You don’t have to be a scholar to know that pests are not conducive to a good learning environment for students, teachers, or school administrators.
For one, it’s hard for anyone to concentrate when an unwanted pest makes a classroom appearance. In addition, many pests can be unsanitary, bothersome, or destructive. Of course, there are many factors that contribute to a school’s physical safety. One of the key factors is a safe and effective pest control program.
How Pests Can Affect Schools
Pests can enter any building through doorways, windows, openings and even the smallest cracks and crevices. This means schools can be susceptible to pest infestations due to frequently opened doors and the large number of people coming in and out.
Many types of pests can create significant infestations very quickly. By the time the pests are noticed, there could be many more – even hundreds hiding nearby. These infestations can sometimes be tricky to identify, requiring professional knowledge and experience.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these pests can be a concern to schools: Ants, Bed bugs, Bees and Wasps, Cockroaches, Flies, Lice, Millipedes, Mosquitoes, Rodents, Termites, Ticks
The EPA also says that school properties have many areas that can be attractive to pests, including cafeterias, classrooms, lockers, gyms, dumpsters, athletic fields, and buses, among other areas.
In addition to attributing to unhygienic conditions and potential structural property damage, pest infestations can cause school scheduling and operational interruptions and delays.
Pest invasions may also violate regulations and health codes that schools must follow. Pest control professionals with experience in treating school facilities should be familiar with the guidelines for federal agency and local health code compliance regarding pest control and have systems in place to help with the required reporting.
What Can Be Done?
Waynes commercial department understands the importance of maintaining school guidelines and safety. With 50 years of experience helping protect public buildings, homes, and yards, our specialists know how to customize treatments for specific situations and optimal benefits.
At Waynes, we employ and believe in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which the EPA recommends for school pest control programs. Through this, many hours of training and knowledge, we have a custom and tailored plan to each need. This includes:
Inspections of the school’s interior and exterior.
Identification of pests found in the school and an analysis of activity.
Treatment of affected school areas and implementation of methods for controlling pests.
Recommendations for helping limit and prevent pest activity in the school.
Continuous evaluation of treatment effectiveness and any necessary modifications.
Education of school staff, if needed, to address actions and conditions that may affect pest activity.
If you believe you may need help, whether it be an elementary school, or a college or university, our commercial specialists are here to help. For more information about our commercial service visit our website callwaynes.com or call us today at 866.WAYNES1!
Meredith Boyd, Social Media and Marketing Specialist – www.callwaynes.com
