Why Daycare Centers Need Commercial Pest Control

Whether you own a small daycare center for a handful of children who spend the day at your home or you are the center director for a national chain, your primary concern is the safety of the children in your care. That includes any potential threats to the children; in this case, we’re referring to unwelcome pests.

According to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report, “infants and small children are among the most likely groups to suffer long-term health harm from chemical pesticides.”

This is because children in this age range are on the floor, crawling and exploring, and they put pretty much everything in their mouths. That means pesticides can come in direct contact with your precious guests too easily, causing illness.

Integrated Pest Management

The same EPA report suggests that childcare centers focus on integrated pest management, often referred to as IPM. Rather than using commercial pest control as a preventative measure, it is suggested that holistic prevention methods are the better way to avoid unwelcome critters, leaving the pesticides for the final choice when an invasion is present. This option, by addressing the root cause of pests in the facility, may reduce costs and will definitely go a long way to keep harmful chemicals away from children.

Some prevention tactics suggested include:

• Sealing all crevices, cracks, and joints across the building. That includes the obvious points, such as doors and windows, as well as less obvious, including pipes and eaves.
• Inspect all shipments of food and supplies for pests.
• Keep food products wrapped securely and put away.
• Clean regularly to avoid pest hiding places and identify water leaks that might sustain pests.
• Wash dishes and keep kitchen cabinets and countertops free of food remnants.

Common Pests Found in Daycare Centers

Since most children are coming from home to the childcare facility, the same rodents and pests that are found in a household environment are likely to be found here as well. You may find:

• cockroaches
• ants
• rats and mice
• head lice
• bed bugs
• termites
• spiders
• flies
• bees, wasps, and hornets
• fleas

Hiring a Commercial Pest Control Company for Day Care

At some point, whether your facility is following IPM guidelines or taking another route, you are going to need to hire a pest control company to treat your daycare center.

According to the Arizona Department of Public Health, when pesticide is used, the following regulations apply:

A licensee shall make written pesticide information available to a parent, upon a parent’s request, at least 48 hours before a pesticide application occurs on facility premises, containing:
1. The brand, concentration, rate of application, and any use restrictions required by the label of the herbicide or specific pesticide.
2. The date and time of the pesticide application.
3. The pesticide label and the material safety data sheet.
4. The name and telephone number of the pesticide business licensee and the name of the licensed applicator.

That means you definitely want to choose a reputable company that you trust as your commercial pest control provider.

Budget Brothers Termite and Pest Elimination is your go-to choice for all of your commercial pest control needs, including the special needs of daycare centers. Our technicians are specially trained to ensure that your day care center remains pest free and the kids you care for stay safe, from the bugs and from the chemicals used to eliminate them.