Once inside, rodents can cause severe damage, as they are able to chew through wallboards, cardboard, wood and plaster. Notably, rodents can chew through electri-cal wiring, increasing the potential risk of fire. Facility managers must inspect for rodent droppings, especially in undisturbed areas such as cafeteria pantries, under base-boards and along walls. Rodent droppings most often cause aller-gic reactions in human beings, but can also cause disease, including the potentially deadly hantavirus, which causes headaches, fever, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain. ■ Ants Ants are social insects. Therefore, spotting one ant signifies that many more may be close behind. Ants are not simply unsightly — they can also be dangerous contaminants to food. This demands that facility managers be proactive in preventing and treating ants in a school or hospital. Considering that so many meals are served during a given day, in both schools and hospitals, food contamination is an issue that must be addressed when dis-cussing public health and safety. Implementing IPM Choosing the right pest professional to assist with the creation of an IPM program is important to the program’s success. It is important that pest control decision makers have a solid understanding of IPM and the significant risks associated with pests and rodents. Websites such as www.WhatIsIPM.org and www.PestWorld.org offer additional information about IPM techniques and address pest-related topics. When it comes to choosing a pest man-agement company, decision makers should ask other businesses, schools or hospitals for recommendations. When meeting a prospective pest profes-sional, ask if they practice IPM as described in this article. It is important to find a pest professional who exhibits good judgment and trustwor-thiness. Lastly, as developing an IPM program can be costly, solicit bids from several pest management firms. If a company offers a guarantee, know what is covered, how long it lasts and what must be done to keep it. As choosing a pest management com-pany is a health and safety decision, the value of the service should outweigh all other factors. One of the keys to a successful integrated pest management program is the joint com-mitment of school or hospital leaders and busi-ness owners or managers and pest profes-sionals in providing a pest-free environment. A properly implemented IPM program is essential to providing a safe, healthy envi-ronment in schools, hospitals, offices and any other environment where children and adults of all ages gather and reside. CM Missy Henriksen is the vice president of public affairs for the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). The NPMA, a non-profit organization with more than 7,000 members, was established in 1933 to support the pest management industry’s commitment to the protection of public health, food and property. Product Information no. 213 on page 24 www.cmmonline.com 37
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