Schools are a great place for sharing. Teachers share ideas about learning with students. Students learn how to share with one another. Principals share advice and information with staff. Many good things are shared. Unfortunately, there are some bad things being shared as well. Household pests of all sorts are commonly exchanged between students when school is in session.
Here is a rundown of some of the most commonly spread pests at schools, and how you can prevent your children from bringing them home to you.
Roaches
Cockroach eggs can stick to the bottoms of shoes or travel on backpacks. Students with roaches at home can unknowingly bring the unhatched eggs with them into school. Roaches can set up a nest and get to work inflicting terror and spreading diseases rather quickly. Roaches tend to like schools thanks to all the food and trash. As easy as they can end up in the school, they can end up in your home. If the school has a roach problem, check and clean the children’s shoes when they get home. Have them keep their backpack in a sealable plastic bag in their lockers.
Bed Bugs
Bed Bugs can attach to clothes and backpacks. Once one child brings them to school, mass infestations can break out all over the student population. Bed bugs multiply at a very rapid pace. Your best bet is to take preventative steps. Teach your children not to throw their sweatshirts or jackets into a pile or place them on the floor. The same goes for backpacks. Provide your children with a sealable plastic bag to store their items safely in their lockers.
Lice
Lice are notoriously difficult to completely remove. One egg left behind can keep the infestation alive. Lice outbreaks are happening more often now that schools are considering it a HIPAA violation to publicly discuss that a student is carrying the pests. It is important that your children do not share headwear or hug other children at school. This is especially true if there is a lice outbreak.
These infestations happen and schools are a perfect hub for these pests to hitch a ride. It’s important to keep an eye out for signs of infestation at the school or in your home. Should you notice signs of any of the pests mentioned here or any other that may have hitched a ride home with your children, make sure you call a professional.
These pests are very difficult to get rid of, contact Ideal Pest Control to ensure you eliminate the pests completely, the first time.
