The Dayton Daily News reports that
Dayton Public Schools has closed the nursery and pre-kindergarten center at Longfellow Alternative Center because of bed bugs.
A nursery worker noticed the small bugs Wednesday, spokeswoman Jill Moberly said. The school called the parents of the nursery and pre-K program Wednesday and told them to keep their children home Thursday and Friday while the area was fumigated and cleaned.
And –
School officials also sent letters to all 187 students and children who attend Longfellow notifying them of the situation, Moberly said.
via Nursery, pre-kindergarten center closed because of bed bugs.
It is great that parents were notified about this, and that the school is getting treatment.
It’s also important that parents and staff now get educated about bed bugs, how easily they spread, how to recognize the problem (hint: everyone does not react to bed bug bites), and what to do if bed bugs are suspected.
We’re not sure if they used true “fumigation” methods, or if they are using this term generically to mean “bed bug treatment.” If it was not Vikane gas (TM) or thermal treatment, staff and parents should take precautions since the school may not have entirely eliminated the problem in one treatment.
All schools and other institutions need to seek the advice of an entomologist who knows bed bugs well, in order to learn how to prevent bed bugs, and to develop a plan for what to do when they are suspected or found. Spray treatments after detection are the tip of the iceberg.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am a parent at this school and am very worried about my kids going back. What can I look for and ask to ensure that we don’t bring these bugs home?
Please look at the Bed Bug Photos page (link in the menu at the top of this page). It has photos of signs of bed bugs (black spots on mattresses, cast skins) as well as all life stages of bed bug.
Keep in mind it is extremely hard to see even one bed bug, and you can have them for a while before you see a single sign.
If anyone in your family starts to have a skin problem — itchy or non-itchy new rashes, welts, scabs — I would have your home inspected by a careful and knowledgeable pro, one experienced with bed bugs. Not everyone reacts to bites, but in an entire family, someone may well do so.
If you can’t find one, come to the forums and someone may have a recommendation.
Also, there are bed bug dogs in Ohio and they are an option for detection in the absence of visual evidence. (They can also help PCOs see where bed bugs are present.) Come to the forums if you need a lead!
I hope you all remain bed bug-free.
You should also read the FAQs and learn as much as you can about bed bugs from the LINKS. (FAQS and LINKS also in the top navigation menu tabs).
Since it is likely bed bugs may still be present if a traditional treatment was used, it would not be a bad idea for kids from the infested pre-K and nursery school to keep belongings at school (coat, backpack) in a sealed XL ziploc. And for these items to be sealed in the home.
Better yet– leaving belongings at home.
Kids who come home might be asked to remove clothing at the door, which would be immediately sealed in a ziploc bag for later washing.
Baking backpacks and clothing/shoes in the low heat of a Packtite after school would be another option.
(Full disclosure: we’re a Packtite affiliate. This means we get a commission which helps pay our operating costs — at no cost to you– if you follow the link and buy one. But we would not recommend it if Bedbuggers were not finding it helpful.)
This is extreme, but again, I am talking about a situation where you think the classroom may still be infested.
You might ask the school exactly what kind of treatment was used (again, we’re assuming spray and dust) and whether there will be repeats.
You could ask whether they are considering using a bed bug dog to detect whether bed bugs are completely gone, and indeed– whether they are present in other areas. Kids/staff from those classes may have moved them around. Even cleaning/maint. staff could move them around without knowing.