleanup where someone has lost their life, we do the work knowing this was someone’s son or daughter, brother or sister, friend, and perhaps even a parent. Never just a job to us, we know that lives have just been changed, and there are people grieving. For some, that spot we’re cleaning where their loved one died will never be the same.

Bio SoCal Protects the Newbury Park Community

To do our part in caring for those grieving, to protect the community, and out of respect for the victim, we use every tool and technique we have until all fluids have been fully removed, any invisible bacteria and viruses killed off, and the area restored and made safe. We know that, very likely, someone will be there in the next few days to grieve their friend or family member and we want to make sure that person’s memory is honored by cleaning the blood off all surfaces so they can mourn in peace.

If you experience a blood spill, accident, or crime in Newbury Park, our team at Bio SoCal is here with the knowledge and experience to take the responsibility of cleanup off your shoulders and ensure a restored environment after the unexpected occurs. Whether you are dealing with the aftermath of a crime, accident, suicide, or death, we are here for you so you don’t have to worry about the mess left behind.

We take insurance

To make the process even easier for you, we work with your home insurance company directly so all you have to do is let us onto the property. We’ll document all damages and file the claim on your behalf. With no money taken up front, you can focus on taking care of yourself and your family. We are always available for emergency blood cleanup services throughout Newbury Park.

Our Team is Available 24/7

Throughout Southern California, Bio SoCal is the trusted blood cleanup company whenever you need us.

If you have any information about this incident, please contact Major Crimes Sgt. Francisco Jauregui at 805-384-4737 or email francisco.jauregui@ventura.org. Information can also be provided anonymously via calling Ventura County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Our thoughts are with those who lost their loved one in this tragedy.

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Filed Under: Crime Scene Cleanup

How to Prepare for Your Death and Avoid the Lengthy Probate Process

May 31, 2022 By Alan Cohen

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Estate Planning

None of us know how many sunrises and sunsets we have left to enjoy. The end of our lives can come at any moment and though we all hope for years more to enjoy time with family and friends, the end of our stories can come faster than we expect. While we are able to make end of life decisions for ourselves, it’s important to make the choices to ease the burden on our loved ones.

No matter your age, whether you are into your senior years or growing into young adulthood, it is important to have end of life paperwork completed and regularly updated. Without these important legal documents in place at the time of your death, all your accounts and assets will be sent through a process called “probate” which can potentially drag on for years and cause great angst for those left behind.

To save your family members this heartache on top of the grief of losing you, take steps now to keep your estate out of the probate process so the transition of accounts and various assets can take place as quickly as possible so family and friends can focus on grieving you.

What is probate?

Probate is the legal process after a person dies when their will is reviewed and assessed as authentic, and assets are distributed according to a person’s wishes (if legally known). Probate also refers to the process when someone passes without legal paperwork in place and a judge determines how to distribute their assets according to set laws of who inherits. If a person has a will, the court will appoint an executor or if there is no will, an administrator, to collect the assets, pay any debts the deceased has remaining, and distribute the assets as the court dictates.

Keep your assets out of the probate process

Whether a person has a will or not, probate can be extremely costly with all the legal fees and court costs. This amount comes out of a person’s estate leaving less money for those left behind. Going through the probate process can also take months or even years. In the meantime, burial costs and debts left from your estate still need to be paid but can’t be until the funds are released. As this process drags on for your loved ones, all these legal proceedings are held in the public record, potentially exposing information your family would rather keep private as decisions you would have liked to make are made by a judge instead.

Plan your estate to avoid probate

By preplanning what will happen to all your assets and filing the correct legal paperwork, you can make the whole process far easier for your family members. Instead of the angst of dealing with a financial mess, your loved ones can breathe easy and quickly turn over your assets to those you want to obtain them.

Under California law, there are several ways you can handle your assets to avoid probate:

  • California probate exemption: The state of California has a simplified process in place for those whose estates fall under a predetermined maximum. For those who pass away after April 1, 2022, the current maximum is $184,500. However, not all assets in an estate are counted toward this maximum so you may still qualify if you have a larger estate. Items that do not count toward the maximum include property held in a living trust or joint tenancy, real estate outside of California, cars, boats, and mobile homes, property that goes to a surviving spouse, life insurance, death benefits, or payable-on death accounts, transfer-on-death deeds, bank accounts owned by more than one person, or unpaid salary up to $18,450. What does count toward the maximum is property you alone own in California, accounts solely under your name with no named beneficiary, and personal effects not inherited by a spouse, among others items.If your estate qualifies for this exemption, then your family will need to determine which paperwork to file based on whether the exemption includes real estate or not and wait the appropriate time to turn in the paperwork after you pass away. Depending on the process your estate qualifies for, your assets will then be distributed to the correct person. While this is still a process, it is far shorter and simpler than going through regular probate.
  • Right of survivorship: transfer-on-death, payable-on-death accounts: Some accounts and assets have legal ways of immediately transferring the asset to someone else after you pass away. To do this, you must declare the beneficiary to that account or asset while you’re still alive. Examples of this include life insurance, bank accounts, retirement accounts, and investments. While you are alive, the person named as beneficiary has no right to the account and you retain sole custody of your assets until you pass away and the account is transferred to the person you have selected.
  • Place your assets under a trust: A trust is a legal entity that owns any assets placed under its legal protection, held in trust for a beneficiary. All assets under the trust will be kept out of probate. Each trust then has a trustee: a person in charge of managing the trust’s assets. While you are alive, you yourself will usually serve as the trustee and will name a secondary trustee for when you pass away or are debilitated. Whoever is the trustee can then distribute the assets according to the rules set forth in the trust’s legal paperwork. Trusts can also be beneficial in protecting your assets if there is ever a legal judgment against you and can help lower estate taxes. Trusts can be arranged in many different ways to benefit various people and you would need to consult an estate lawyer to determine what kind of trust is right for you. Keep in mind any property not included in the trust is still subject to probate.
  • Transfer of Real Property with Retained Life Estate: In California, you can transfer your property to a beneficiary before you pass away with “retained life estate.” This means that while your property belongs to someone else, such as one of your children, you keep your right to the property while you are alive. Upon your death, they obtain sole right to the property while avoiding it going through probate. Before this action is taken, however, thought must be given to tax implications and how property expenses will be handled while you’re living.
  • Spousal petition: If you are legally married when you pass away, a spouse can file a “spousal petition” to obtain rights to your assets. A court hearing is then required to authorize the changing of ownership of any titles and accounts to the surviving spouse. While still technically probate, it is a far simpler procedure, takes less time, and the legal fees are usually far less.

Seek legal counsel when estate planning

The above information is not legal advice and is here to provide general information. When planning your estate and filing legal paperwork, always consult the advice of an estate lawyer. They will be able to advise you on what types of accounts, trusts, and beneficiary planning is right for you and your specific situation as well as establishing your end of life wishes for medical care.

Keep your paperwork updated

As we live our lives, who we want as beneficiaries may change over time. Relationships come and go, other people pass away, and children are born you may want to benefit from your estate. Make sure you check your estate planning periodically and make adjustments to beneficiaries or lists of accounts. A good estate lawyer may build regular reviews into your estate planning package.

By planning ahead and keeping your paperwork updated for your current situation, you can help those grieving your loss by keeping your estate out of the probate process and your assets easily distributed. Make sure the person responsible for the final distribution is familiar with your legal wishes and that they know where to find the legal paperwork and how to contact your lawyer.

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Filed Under: How To

What is Biofilm?

May 17, 2022 By Alan Cohen

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Biofilm

What is Biofilm?

A biofilm is a hardened layer of germs and microorganisms stuck to a surface. Most people assume you can simply wipe up dirt off a surface and leave behind a clean environment but if a biofilm has formed, then extra scrubbing is needed.

Biofilms are actually found in all kinds of places – even in your own mouth! Over time, bacteria lands on a surface and starts multiplying. As other germs and microorganisms land nearby, this new living community forms a sticky, slimy substance to protect the community, bind it together, and keep it in place on whatever surface it is living on. Over time, these layers harden and can be difficult to remove. A biofilm especially likes forming in places with moisture nearby to sustain it.

Biofilms can be hard to clean

Without knowing what it was, you have already cleaned biofilms off from surfaces. Biofilms are the plaque on your teeth, that pink scum in your shower, sink, or toilet, the grime in your kitchen, and the slime on a slippery river rock. Over time, these layers of biofilm accumulate and are harder to clean the longer they are left to grow.

Regular weekly cleaning keeps biofilms around a home or business to a minimum. However, if a surface is not cleaned regularly, the biofilm layers harden, and greater effort must be expended to make sure the layers are removed and only a clean surface remains. A good example to illustrate this is the biofilm that forms on our teeth as plaque. The longer we wait between dental cleanings, the harder it is to remove plaque and the more damage it can do to the tooth surface underneath. The same is true for the damage that can occur to surfaces such as countertops and bathroom fixtures.

When cleaning a surface with a formed biofilm, you can’t simply wipe the area with a disinfectant. The sticky substance will protect the microorganisms underneath and the disinfectant will remain on top of the sticky substance. To truly clean the area, you have to scrub at the biofilm first to make sure it is fully removed then disinfect the area according to instructions on the bottle.

Difference between biohazard biofilm and regular dirt

Most biofilms that form on household surfaces are easy enough to clean for anyone with basic cleaning skills performing regular maintenance. While you don’t want them to stay around, they are relatively harmless to remove. With a strong cleaner, vigorous scrubbing, followed by a quality disinfectant applied correctly, biofilms can be kept from doing any lasting damage and will be easy to deal with.

In situations involving biohazards, however, our professional biohazard cleaners are there to take over for you. Even those with excellent cleaning skills should not attempt to handle any biohazardous substances such as blood, body fluids, or harmful chemicals. The bacteria and viruses making up the biofilm can be extremely dangerous without the proper protection and cleaning equipment. A surface that seems to be safe can have a large community of living organisms still hardened on a surface despite disinfection that are ready to infect the unsuspecting.

At Bio SoCal, we’ll make sure all biofilms have been removed and your property restored to safety by using the proper safety equipment and industrial cleaners. First, we sanitize the surface to protect ourselves before we scrub away the biofilm, then disinfect all surfaces.

Don’t risk cleaning up biofilms infected with biohazards on your own – rely on professionals who know how to do the job right and keep you safe.

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Filed Under: Biohazards

How To Help A Child Cope With A Parent’s Suicide

April 1, 2022 By Alan Cohen

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How To Cope With A Parent's Suicide

Dealing with a parent’s suicide is horribly difficult at any age. For a child, many complicated feelings arise they don’t yet have the experience to handle or even name. While we can’t protect the children we love from these traumatic and grief-filled thoughts and feelings, there are ways we can help them cope as they work toward healing.

While we refer here to the loss of a parent, children need help coping with the grief after any close person commits suicide such as a grandparent, sibling, aunt, uncle, or friend.

Talk about emotions openly

As children grieve the loss of their parent, they will go through many complicated feelings. They may feel angry at their parent for leaving them, guilt for not having saved them, resentful at the extra responsibility placed on them in caring for younger children, relief after a parent’s prolonged illness, scared for what will happen to them in the future, and lost without that familiar parental support. Still in the stages of learning to name and handle these emotions, children may feel very confused as they learn to navigate unfamiliar territory and react by hiding away or acting out.

To help children cope with this myriad of emotions, let them know that all feelings they are having are acceptable and that they can share with you or another trusted adult anything they may be experiencing.

Give them different ways to express themselves

Depending on the age of the child, remember they may not be able to express themselves with clear words but may need to draw or play out their feelings in another way. Without this avenue of expression, whether through words or a form of play, children tend to hold things inside and blame themselves for their parent’s suicide. This can result in damaging behavior and mental health issues as they grow and develop into adults. By helping them talk through their feelings, you can address these thoughts and help them know the suicide is not their fault.

Explain mental illness

Explain to a child their parent suffered from a mental illness, that something was wrong with their brain that changed the way they thought and felt. Make sure they understand nothing they could have said or done could have fixed the problem and the suicide was not something they caused. It may even be worth repeating as children sometimes need to hear something more than once to really sink in.

Help the child move forward

Soon after the suicide, help the child get back to their normal routine of school and activities. This will help their sense of safety, predictability, and security. Also make sure they are surrounded by a strong family and social network who can keep an eye on the child and be there for them whenever they need to talk. As the child ages and enters new stages of life, they may need to deal with a new piece of their grief so continue to be there and listen.

Depending on the family situation, there may be other issues present such as drug use, addiction, mental illness, abuse, and poverty. Whether a child is dealing with just the suicide or with multiple issues, many children benefit greatly from seeing a counselor who is experienced in walking with children through the grieving process and other family issues.

Keep an eye out for deeper trauma

Some children, especially those with previous trauma or who are prone to anxiety, need more care to deal with their loss. This need may be expressed through problematic behavior such as withdrawal or acting out. Let the child know they are loved and cared for no matter how they are reacting in those moments. It can, at times, be hard to distinguish what is problematic and what is healthy grieving so as a child grapples with their parent’s suicide, keep an eye out for these changes:

  • feelings of deep grief don’t dissipate over time
  • the child withdraws verbally/socially/ or physically from previously loved people or activities
  • refusal to go to school
  • changes in eating or sleeping habits
  • hurting themselves or others
  • Obsession or avoidance of the parent or suicide event

If a child is not already talking with a counselor when exhibiting these behaviors, it is a good time to start. When a child’s parent or other close loved one commits suicide, that person is also more likely to commit suicide so helping a child grieve in a healthy way is of utmost importance for their future mental and physical health.

Continue helping the child as their grief changes

Just like adults grieving, grief changes over time for children and they will express it in different ways at different times as they walk though the process and grow up without that parent present. Continue to be there for them, listen to what they say and how they act, and get help when needed. Remember, you are likely also grieving and need ongoing support and someone to talk to. Get the care you need so you can also help your child deal with the loss of their parent.

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Filed Under: Suicide

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