 |
|||
 |
|||
Healthy
|
|||
Pests, Pesticides & Children’s Health
Several pests commonly found in childcare settings can pose risks to children’s health. For example, flies can spread bacterial diseases, cockroaches can trigger allergies and asthma attacks, and certain species of mice can transmit hantavirus, a rare but potentially deadly disease.
But some pesticides frequently used to control pests also may pose risks to children’s health. Traditional pest control using insecticides applied preventatively (e.g., baseboard sprays) leaves a residue that kills insects on contact. The residue may last several days, weeks, or longer than a month, depending on the product used and other factors.
Children are at greater risk than adults for negative health effects following pesticide exposure because their bodies are still developing. They breathe more air, drink more water, and consume more food per pound of body weight than adults, so they are more likely to take in these residues. Also, children are more likely than adults to be exposed to pesticide residues because of behaviors such as crawling and hand-to-mouth activities.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach to managing pests. IPM is simple: think like a pest. Focus on reducing the factors that attract pests: food, water, warmth, living space, and a way into the building. If possible, pests are removed by non-chemical means (for example, vacuuming), and prevented from reentering the childcare environment. Low-impact products, such as insecticide baits, are often combined with traps or glue boards to eliminate pests without spraying. Equally important, childcare staff should be watchful for pests so problems can be dealt with early.
IPM is recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Parent Teacher Association for controlling pests in children’s environments. An increasing number or states have passed laws mandating the use of IPM in schools and/or childcare settings.
Five Steps For IPM
Keep Pests Out
- Keep doors closed when not in use, and keep door and window screens in good repair.
- A mouse can enter a building through a 1/4 inch gap under the door or a hole the size of a dime. If you can see light under a door, insect pests can wander in. Install or repair door sweeps under doors to prevent pest entry.
- Gaps around pipes, conduit lines, ventilation ducts and window frames also can provide entry. Seal all gaps tightly with a proper sealant.
- Cockroaches can enter a facility in cardboard boxes, bookbags, purses, etc. Mice or fleas are sometimes brought in with second-hand furniture. Check all deliveries for pests, and place sticky traps in pest prone areas to monitor for pests.
Reduce Pest Attraction
Good sanitation is pest management.
- Sweep and mop all floors daily, wipe up spills immediately, and do not leave dirty dishes overnight.
- Clean to the corners. Deep cleaning sometimes means moving equipment or getting down on the floor to reach into corners.
- Replace cracked tiles which often trap food and moisture and provide a breeding ground for flies.
- Floor drains are a common breeding site for some fly species. Clean drains routinely with a stiff wire brush; enzyme-based cleaning products can help to break down food in drains.
- Use thick, quality trash bags that will not leak and close them securely.
Recognize Pest Problems Early
- Keep a simple log of pests--when and where they occur. If you work with a professional pest control service, the technician can use this information to find and eliminate pests quickly.
- Another useful tool for detecting pests is the sticky trap or glue board. Place under sink cabinets, along walls, under shelves, and in furnace rooms or kitchen areas to trap any pests that wander in.
- Sticky traps detect pests day or night, and are very affordable. They do not effectively eliminate pest populations, but they can tell you if pests are present and, often, exactly where they are hiding.
Find and Eliminate Pest Hiding Zones
Pests are looking for food, water, warmth, and living space. Cockroaches and mice like spaces in walls, sinks, cabinets, and cardboard. Product pests hide in unsealed foods. Here are some tips for eliminating pest hiding zones:
- Inspect walls, sinks, and cabinets and seal any cracks, gaps, or holes that could allow pests to move back and forth. Seal all plumbing fixtures with pipe collars.
- Cockroaches, spiders, mice, and some ants like cardboard. Discard empty boxes and use clear, sealable plastic containers for storage.
- Clutter provides safe places for pests to hide and reproduce. Some cockroaches, ants, and silverfish, as well as the dangerous brown recluse spider prefer the types of crevices provided by layered clutter (e.g., stacks of paper). Get rid of materials that are rarely used. Organize storage space and clean storage closets often. Place sticky traps in storage areas to detect pests.
- Avoid shelves that have inaccessible areas beneath them. Use wire shelves that allow debris to fall through for easy cleaning. Make sure the lowest shelf is above the floor so you can clean beneath it. Leave space between the back of the shelf or items on the shelf and the wall.
- Inspect rice and grain products before accepting them. Keep all dry food products in sealed plastic containers.
Select a Treatment Strategy
Many pests, such as most ants, crickets, and beetles pose no threat to children’s health. They can be removed by vacuuming or mopping. But for more dangerous or recurring pests, a pesticide treatment may be warranted. Fortunately, a variety of low impact insecticide products, such as baits, are now available to control pests. Always select the least toxic product that will do the job (i.e., only to use products with a “Caution” label; never use products with “Warning” or “Danger”), follow label directions, and never apply pesticides when children are present.
One of the great things about IPM is that you are already doing much of it! Keeping things clean and safe for kids is a part of the daily routine in every child care facility. By taking it one step further and “thinking like a pest,” you can all but eliminate pesticides and maintain a safe, pest-free learning environment.
Al Fournier, Coordinator,
IPM Technical Resource Center, Purdue University
INTERNET RESOURCES
The IPM Technical Resource Center at Purdue University provides technical advice and pest control information to childcare providers; www.entm.purdue.edu/entomology/outreach/schoolipm
An example of a “pest sighting log” is available for free on this website.
RESOURCES
Safer Pest Control Project, 25 E. Washington, Ste. 1515, Chicago IL, 60602; 312-641-5575; www.spcpweb.org/childcare.
|
Healthy Childcare® Home Page | Library | Search | Questions & Answers | Links
I Am Amazing | Hip On Health | Health & Safety Resource Guide | Order Form
Product Spotlight | Free Issue | Publisher's Letter | Contact Us | Author Guidelines HEALTHY CHILD PUBLICATIONS Last Revised: |
||