How biohazard training for first responders and property managers can help combat the fentanyl crisis
The fentanyl epidemic is most closely associated with drug users—often people who became addicted after being prescribed opioids for pain or injury. However, as abuse rates have increased, fentanyl has turned into a crisis for first responders, property managers, and maintenance workers who have to deal with the aftermath, Trauma Services reports.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioids such as fentanyl were involved in 55,529 unintentional overdose deaths in 2023. Relatedly, accidental exposure among children increased by 1,194% between 2015 and 2023, according to The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. Children are not the only ones at risk. Police officers, paramedics, and firefighters are accustomed to encountering fentanyl at overdose scenes and are trained in how to handle it.
However, property managers and maintenance crews, who are frequently tasked with cleaning up contaminated rental units and foreclosed homes, can unknowingly be exposed to serious health risks because they often lack proper biohazard training. In addition to fentanyl, other biohazards, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi that carry infectious diseases and bloodborne pathogens, can be a significant occupational hazard. Comprehensive biohazard training is critical to avoid these risks and liabilities.
During the course of responding to medical emergencies or cleaning up contaminated property, first responders, property managers, and maintenance workers commonly encounter the following types of biohazards:
1. Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, carried in blood and other bodily fluids that cause diseases, including hepatitis B and C, and HIV. These are frequently found in locations such as crime and overdose scenes, drug labs, unattended deaths, and abandoned property—often in the form of used needles and medical waste.
2. Drug Residue and Fentanyl Contamination
In spaces where drugs are illegally manufactured or used, residue from fentanyl, meth, heroin, and cocaine can settle on flooring and furnishings and in ventilation systems. If first responders or property managers come into contact with this residue—either directly on their skin or through inhalation—it can cause severe respiratory distress or accidental overdose.
3. Human Waste and Sewage Contamination
In places where plumbing backs up or there aren't adequate plumbing systems, such as neglected houses, hoarding situations, and homeless encampments, human waste can cause contamination. Diseases such as E. coli, hepatitis A, and norovirus are spread through accidental contact with fecal matter.
4. Mold and Fungal Contaminants
Mold and fungus can flourish after water damage, floods, or in damp, neglected areas. Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) and other molds can cause respiratory illnesses and allergic reactions.
5. Rodent and Insect Infestations
Wild animals, insects, and decaying animal carcasses can expose workers to biohazards and air quality risks. Rats, mice, and cockroaches pose bite risks and can spread hantavirus, leptospirosis, and plague. Other animals can spread rabies, toxoplasmosis, and psittacosis by leaving behind droppings and contaminating air ducts.
6. Hoarding and Squalor Conditions
In hoarding environments, the accumulation of trash and clutter and pest infestations can pose health risks and fire hazards that can endanger first responders and maintenance workers. Decomposing food, human waste, and mold can all spread diseases and endanger health.
7. Chemical and Tear Gas Contaminants
Many toxic chemicals are associated with producing drugs and drug busts, including hazardous materials and tear gas. These chemicals can irritate skin, lungs, eyes, and mucous membranes, causing both immediate and long-term health effects.
8. Infectious Disease Exposure
Infectious diseases can spread in situations where adequate hygiene measures aren't followed, such as homeless shelters, crime scenes, and neglected rental properties. Some of the most significant hazards are spread through skin contact and airborne droplets, including tuberculosis, COVID-19, and MRSA.
Effective biohazard training should be role-based and cover the types of exposures workers may experience while performing their jobs. Exposure to hazards like fentanyl or contaminated sharps is becoming increasingly common. Often, a property manager or maintenance worker walks into what seems like a routine turnover only to find themselves face-to-face with serious danger. These situations aren't rare anymore; they're becoming part of the job.
First responders have to administer medical treatment and personal care while avoiding biohazards. They need to be trained to:
Identify fentanyl and other drugs, potential bloodborne pathogens, and other contaminants at crime scenes and overdose locations.
Properly use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as N95 masks, nitrile gloves, and protective eyewear, to prevent exposure.
Administer naloxone (Narcan) to reverse overdoses.
Safely handle and dispose of contaminated materials.
Decontaminate vehicles, surfaces, uniforms, and equipment after use.
Property managers and maintenance staff usually arrive on the scene after any immediate medical emergency is over. However, in the process of remediating a scene, they may be exposed to additional hazards. They need to be trained to:
Recognize high-risk environments and warnings of drug use.
Follow PPE protocols before they inspect or clean units.
Dispose of hazardous waste properly to prevent further contamination.
Follow legal responsibilities and disclosure laws to protect tenant safety.
Implement appropriate emergency response measures in case of accidental exposure.
Mishandling biohazards poses financial and legal risks in addition to health risks. These expenses far exceed the costs of training and equipping and can include:
Lawsuits from tenants who rent contaminated units.
Fines and legal penalties for noncompliance with hazardous materials regulations.
Liability if employees are injured due to a lack of training.
Insurance claim denials for fentanyl-related contamination if remediation isn't properly documented.
As the fentanyl crisis expands, first responders and property managers are in danger of accidental exposure from their jobs. They need comprehensive biohazard training to avoid the negative health effects of fentanyl, infectious diseases, and other deadly contaminants.
Increases in accidental overdose deaths and child exposures mean that first responders and maintenance workers face increased risks when responding to and cleaning up after drug-related incidents. Being adequately trained and equipped is the only way to protect the health and safety of workers.
This story was produced by Trauma Services and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


News24
an hour ago
- News24
Graphs that paint the picture of HIV in SA: Part 2
Eight million people living with HIV. Just over 6 million on treatment. Behind these big numbers lurk a universe of fascinating epidemiological dynamics. In this special briefing, Spotlight editor Marcus Low unpacks what we know about the state of HIV in South Africa. This is part 2 of 3. In Part 1 of this Spotlight special briefing, we looked at some of the big picture dynamics of HIV in South Africa. Most of the news there was good. In Part 2, however, we look at why making progress is getting harder and consider some key vulnerabilities of our HIV programme. The final 10% or 20% will be the hardest Spotlight The above graph shows the number of people starting treatment by year. As you can see, around a decade ago, this number was often higher than 500 000. Since 2021, it has been below 300 000. Government could no doubt do a better job at helping people start and stay on treatment, but there are also good epidemiological reasons for the slow-down. In short, those who were sicker or more eager to start treatment - and for whom taking treatment is relatively easy - are mostly already on treatment. Those who are not on treatment are likely less motivated to take treatment or may have challenges in their lives that make it hard for them to start and stay on treatment. Convincing and supporting this latter group to start and stay on treatment is quite simply harder than it is for the prior group, but it is where the focus will have to be if we are to get our numbers higher. It is one reason why many are so concerned about recent aid cuts that have disproportionately impacted HIV services for marginalised groups like sex workers, people who use drugs, and men who have sex with men. These groups of people often feel unwelcome at public sector clinics. One key thing to keep in mind when looking at HIV numbers is that people cycle in and out of HIV treatment a lot. A misleading impression can, for example, be created if one looks at the number of people starting or restarting treatment without subtracting the number of people who have stopped taking treatment over the same period. It is for this reason that it is best to focus mainly on the total number of people on treatment and how that number changes from year to year (you can see a graph of this in Part 1 of this series). Finally, another important nuance in the numbers is how much damage has been done to people's immune systems by the time they start treatment – the earlier you start, the better your long-term prognosis. It is concerning that, of the 241 000 people who started treatment in 2023/2024, 54 000 had CD4 counts below 200 cells per cubic millimetre, an indication that their immune systems had already been hit hard. Bigger programme, bigger vulnerabilities? Much of how an epidemic grows or wanes depends on how many people are infectious at a specific point in time. Generally, the more infectious people there are in a population, the more other people will get infected. It follows that, if you can't cure people, the next best thing from an epidemiological control perspective, is to make people non-infectious. (See our recent Special Briefing on the search for an HIV cure.) Fortunately, apart from keeping people healthy, consistently taking antiretroviral medicines also make the vast majority of people living with HIV non-infectious. Thus, while all eight million people living with HIV in South Africa could potentially become infectious, antiretroviral treatment means that only around two million of them actually are. Spotlight It is very unlikely that we will drop from 6.2 million people on treatment to 5.2, or even 5.5, but even just dropping by 100 000 or 200 000, will mean 100 000 or 200 000 more people become infectious. That would give our HIV epidemic a blast of oxygen it wouldn't have had otherwise. There are real vulnerabilities here. According to preliminary modelling that the Department of Health commissioned in response to US funding cuts, failure to replace the HIV services that were funded by the US in South Africa could result in an additional 150 000 to 295 000 additional infections by 2028. It will take a year or two before we see the actual impact of the aid cuts in data sources such as Thembisa, but, as reported by Daily Maverick, there have been some early indications from the country's public lab service that important numbers are down. *Check back tomorrow for Part 3 of this series. You can also find the complete version of this #InTheSpotlight special briefing as a single page on the Spotlight website. Note: All of the above graphs are based on outputs from version 4.8 of the Thembisa model published in March 2025. We thank the Thembisa team for sharing their outputs so freely. Graphs were produced by Spotlight using the R package ggplot2. You are free to reuse and republish the graphs. For ease of use, you can download them as a Microsoft PowerPoint slide deck. Technical note: The Thembisa model outputs include both stock and flow variables. This is why we have at some places written 2024 (for stock variables) and 2023/2024 (for flow variables). 2024 should be read as mid-2024. 2023/2024 should be read as the period from mid-2023 to mid-2024. Show Comments ()
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pride of Cumbria Against all Odds award finalists share inspiring stories of courage
The new Against All Odds category in Newsquest's Pride of Cumbria Awards 2025 honours individuals or groups who have overcome personal challenges with resilience, determination, and courage. Their journey through illness, loss, or adversity inspires others, showcasing the strength of hope and perseverance. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 18 at the Greenhill Hotel, Wigton, and will be hosted for the first time by StagedRight managing director David Stewart Kerry Stewart (Image: Supplied) Kerry was diagnosed with breast cancer in Feb 2021, aged 30. She is a mother of Mabel and a wife to Jonathon. Fit, healthy, full of life and one day found a lump in her breast. She was diagnosed and put onto a treatment plan instantly. She braved the shave in July 2021 and started raising money, alongside Stronger Together cancer support group, to raise funds for The Henderson and Loweswater Suite at West Cumberland Hospital. Laura Earl - The Hiking Household Laura Earl (Image: Supplied) Laura was diagnosed with a brain tumour in September 2023, she was fit and active - owning walking business The Hiking Household. She has four young kids and has dedicated her life to me, the children and her business. Her nominator said: "She deserves this award as her whole life was dedicated to walking and being outside and this last year has been incredibly difficult for her. "She has overcome all the odds and used her experience for good, making routes more accessible for others now she's disabled herself." Sarah Foster Sarah Foster (Image: Supplied) Sarah was first diagnosed with cancer around the age of 12. She has had multiple remissions but the cancer always returned. She has the most valiant spirit and determination to fight and she's fought hard. She has raised a staggering amount for charity including CLIC Sargent and cancer research. Her nominator said: "For outstanding bravery and contribution to charity whilst being disabled and having terminal cancer herself." Julieanne Mitchell Julieanne Mitchell (Image: Supplied) Julieanne is HIV positive and is 47 and lives in Whitehaven, she works for Blue Sky Trust one day a week and also does additional volunteering for this service. Her nominator said: "Julieanne herself was diagnosed with HIV over 20+ years ago, at a time when she was a young women, since then, she has worked so hard to build herself back up after such a diagnoses, but then she has also gone on and support others living with HIV across Cumbria"


Buzz Feed
7 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
The 1 Thing That Food Experts Never Eat Or Drink While Traveling Abroad
When you're traveling abroad, you probably have a long list of must-sees and must-dos. Diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps most definitely aren't on that list, but these digestive problems can be all too common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 30% to 70% of vacationers get traveler's diarrhea, depending on where and when they go. The illness can often (but not always) be prevented by paying close attention to what you eat or drink, and by following the 'boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it' rule. 'Foodborne infections can strike at any time,' Leah Silberman, a registered dietitian with Medical Offices of Manhattan, told HuffPost. 'Traveling exposes you to new food sources, local food handling procedures, and different cleanliness standards. This raises your chances of coming into contact with infections or pollutants, against which your body may not have built protection.' Foods may also be contaminated with unsafe drinking water, or when handwashing isn't the norm or isn't done properly, said Mitzi Baum, CEO of the nonprofit Stop Foodborne Illness. Before traveling, it's a good idea to check the CDC's list of destinations, which highlights food or water safety issues, Baum said. Keep in mind, though, that you can get sick anywhere, including the US. About one in six Americans contract foodborne illness each year, which results in 3,000 deaths and 128,000 hospitalizations, according to the CDC. Travel enhances your risk of getting digestive issues, however. Along with not being acclimated to the foods or encountering different food-handling processes, jet lag and changes in climate can weaken your immune system, Silberman explained. Next time you travel, follow these tips for protecting yourself from traveler's diarrhea. Dietitians and food safety experts explain which foods are more likely to put you at risk for foodborne illness. What Is Traveler's Sickness? Traveler's diarrhea is the most common travel-related illness, and you get it by consuming tainted foods or drinks, according to the CDC. E. coli bacteria is the main culprit, Baum said, but travelers can also get sick from salmonella, shigella, or campylobacter. Viruses, like astrovirus, norovirus, and rotavirus, can also be to blame, as well as the parasite giardia. It often happens in instances of poor food handling, a lack of sanitation, or contaminated drinking water, Silberman said. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and fever are the most common symptoms of traveler's diarrhea, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Symptoms of viral or bacterial infections typically show up within six to 24 hours, but parasites can take a few weeks to show signs. The highest-risk destinations are Asia (except for Japan and South Korea), the Middle East, Africa, Mexico, and Central and South America, according to the CDC. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and before eating, can reduce your risk, Baum said. Foods And Drinks To Avoid When Traveling Abroad You can actually get foodborne illness from any food or beverage. But some might be riskier than others, depending on where you travel. Food safety measures, sanitary standards, and culinary habits vary in different parts of the world, Silberman said. Your best bet is to research food safety and health risks for your destination. But here are some foods and drinks to consider avoiding. Raw fish and meat Raw meat and seafood are a 'big no-no,' according to Vanessa Rissetto, a registered dietitian and co-founder and CEO of Culina Health. 'We can't source where they came from, how long they've been out, and how they've been handled.' Rare steaks, tartare, sushi, ceviche or raw seafood, or inadequately prepared meat, fish, or seafood can increase your risk for consuming bacteria, parasites, or viruses, Silberman said. Fresh fruits and vegetables Fresh fruits and vegetables that seem to have been sitting out for a while could attract germs that might make you sick, Rissetto said. Opt for cooked produce when you can, which will ensure that it reaches temperatures high enough to kill pathogens. 'If you're going to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, they are safest when washed with potable water and peeled by the person who eats them,' Baum added. Also, choose fruits and vegetables with thick skins — like bananas, oranges or avocados — that can be peeled, Silberman said. 'Peel them yourself to reduce the possibility of eating pathogens.' Dairy Pasteurized milk and dairy products from sealed containers are usually safe to consume, according to the CDC. But unpasteurized items, including cheese, yogurt, or ice cream, are more likely to contain hazardous germs, like listeria, salmonella, or E. coli, Silberman said. It's also a good idea to avoid dairy that's been stored at room temperature or left out, such as cream for coffee. Tap water Alberto Masnovo / Getty Images Contaminated water is a big cause of traveler's diarrhea. 'Since pathogens aren't visible to the naked eye, it's hard to tell if the water is safe to drink,' Baum said. To learn about the safety of tap water in your destination, visit the CDC's travelers' health website, where you can search by country. Whenever you're not sure about the safety of water, drink factory-sealed bottled water and remove ice from your drinks, Baum said. You can also boil water for at least a minute. Be careful not to swallow any water in the shower if you're visiting a place where the water isn't safe to drink, and use bottled water to brush your teeth, Rissetto said. Certain types of street food DigiPub / Getty Images Sampling food from street vendors is a fun way to sample local cuisine, but the CDC warns that some may not adhere to the same safety practices — like hand-washing and checking food temperatures — as restaurants. It's always best to avoid foods and drinks that seem to be sitting around for a while. Items that come straight off a grill, for instance, that are piping hot and cooked are likely safer. What If You Get Sick While Traveling? If, despite your best efforts, you do get a case of traveler's diarrhea, it's usually not serious. But it can persist for a few days or a week (longer if it's caused by a parasite), ruining your trip. Silberman offered these tips for taking care of yourself if that happens: Stay hydrated. Diarrhea and vomiting can be dehydrating, so drink lots of bottled water or other safe fluids. Take an over-the-counter medication. Antidiarrheals, like loperamide (Imodium), or anti-nausea drugs, like dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), help relieve symptoms. Talk to a healthcare expert first, though, especially if you're taking other medications. See a doctor. If your symptoms aren't going away, they're severe, or you also have a fever, bloody stool, or dehydration, seek medical attention. Call your doctor when you get home if you still have symptoms or if you have an underlying medical condition. No one wants to get sick while traveling, of course. But remember that foodborne illness can happen anywhere, Rissetto noted. 'If we go on vacation overly worried about every single thing we're eating, we might not be able to truly enjoy the experience,' she said. 'You can determine what's right for you in the moment.'