Pest Control for Schools
As part of International Healthy Schools Day on April 7th, the Council of Educational Facility Planners offered a checklist for schools to consider in making their schools healthier.

"Childhood exposure to pesticides is an environmental health risk facing children today. We are very focused on helping communities address this problem." Christie Todd Whitman, Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

One of EPA's highest priorities is protecting children's health from unnecessary exposure to pesticides that are used in their schools to control pests. EPA is encouraging school officials to adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to reduce children's exposure to pesticides.

Pesticides Pose Potential Risks in Schools

Your school community may be exposed to pests, as well as the pesticides used to control these pests. Pesticides can help control pests but they need to be used carefully. Children may be more sensitive to pesticides than adults. Young children, especially, may have different exposures than adults - - they can encounter pesticides by crawling, exploring, or hand-to-mouth activities. Since children spend so much of their day at school, you have an opportunity to create a safer learning environment for them - to reduce their exposure to potentially harmful pests and to the pesticides used to control these pests.

School administrators and others who have decision-making responsibilities for pest management in and around school buildings and grounds should know that safer options exist. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a safer option for effective pest management in the school community. A school IPM program employs commonsense strategies to reduce sources of food, water and shelter for pests in your school buildings and grounds. IPM programs take advantage of all pest management strategies, including judicious careful use of precise spot applications of approved pesticides.

How Do You Know if Your School Is REALLY Using IPM? IPM is: Effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management. Program that relies on a combination of common sense practices. Management strategy based on communication and education, and supported by a committed and empowering school administration. Partnership between the school community (including concerned parents) and a qualified pest management professional who can both implement and communicate about IPM. Elimination or reduction of the reasons that insects, rodents, and plants become pests. Knowledge of when and how to remedy pest problems. Prevention of pest entry into school facilities. Integration of cultural, mechanical, and lowest-impact chemical control technologies.

Examples of IPM Practices: Vegetation, shrubs and wood mulch should be kept at least one foot away from structures. Cracks and crevices in walls, floors and pavement are either filled or eliminated. Lockers and desks are emptied and throughly cleaned at least twice yearly. Food-contaminated dishes, utensils, surfaces are cleaned by the end of each day. Garbage cans and dumpsters are cleaned regularly. Litter is collected and disposed of properly at least once a week. The problem or pest is identified before taking action. Fertilizers should be applied several times (e.g.,spring, summer, fall) during the year, rather than one heavy application. If pesticides are necessary, use spot treatments rather than area-wide applications.

We at Westwood's Pest Control are well aware of the IPM laws and regulations now mandated by NY, NJ, and PA school districts. We welcome working with any school that wants to be in compliance with their state legislation concerning IPM in schools.