Keeping Roaches Out When School’s In

Aug. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Schools here in Wake, Durham, Orange, and surrounding counties are getting back in full swing now that Summer 2011 is drawing to a close.  For school administrators, reading, writing, and arithmetic aren't the only things on their minds; keeping school facilities free from pest infestation is a major concern, too.

Roaches, including the Brown-banded Cockroach and the German Cockroach, are common invaders in pest-vulnerable areas in schools, which can include everything from cafeteria and food prep areas to classrooms and storage closets.

Controlling pest populations is schools can be a difficult chore.  Although chemical pesticides might work to allay a roach problem, school administrators are then faced with the fact that these harsh chemicals are present where students learn and play.

In fact, as the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has pointed out, kids are more sensitive than adults to pesticides.  Additionally, younger children tend to have "greater exposure to pesticides from crawling, exploring, or other hand-to-mouth activities."

This is where Integrated Pest Management (IPM) comes in.

"For highly sensitive situations like schools, IPM solutions that focus on minimizing use of pesticides and emphasizing routine inspections, proper sanitation, and exclusion are necessary," notes Donnie Shelton, President & CEO of Triangle Pest Control, a Raleigh pest exterminator servicing commercial and industrial clients.

"One of the first steps is thoroughly inspecting a facility to identify conditions that are conducive to cockroach infestation and then working to eliminate those factors."

This includes everything from identifying and sealing cracks and crevices in the building to making sure vegetation and shrubs are properly trimmed back and planted at least a foot from the structure.  

Likewise, it involves instilling proper behaviors in staff and students to keep pests from ever showing up.  Proper removal of garbage, especially food waste, and developing a schedule of routine cleaning of lockers and desks are two such examples.

"After eliminating conditions that are attractive to roaches, the next steps are designing a comprehensive program that includes monitoring, continued inspections, and spot treatments, specifically targeting any infestation."

To find out more about Triangle Pest Control's Integrated Pest Management solutions for schools and commercial buildings, visit http://www.trianglepest.com/pest-control/ipm-solution.

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Founded in 2003, Triangle Pest Control is North Carolina’s leader in Bed Bug Management. A Raleigh extermination company, Triangle Pest Control specializes in an integrated pest management process that includes both elimination and prevention. The company has a firm commitment to working only with materials that have maximize the safety of families, children, and pets and is ranked #1 in customer service among Raleigh pest control companies.