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| .......Reading Room: Features |
|
The Problem with Pests Children's
Health at Schools Quotes Children's Health at Schools "Cockroaches,
ants, wasps, head lice and rodents - the pests most commonly found
in schools - do more than disrupt the learning environment. These
pests pose serious health threats to children." "Children,
just by nature of their size, are very vulnerable to stinging and
biting. Children are also most vulnerable to vector-borne diseases
(carried by insects) because their immune systems are still developing.
Since they have not been exposed to much, reactions can be more
severe than with adults." "Cockroach
droppings exacerbate asthma, particularly in children. Ants can
transmit staph and strep infections, and rodents can transmit Hantavirus,
a deadly respiratory infection." "Allergies
to cockroaches are second only to house dust mites in frequency
among asthmatics . . . Asthma affects 13 million Americans and is
the most common cause for hospitalization and school absences among
children." "Children
are most susceptible to head lice merely because of a child's playful
behavior and personal contact. The reason we are seeing lice epidemics
is because the lice have gradually become resistant to over-the-counter
treatments." "The
public doesn't have a very good grasp of the relationship between
the dose of a toxic substance and its risk in human beings . . .
The risk of being killed by an automobile (one in 6000)
is much greater than any hypothetical risk of a pesticide."
"The
good news is that we can put a stop to some of these problems. Pest
control is a matter of education, personal protection, sanitation
and elimination. "Public
concern about the health and environmental risks associated with
pesticides is increasing, particularly when children are involved.
This has resulted in increased interest in the use of equally effective
alternative pest control methods. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
is an alternative approach to traditional pest control methods." "Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) is a safer, more effective alternative to
routine pesticide spraying." "You
cannot lead rodents or cockroaches out of a home, school or restaurant
by playing a flute or by waving a meat cleaver. Management of pests
requires an organized plan and often more than one tool or tactic.
While pesticides are no panacea, when used responsibly and with
discretion, they are invaluable tools in the fight against pests." "Pesticides
are important public health tools in destroying health threats.
I've heard them referred to as 'environmental medicines,' and I
agree with that concept." "Many
IPM techniques are just good maintenance practices that we should
be employing anyway." |
|
......................
|
