October is Children’s Month – Pest Control

Do try pest prevention first.

• Remove sources of food, water, and shelter.
• Store food in sealed plastic or glass containers. Make sure food and food scraps are tightly sealed and garbage is regularly removed from the home. Garbage containing food scraps should be placed in tightly covered trash cans.
• Fix leaky plumbing and do not let water accumulate anywhere in the apartment. Don’t let water accumulate in trays under houseplants or under the refrigerator.
• Don’t leave pet food and water out overnight. Also, if you apply pesticides, pet food and water should be removed from the area.
• Clutter provides shelter for pests-places for roaches and mice to breed and hide-and makes it difficult to do effective pest control. Keep the level of clutter down. Stacks of newspapers, magazines, or cardboard provide excellent shelter for roaches and other pests.
• Close off entryways and hiding places. For example, you can caulking cracks and crevices around cabinets or baseboards, and use wire mesh to fill holes around where pipes go through a wall, the ceiling, or the floor.
• Check for pests in packages or boxes before carrying them into the apartment.

Do safely and correctly use pesticides.

• Keep pets and children away from areas where pesticides have been applied.
• After preventative steps have been taken, you can use baits as a first line of chemical defense against insects or rodents. These are often effective and can be used with low risk of exposure to the pesticide, as long as they are kept out of the reach of children and pets.
• Other relatively low-risk pesticides are available for some pests. Consult your local cooperative extension service office for recommendations suitable for your area. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Web site can help you identify your local extension service office.
• Pesticides not contained in baits or traps should generally only be applied to targeted locations, not sprayed over the whole room. Use fogging devices only when absolutely necessary.
• Always read and follow the pesticide label’s instructions and safety warnings.
• Use ready-to-use products (i.e., no mixing needed) whenever possible.
• If you hire any outside persons to help control pests, ask them to find and correct the source of the problem before applying pesticides. For example, you might have to repair a leaky toilet to remove a water source. Ask them to use baits and crack and crevice treatments when feasible.
• Only apply chemicals approved for use in homes; the label will list where the chemical may be used; write down the name and EPA registration number of any chemical used by someone you hire. You will need this information if you decide to look up more information on the pesticide. The pest control operator should be able to provide information about the chemical, such as the material safety data sheet.

Do dispose of leftover pesticides and pesticide containers properly.

• Read the label to find out how to dispose of the pesticide and the container.
• Many communities have household hazardous waste collections that will accept unwanted pesticides. Call your waste disposal authority for information about your community.

Don’t use outdoor chemicals indoors.

• Many chemicals intended for use outdoors are dangerous to use indoors because they will remain toxic longer inside than they would outdoors.

Don’t assume that twice as much is better.

• Always read and follow label directions.
• Using too much of a pesticide can endanger your family’s health.

Don’t transfer pesticides to other containers.

• Store pesticides in their original containers.
• Only mix as much as you are going to use at one time if the pesticide must be mixed with water.
• Children and others have been poisoned by accidentally consuming pesticides stored in food or beverage containers. Don’t use empty pesticide containers to store anything else.
• No matter how well you wash the container, it could still contain remnants of the pesticide and could harm someone.

Check out EPA for all information on  Do’s and Don’ts of Pest Control

Ten Tips to Protect Children from Pesticide and Lead Poisonings

1. Always store pesticides and other household chemicals, including chlorine bleach, out of children’s reach – preferably in a locked cabinet.

2. Read the Label FIRST! Pesticide products, household cleaning products, and pet products can be dangerous or ineffective if too much or too little is used

3. Before applying pesticides or other household chemicals, remove children and their toys, as well as pets, from the area. Keep children and pets away until the pesticide has dried or as long as is recommended on the label.

4. If your use of a pesticide or other household chemical is interrupted (perhaps by a phone call), properly reclose the container and remove it from children’s reach. Always use household products in child-resistant packaging.

5. Never transfer pesticides to other containers that children may associate with food or drink(like soda bottles), and never place rodent or insect baits where small children can get to them.

6. When applying insect repellents to children, read all directions first; do not apply over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin; do not apply to eyes, mouth, hands, or directly on the face; and use just enough to cover exposed skin or clothing, but do not use under clothing.

7. Many homes built before 1978 have lead-based paint. If you plan to remodel or renovate, get your home tested. Don’t try to remove lead paint yourself.

8. Ask about lead when buying or renting a home. Sellers and landlords must disclose known lead hazards in houses or apartments built before 1978.

9. Get your child tested for lead. There are no visible symptoms of lead poisoning, and children may suffer behavior or learning problems as a result of exposure to lead hazards.

10. Wash children’s hands, toys, and bottles often. Regularly clean floors, window sills, and other surfaces to reduce possible exposure to lead and pesticide residues.