The Importance Of Pest Control For Educational Facilities

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While students and educators cannot always agree about most topics, there is one area where they are in concert: the importance of pest control for educational facilities. Unless students and teachers are able to enjoy an optimal learning environment, their performance will suffer over the long haul. 

Common pests that are found in the school environment include rats, mice, roaches, bed bugs and head lice. Let’s take a closer look at the dangers that are posed by the onset of pests in educational facilities. 

Exposure

When children are exposed to pests, they are in far more danger than their adult counterparts, due to their small size and the fact that they are still growing. A developing body is at great risk, which is why educational facilities must prioritize pest control and enlist professionals as often as possible.

An educational facility should never make the mistake of assuming that pests aren’t present, simply because they are unable to be seen by the naked eye. Children are often exposed to pests in their learning environment during moments when it is least expected and in some instances, they are falsely blamed for causing their own issues.

Parents should also be able to send their children to school with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their little ones will be able to learn and work within a safe environment. Otherwise, parents could be falsely accused of improper child care, which is an incredibly serious allegation.

Spread of Disease

If rats and mice are allowed to roam freely, children could contract diseases from being exposed to their droppings. Anyone with school age children can tell you how rapidly simple colds and flu viruses can spread through a group of youngsters.

The presence of pests in an educational facilities magnifies this threat several times over. If disease is allowed to spread, dozens (if not hundreds) of young lives are placed in danger. To avoid this stark reality, educational facilities must embrace the importance of pest control and schedule regular checkups.

When it comes to pest control in any major building where large numbers of young people congregate each day, prevention is key. Waiting until a pest outbreak takes place to receive protection is like closing the barn door after the horse has already ran away. 

Negative Educational Impact

The impact on a child’s education, as well as an educator’s ability to teach, are both negatively impacted by the presence of pests. This is why it is so crucial for educational facilities to remain cognizant of any potential pest control issues, before they have a chance to become widespread. 

There is no second chance for a child to receive the proper educational experience. An educational facility cannot restore the loss of their credibility, should news of a pest outbreak become public. To steer clear of these types of issues, an educational facility must become proactive, instead of reactive.

So how can an educational facility avoid these pitfalls? By following the proper steps to secure the building and keep their student body safe from pests.

1. Pest Identification

Many educational facilities allow outbreaks to take place, because they are unable to identify the presence of pests until it is too late. By researching the pests that are prevalent in the region and knowing more about their nesting habits, this leads to far more effective control. 

2. Prevention

Once the proper research has been conducted regarding pest control, preventive measures can be put into place. Any possible sources of shelter, food or water for pests must be eliminated. All cracks and crevices that allow for their entry need to be sealed and the ultimate goal should be to create an environment that is not hospitable for pests of any kind.

3. Vigilance

Guess what? Even if you follow the first two steps to the letter, pests are not going to announce their arrival on the premises. As a result, educational facilities must remain vigilant and monitor for pests on a regular, consistent basis. No exceptions can be made. Traps can be used to aid in the process and by keeping a close watch, pest sightings can be noted and dealt with accordingly. 

4. Safe Control Tactics

Educational facilities that rely heavily on pesticides to keep their students safe must change their tactics. Using non chemical methods to safeguard the facility from the outbreak of pests is crucial. If a school must use pesticides to eradicate an issue, they should only be administered by a licensed professional with the proper training as the last resort.  All other non-chemical low impact methods must be used prior to using non-low impact chemicals.  And everything must be documented and all of the notices and procedural steps must be followed at every step of the way.  

5. Educating Staff

All staff members need to be made aware of the pest control protocols that have been put into place. The prevention of pests starts with the reporting of pests, which means each and every member of an educational facility’s staff must play an important role in the task of keeping students safe. 

If an educational facility does not follow the aforementioned guidelines, they are placing everyone who spends a significant amount of time in the building at serious risk. Pest control is incredibly important for educational facilities and students must be able to learn without fear of disease or even discomfort. 

Educational facilities that have reason to believe that there is a pest control issue in their midst should contact a professional pest control company as soon as possible. There is simply no substitute for a proper pest control regimen and professionals are on hand to provide educational facilities with the assistance that they require.

Alliance Pest Services is a full service pest control integrated pest management company to have been providing top quality integrated pest management services to NJ schools for over 30 years. Call today for a free school inspection. 

 

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