A South Korean man’s vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii turned suddenly deadly when he fell from a 16th floor balcony. After checking in, a 39-year-old man found himself locked out of his hotel room in Waikiki early one Friday morning at 3 a.m. Police say he attempted to enter his locked hotel room by climbing in from his friend’s hotel balcony next door. He then lost his hold on the railings and fell to the surface below. The Honolulu Police Department say there are no signs of foul play.
Unfortunately, with so many tall building and hotels on our islands here in Hawaii, falls do occasionally occur. Whether from accidents, suicides, or homicides, each fall is tragic and often needs to be cleaned up by experienced biohazard cleaners to protect the health of the wider public.
Needed biohazard cleanup can vary widely after a fall
When a human falls from a great height, especially as tall as the 16 floors in this case, the impact once the body hits the ground can cause immense damage to blood vessels, organs, bone, brain, and skin. This often causes blood to splatter in a wide area around the fall, much wider than most people would think. Blood and other body tissues can land on the surface itself, surrounding buildings, cars, people present at the time of death, and objects such as fire hydrants and trash cans. After cordoning off the area and keeping people away from the area of impact, each of these items would need to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by professional biohazard cleaners.
Blood can splatter at great distances
Even a fall from as little as four stories has a 50% chance of killing the person who fell. Due to gravity, the human body falls at a rate of 120 miles per hour or more. This pull of gravity then results in a person being able to weigh far more when in free fall than when they are standing on the ground. When a person falls on a hard surface such as cement or water at this rate, the distance body fluids can travel on impact needs to be considered when cleaning is undertaken. If fluids or body tissues are missed, any bloodborne pathogens, viruses, or bacteria present can then infect innocent passerby.
When a fall such as happened with this man occurs, it is important to make sure the entire area is fully cleaned and disinfected. Without doing so, the property owner is held legally liable for any future damages due to negligence. Don’t put yourself or others at risk through improper cleanup after someone falls.
Our team is here if you need help
Our team at Bio X Hawaii always makes sure all blood and body fluids are fully cleaned and the safety of your property is restored after someone falls and blood is spilled. With compassion and respect for all involved, we are available to service all the islands of Hawaii and are happy to answer any questions along the way.
Whether you live in Hawaii or are visiting our beautiful islands, please keep your safety in mind at all times. Don’t participate in risky behavior and be cautious around heights whether the location is a mountain, on cliff overlooking the sea, or a balcony in a condo or at a hotel. It only takes one slip to turn a fun moment into tragedy.
Our thoughts are with all those affected by this man’s passing.
