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Is this normal prep for PCO treatment?
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bbinmontreal
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Joined: Dec '08
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Posted 10 months ago
Wed Jan 7 2009 17:27:34
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First off, the management of my building stuck letters (informing us how to prep for treatment) on the doors of only one side of the hallway, on three floors. I know we have bbs and not cockroaches; however, their memo indicated that they were treating for cockroaches!? They also indicated that this was "preventive treatment only". Yeah right. The memo stipulates to:
a) clean and vacuum everything and get rid of vacuum bags (fine)
b) Remove grease from kitchen appliances and rid all kitchen cupboards of EVERYTHING (I find this weird)
c) throw out all old newspapers and cardboard boxes as "insects" like to hide there (what are we supposed to put all our non-perishable food items/dishes, pots & pans in then?)
d) move all furniture away from the walls (also fine)
e) do not paint treated areas for one year (uh, ok)*No mention of bed bugs or follow up treatments.
Are these ppl (management or PCO ignorant/incompetent, or is it me?)-I should mention I had cockroaches once in another building long ago, and the PCO came and (didn't ask us to do anything special other than not leave out any food or garbage) spread this resin-type stuff in certain places and it worked like a charm-
bbinmontreal
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Hi,
Prep is a very personal thing and seems to depends upon your approach to the problem. Some people like to have things set up for them in a specific way so they can arrive and follow a protocol while a few others prefer things to be left as normal so we can decide exactly what is the best way to proceed. It depends a lot on what tools and options you have available to you as a professional.
My personal preference is to find things as undisturbed as possible so that I can see exactly what has occurred and how the infestation has unfolded. I am going to try and avoid waxing lyrical about the beauty and story that an infestation tells but you really have to be into your work to get as up close and personal as we do.
From the rest of what has been said I would suspect that the building management have decide that the best way to handle the situation is not to alarm anyone with the thought that it could be bed bugs. After all I am sure they hardly want to develop a reputation for being infected with bed bugs and by hiding the issue behind the guise of cockroaches they will at least get to inspect all property. Sadly this approach is a little miss guided but lead by the fear that many have of bed bugs.
There is one food thing though, at least they will get into all the properties and if the PCO has eyes and knows how to do an inspection they should at least be able to work out what areas of the building are infected. They can then focus on those and the adjoining ones to keep the problem contained until it is eradicated.
My fear however is that if people de-clutter and do not detect infected items there is always a drop off risk as the rubbish is taken through the building.
I would hope with time and better education (failing education legislation) that people we be able to be honest and understand the need for open communication of the issue.
I would suggest that you write to the building management and explain that you suspect the issue is with bed bugs and that you appreciate the need to inspect all the units but better communication and education amongst those who are infected or adjoining an infestation would be a wiser policy.
Have a look at the neighbour communication information at www.BedBugBeware.com they explain it in a way that most will understand.
At this stage the only judgement I would make about the PCO is that they are keen on keeping the building management happy and may be following their restrictions at this stage of the process. At least they are not just visiting apartments that they know have a problem and keeping their fingers crossed about the others.
Hope this helps.
David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited
www.Bed-Bugs.co.uk -
BugsInTO
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Joined: Aug '08
Posts: 197
Posted 10 months ago
Wed Jan 7 2009 21:12:34
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Hi - I am not a professional, just a bedbug sufferer, but when I read the instructions you were given, they read like the ones that might actually be used when treating for cockroaches.
Cockroaches like grease. Cockroaches like kitchen cupboards and stoves. The kitchen cabinets have to be emptied because that's part of where you spray for cockroaches. Etc.
Check with your bldg mgmt and see if maybe they have accidentally given out the wrong sheet.
BugsInTO
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buggyinsocal
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Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,130
Posted 10 months ago
Wed Jan 7 2009 21:16:29
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bbinmontreal, for what it's worth, some of those prep requirements are specific to cockroaches--or at least the info I got abut cockroaches about 15 years ago. (Thankfully, not in my place. I worked for a public health study, part of which was remediating cockroaches in urban areas since many people have allergies to cockroaches--as in sniffling and sneezing allergies. Who knew?)
Cockroaches do like to hide in clutter, and they are esp. fond of newspapers and cardboard boxes. (For what it's worth, cardboard boxes can also harbor bed bugs, so that part, at least, is a multi purpose approach). Grease can also attract some cockroaches (if I remember correctly) and definitely (this is more recent info from my battles with ants in California) some kinds of ants as well.
The vacuum bag one sounds more like bed bugs to me, but I haven't personally done battle with cockroaches since I was a kid, so, I'm not sure if that one overlaps as well.
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bbinmontreal
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Joined: Dec '08
Posts: 32
Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jan 8 2009 12:39:47
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Thanks for the info guys. I just know they're spraying for the wrong bug.
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bbinmontreal
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Joined: Dec '08
Posts: 32
Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jan 8 2009 15:49:05
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UPDATE: I asked management what chemicals they were using to treat our apartments and she looked it up and told me: hydramethylnon & boric acid.
I looked hydramethylnon up on Wikipedia and sure enough it is known to treat for cockroaches and ants (neither of which we have).
I think I will inform my own PCO of what they are doing and take his advice on how to proceed (like maybe clean it all off) before his next follow-up visit.
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bbinmontreal
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Joined: Dec '08
Posts: 32
Posted 10 months ago
Thu Jan 8 2009 20:52:27
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bump!
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