BED BUG PROTOCOL FOR SCHOOLS

Transcription

1 BED BUG PROTOCOL FOR SCHOOLS 1. If a suspected bed bug is fund n a child s clthing r in a schl, effrts shuld be made t cllect a specimen. The specimen shuld then be placed securely in a sandwich size plastic bag and sealed with tape. Try nt t crush the bug and please d nt staple the bag. 2. The schl principal r designee will cntact: Dug Price Envirnmental Specialist, Pitt Cunty Schls (252) r (252) dprice@pitt.k12.nc.us 3. Please nte that pictures cannt be used t identify a suspected bed bug. Only actual bug specimens can be analyzed. 4. The Envirnmental Specialist r Pesticide Cmpany will identify the specimen, usually the same day. Upn cnfirmatin that the specimen is a bed bug, the divisin will ntify the referring Principal r Schl Nurse Prgram Manager ( ). The Schl Nurse Prgram Manager will ensure the Schl Principal and Nurse Case Manager are made aware f the situatin. 5. If a cnfirmed bed bug is fund n a student, he r she shuld nt be sent hme. a. Ntify the parent. b. It is nt necessary fr the student t be sent hme r islated frm ther students. c. The student shuld be temprarily remved frm the classrm s that the schl nurse r a qualified individual can perfrm an inspectin f the student s clthing and ther belngings including: hat, shes, jacket, backpack, and schl supplies. d. Withut drawing significant attentin t the student, check the areas where the student sits r where affected belngings may have been placed fr extended perids f time. e. Try t cllect specimens fr psitive identificatin. Keep specimens as intact as pssible. f. If a cnfirmed bed bug is fund n a student, the student shuld change int temprary clthing and place all f their clthes (including shes) in the dryer set n high fr 30 minutes. g. After treatment, the student shuld change back int their clthes and return t class. h. Remaining belngings shuld be placed in a large zip lck plastic bag and plastic cntainer. i. If a dryer is nt available t treat the clthes, the clthes shuld als be put int the plastic bag and cntainer. 6. Onging individual student case management will be prvided by the Schl Nurse Manager and Schl Scial Wrker. a. The Schl Scial Wrker and Nurse Case Manager will meet with the family t address resurces and methds t reduce the spread f bed bugs int the schl envirnment. b. If the hme is being rented and an infestatin is suspected, ntify the landlrd immediately. c. If the hme is wned by the parent r guardian and an infestatin is suspected, a prfessinal pest management cmpany shuld be cnsulted immediately. d. Send nly essential items t schl with the student. e. At hme, keep schl items sealed in a plastic bag r plastic strage bx with a lid t limit the likelihd f re-infestatin. f. At hme, keep clean clthes sealed in a plastic strage bx with a lid r trash bag until the student puts them n in the mrning.

2 g. Ntificatin f ther parents shuld nly ccur if a classrm infestatin is identified. Infestatin is defined as an area cnsisting f all stages f the bed bug life cycle. The district s Envirnmental Specialist will make this determinatin. h. Prvide literature n bed bug resurces and infrmatin. The Schl Scial Wrker will have access t this infrmatin. 7. Once it has been cnfirmed that a bed bug has been fund in the classrm, the classrm shuld be thrughly vacuumed in the areas where student belngings are kept using a vacuum with a dispsable bag. The rm shuld be vacuumed n the day the insect is fund and at least weekly thereafter. The bag shuld be dispsed f immediately after use. CARE OF STUDENTS WITH A KNOWN INFESTATION AT HOME 1. The Schl Scial Wrker and Nurse Case Manager will meet with the family t address resurces and methds t reduce the spread f bed bugs int the schl envirnment. 2. An individual plan f care will be develped by the schl team (Principal, Nurse, Scial Wrker, and Teacher) that includes: a. Discreetly remving the student t a private area upn arrival t schl. b. Prvide bed bug free clthes and shes fr student t change in t. c. Place the clthes that the student wre frm hme in a dryer fr 30 minutes n high heat (including shes). d. Place belngings (bk bag, etc.) in a large plastic cntainer and remve nly items needed fr the schl day (papers, pencil). e. If n dryer is available at the schl, the student s clthes will be placed in a plastic cntainer. f. At the end f the day, the student will be allwed t discreetly take their belngings hme with them. 3. This practice will cntinue until Pitt Cunty Schls receives dcumentatin frm a Pest Management Service that the infestatin f the hme has been eradicated (Appendix B). 4. Cnsider assigning students their wn plastic strage bx with a tightly sealed lid. This will help keep the bed bugs n ne student s belngings frm infesting anther student s belngings. If pssible, use a white bx. This will make it easier t identify any bed bugs that remain in the bx. SCHOOL ACTIONS PRIOR TO TREATMENT If a psitive specimen is fund and it is determined that the schl needs prfessinal exterminatin inspectin/services, d nt remve anything frm the affected area until directed t d s by the Pest Management Cmpany r Pitt Cunty Schls Envirnmental Specialist. Care shuld be taken t limit the pssible spread f the insects by transprting them t ther areas f the schl. If n ther insects are fund n inspectin f the classrm, it is nt necessary t vacate the space prir t pest management inspectin. PCS PEST MANAGEMENT SERVICES If there is a psitive identificatin, the fllwing steps will be taken: 1. Pitt Cunty Schls Envirnmental Specialist will ntify the Schl Nurse Prgram Manager wh will in turn ntify the Principal and Nurse Case Manager. 2. Principal and the PCS Facilities Department will schedule a Pest Management Cnsultatin. 3. Pest Management Cntractr will schedule a service date.

3 4. A cmplete inspectin f the rm where the specimen was captured will be perfrmed. 5. Licensed pest cntrl specialists will remediate as needed. 6. After a psitive identificatin f an infestatin, as determined by PCS Envirnmental Specialist, the schl principal shuld prvide the schl cmmunity with the fllwing infrmatin: a. Bed Bug Pamphlet b. Parent r Guardian Ntificatin Letter (Sample Letter Addendum A). Prir t sending this letter hme, the schl administratr shuld cntact the Directr f Student Services, the Public Infrmatin Officer, and the Manager f Schl Health Services. HELPFUL TIPS TO MINIMIZE BED BUGS IN THE CLASSROOM 1. Keep the classrm, especially cat and backpack clsets, as clean and free f clutter as pssible. 2. Hard surfaces can be cleaned by custdial staff with PCS apprved cleaning prducts t remve eggs. 3. When pssible, custdians shuld vacuum areas where students typically stre their belngings (cat clset) as well as the basebards where the carpet meets the wall. 4. Reduce the use f blankets, pillws, and carpeting in the classrms.

4 ADDENDUM A Sample Letter n Schl Letterhead Date: Dear Parent r Guardian, As yu knw, bed bugs have been in the media recently because they are making a cmeback as cmmn husehld pests. Bed bugs are fund in many places such as htels, hmes, airplanes, and mvie theaters. Tday, we fund evidence f bed bugs in yur child s classrm. We are wrking with the Pitt Cunty Schls Envirnmental Cntrl Specialist and licensed pest cntrl specialists t address this cncern. The health department cnsiders bed bugs t be a nuisance, but they are nt a public health threat. Bed bugs can bite, usually at night, and the bite can cause mild swelling and an itch. It is imprtant t knw that bed bugs d nt spread disease. Even thugh it is unlikely fr bed bugs t reprduce and spread in schls, Pitt Cunty Schls will cntinue t wrk with licensed pest cntrl specialists t prvide thrugh inspectins f the schl. The pest cntrl specialists will treat areas as needed. What t d if yu have cncerns: If yu think yur child has been bitten by a bed bug, apply simple first-aid measures. If yu have cncerns, cntact yur child s physician. If yu have any questins regarding bed bugs in yur child s schl, please cntact the schl ffice. If yu have any questins regarding bed bugs fund in yur hme, we strngly recmmend seeking prfessinal assistance frm a qualified pest cmpany. Fr further assistance n preventing bed bugs, please see: U.S. Envirnmental Prtectin Agency (EPA) bed bug infrmatin website: NYC Department f Health s Preventing and Getting Rid f Bed Bugs Safely brchure: Sincerely,

5 ADDENDUM B Bed Bug Inspectin Reprt Dear Parent, Tday, a bed bug was fund n yur child r in yur child s belngings. While this des nt necessarily mean that the bed bug was brught t schl by yur child, it is imprtant fr the schl cmmunity and yur hme that yu inspect yur hme fr signs f bed bugs. Enclsed yu will find infrmatin abut bed bugs and an identificatin guide t help yu with yur inspectin. Once yu have inspected yur hme, please fill ut the frm belw and return t the schl ffice by. Sincerely, Schl Administratin I have been infrmed that a bed bug was fund n my child (r their belngings) at schl. I understand that bed bugs can be very difficult t cntrl and in the best interest f my child and the schl cmmunity, I have read and understand the educatinal materials prvided t me regarding bed bugs. I have: Carefully checked my family and hme fr signs f bed bug infestatin myself. Hired a pest management prfessinal t check my family and hme fr signs f bed bug infestatin. Name f pest cntrl cmpany: After cmpleting a careful inspectin, I certify that t the best f my knwledge: I, r a pest management prfessinal, fund signs f bed bugs in my hme and I will take the fllwing actins t eliminate this infestatin: I, r a pest management prfessinal, did nt find any signs f bed bugs in my hme at this time. If I find evidence f bed bugs in the future, I will ntify the schl immediately and take actin t address the infestatin. I understand that bed bugs can be spread t ther hmes if they are brught t schl in backpacks, clthing, and ther belngings. I understand that if bed bugs are repeatedly fund n my child, then the schl may take additinal actins t prtect the schl cmmunity frm bed bugs. Signature Date Pest Management Prfessinal s Signature Date