Learning To Best The Pests In Our Schools (NAPSA)—In an increasing number of schools around the country, the administration and the students are getting an educa- Fr tion in a surprising subject: pest management. That’s because, with a wide array of food sources and countless opportunities for shelter, schools are a literal playground for pests and their presence poses a potential hazard for students and teachers. For example: Cockroaches and mice have been linked by medical researchers to asthmain children, while yellow jackets, fire ants, scorpions and spiders can result in painful stings or bites and allergic reactions. Fortunately, there is a smart and increasingly common approach to pest management in schools. It’s called Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and it represents a broad approach to pest management that focuses on addressing the reason the pest problem exists rather than on just the pest itself. IPM accomplishes this by eliminating the three things pests need to survive: food, water and shelter. The five steps of IPM are: inspection, pest identification, establishing pest tolerance levels, implementing an effective control strategy (such as caulking cracks in sidewalks or walls, moving dumpsters away from school buildings and appropriate pesticide applications) and evaluating effectiveness. The pest management measures must be environ- Pest management profession- als are trained and certified to save schools from pest problems while minimizing risks to stu- dents and faculty. mentally compatible and economically feasible. All products used by pest management professionals are specifically registered for use in institutional settings by federal and state governments and by law, must be applied according to label directions. Before being registered by the federal and state governments, pesticides undergo rigorous health andsafety tests. The National Pest Management Association and its members support the use of integrated pest management (IPM). Its Web site contains information on pest management practices, common pest problems and where to find a licensed, trained and qualified pest management professional. It’s at www.pestworld.org.
