Northeastern IPM Center – IPM Partnership Grant Program 2011 – Project

Description

PD: Michael O’Leary

Lead Institution: Baltimore City Health Department

Co-PD(s) and Institutions: none

Project Title: “Manejo Sano de Controlas las Plagas en su Hogar: How-to IPM

instruction for low-literate Latinos”

Project Type: Regional IPM Publications

Proposal Summary: The Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) Healthy Homes

Bureau (HHB), with Northeastern IPM Center (NEIPMC) support, will produce and

distribute a low literacy Spanish language IPM booklet with a detachable quick reference

tool. This booklet will enable Spanish speaking audiences in the Northeast Region and

beyond to practice safe and effective home pest control (thereby addressing the 2009

Community IWG priority of using “diverse media to educate the public on implementing

IPM in their homes, lawns and landscapes”).

Local health departments and community organizations are extremely limited in their

capacity to help residents respond to pest infestations in the safest way possible.

Desperate for relief and unable to afford professional treatment, residents often turn to

common, accessible methods—loose baits, foggers, bombs, and spray pesticides. These

products are not only ineffective against pests, but they are hazardous and frequently

misused. Unsafe practices are often magnified in Latino populations that struggle with an

urgent and unmet need for clear information on safe alternatives. In addition to language

barriers, Latinos often face higher rates of poverty and crowding that favor pest

problems. Additionally, Latinos are the fastest growing minority population in Maryland

and the United States, making this Spanish language IPM booklet a much needed and

timely resource.

The booklet will be a clear, comprehensive, and culturally sensitive booklet for low

literate Latinos on how to identify pests, pest problems and their health consequences,

and how to benefit from and practice do-it-yourself household integrated pest

management. Pests covered include rodents, cockroaches, and bed bugs. This grant will

fund the adaptation, translation, testing, finalization, printing and distribution of an IPM

booklet originally developed with EPA funding for a low literate English-speaking

audience.

Brief Background and Justification: The link between pests and the use of conventional

pest control methods to poor health outcomes is well established. Cockroaches and

rodents, their biological parts and feces are known to trigger asthma and are associated

with asthma onset in younger children. Bed bugs, while not yet shown to transmit disease

or trigger asthma, cause stress, lack of sleep, and resultant poorer performance at school

and work, and their bites can lead to secondary infections. Common, conventional means

to control pests often involve the use of aerosol sprays, bombs and foggers or loose

(unsecured) baits that can trigger asthma or other respiratory episodes, and their

components are linked to cancer and nerve and organ damage.

Pesticide use is a threat to community residents and the environment across Maryland,

but particularly in Baltimore City. Baltimore is overwhelmingly a city of attached row

houses, making it an ideal habitat for pest infestations because pests readily spread from

one home to the next. Baltimore has an old, deteriorating housing stock (90% of the

housing units were built before19801), which is conducive to pest infestations. Poverty

exacerbates this problem by preventing families from properly maintaining their homes.

Baltimore City has twice the rate of poverty as Maryland (19.2% vs. 8.2%).2

Baltimore Latinos suffer inordinately from the hazardous effects of pests and

conventional pest control methods. In a 2009 BCHD Healthy Homes Bureau (HHB)

survey taken of Latino residents in Baltimore City, 43% of respondents reported having

bed bugs, cockroaches and rodents in their homes. Of all of the respondents, 37%

reported having at least 1 of these pests and at least 1 non-pest property issue, such as

leaks, mold and odors. Not surprisingly, Hispanic children have one of the highest rates

of current asthma prevalence in Maryland at 10.7%, compared to 7.3% among white non-

Hispanics.3

Compounding this problem is the tendency for 41% of Latino households to trust their

judgment and experience rather than read labels for guidance on using pesticides,

according to a San Diego study4. However, this self reliance, mirrored in other studies

(e.g. a 2008 Baltimore study showed that over 45% of Latinos looked to each other and

trusted community organizations rather than professionals to inform their healthcare

behaviors5), suggests that Latinos will adopt a safe and easy do-it-yourself alternative, if

one is provided.

To be most effective, information must be provided in simple, culturally appropriate

terms. Many Latinos are new arrivals and unable to understand English. A Johns Hopkins

study found that nearly 2/3 of Baltimore Latinos had been in the United States less than

two years and only 10% preferred reading in English. In this cohort, 43% had either no or

only primary level education, though 86% reported they could read in Spanish.6

This high risk population is growing quickly, making this guide particularly timely.

Latinos outpaced the growth of Asians, blacks and whites in Baltimore City, according to

the Maryland Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs 2007 Annual Report. Similar

growth is occurring throughout the Northeast region. The following are percentage

1 U.S. Census Bureau. 2006 American Community Survey.

2 U.S. Census Bureau.

3 Maryland Asthma Control Program. Asthma in Maryland 2007. Available at

http://fha.maryland.gov/pdf/mch/AsthmaReport2007.pdf. Accessed June 25, 2009. 4 Wilen, C.A. Survey of residential pesticide use and sales in the San Diego creek watershed of Orange

County, California. University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project.

University Cooperative Education. Prepared for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. October

16, 2001. 5,6

Muñoz, B., et al. Knowledge of diabetic eye disease and vision care guidelines among Hispanic

individuals in Baltimore with and without diabetes. Archives of Ophthalmology. 126(7): 2008. 7 U.S. Census Bureau.

changes in population growth of Latino populations from 2000, according to the 2010 US

Census: NJ: 39.2%; MD: 106.5%; NY: 19.2%; DE: 96.4%; PA: 82.6%; and Washington,

DC: 21.8%.7

Objectives and Anticipated Impacts: This initiative will have two objectives, 1) to

develop a culturally sensitive, comprehensive, Spanish-language “Do-it-yourself” booklet

for household Integrated Pest Management; and 2) to distribute both hard copy and

electronic versions of this booklet throughout Baltimore City, the state of Maryland and

the Northeast IPM Center region.

HHB has two native Spanish speakers who will provide this booklet to hundreds of

Latino residents they counsel during their healthy homes visiting programs and at health

outreach events across Baltimore each year.

BCHD will distribute this booklet through its contacts at the city’s Housing Agency and

Weatherization Program, as well as Baltimore City’s Latino Provider Network, a

coalition of over 50 health and public service Latino professionals. BCHD will provide

copies directly to three long-established entities with large numbers of Latino clients who

partner with BCHD on Latino health outreach initiatives and which exist in the two zip

codes with the highest Latino population in Baltimore City - the Esperanza Center, the

Baltimore Medical System, Inc., and Adelante Familia.

BCHD will make this booklet available via its website and those of the Greater Baltimore

Asthma Alliance, the National Center for Healthy Housing, and the MD Department of

Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). BCHD will also work with DHMH to distribute

this booklet to County Health Departments throughout the State of Maryland. Dr.

Clifford Mitchell, Assistant Director for Environmental Health and Food Protection,

Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration at DHMH, has pledged his

office’s resources to accomplish this (see attached letter of support).

Lastly, BCHD will make this booklet available to the Northeastern IPM Center for use

and distribution through its network and affiliate offices nationally.

Approaches and Procedures: This project will build on BCHD’s Integrated Pest

Management (IPM) Do-it-Yourself (DIY) booklet, Creating Healthy Families through

Healthy Pest Management. Funded by the EPA and developed in partnership with

Maryland Institute College of Art’s Center for Design Practice, the booklet is complete

with well-designed graphics and a detachable quick reference card. The booklet provides

clear explanations and outlines easy-to-follow steps for do-it-yourself IPM.

Objective: Develop culturally sensitive, comprehensive, Spanish-language “Do-it-

Yourself” booklet for Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Timeframe Approach:

Translate existing IPM booklet into Spanish and evaluate translated

material through community-based Latino focus groups

Procedures:

• Contract with Esperanza Center for Spanish translation services

• Receive and review first draft of translated material

• Test translation for comprehension and accuracy through focus

groups held in partnership with Latino community-based

organizations

• Revise material based on feedback (Esperanza Center)

• Receive and review 2nd

draft of translated material

• Test revised translation for comprehension and accuracy through

focus groups held in partnership with Latino community-based

organizations

• Revise material based on 2nd

round of feedback (Esperanza

Center)

• Receive and review 3rd

draft of translated material

• Contract for and conduct “back-translation” of 3rd draft, to ensure

accuracy and consistency of information

• Revise 3rd

draft based on back-translation findings

• Finalize IPM booklet and format for printing

Month 1

Month 1

Month 2

Month 2

Month 3

Month 3

Month 3

Month 4

Month 4

Month 5

Month 5

Objective: Distribute Spanish-language “Do-it-Yourself” booklet for IPM widely in

the Northeast region in both physical and electronic format

Approach:

Partner regionally with housing organizations, asthma-related

programs and coalitions, health-related entities, state organizations,

and Latino-organizations to post IPM booklets electronically and

distribute to constituents

Procedures:

• Print 2,000 Spanish-language DIY IPM booklets

• Develop list of interested parties in the Northeast region for

distribution

• Develop outreach letter and mail sample booklets to interested

parties

• Fulfill booklet requests

• Facilitate posting of booklet on BCHD, DHMH, NCHH, GBAA

and other partner websites.

Month 5

Months 1-5

Month 5-6

Month 6-7

Month 6-7

Evaluation Plans:

HHB will evaluate the IPM booklet in terms of its comprehension and ease of use by

Baltimore City Latinos. HHB and the Esperanza Center will co-facilitate focus group

discussions of Latinos and identify and correct for weaknesses in the translated Spanish

booklet. HHB anticipates a minimum of two focus group discussions will be needed to

finalize the booklet. Once finalized, HHB will contract for back translation to ensure the

booklet’s Spanish text reflects its original English meaning.

Cooperation, Institutional Units and Key Personnel Involved: HHB will cooperate with

three key groups and rely on the professional expertise of two key personnel to achieve

this initiative’s objectives.

HHB will rely on the Esperanza Center, and specifically its Community Services

Supervisor, Evelyn Rosario, to recruit, host, and co-facilitate focus group discussions,

and distribute the booklet to its Latino clients. Their letter of support is attached. Michael

O’Leary, this initiative’s project manager, has worked with Ms. Rosario on performing

these same tasks for a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Latino diabetes

project, on which Ms. Rosario performed exceptionally well. HHB has partnered with the

Esperanza Center and worked closely with Ms. Rosario on multiple initiatives over the

last two years, with consistently positive results. The Esperanza Center has been a trusted

community services provider to Baltimore’s Latino community for over forty years and

serves nearly 25,000 clients annually. Ms. Rosario has worked for them for the last

eighteen years and is a known and trusted figure among Baltimore Latinos.

Translators USA, LLC (http://www.translators-usa.com/) will provide back translation.

For eighteen years they have served a variety of small, medium and even large-sized

corporate and government clients in the U.S. and abroad.

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (letter of support attached) will

utilize its contacts in health departments across the state of Maryland to distribute the

booklet. Dr. Clifford Mitchell will oversee that effort.

Mr. Michael O’Leary (C.V. attached) will manage this initiative for HHB. He is the

Director of the Bureau’s Community Planning and Outreach Office and has worked on

health and health communication initiatives internationally and domestically for nearly

15 years. He holds a M.A. in health communication, is fluent in Spanish, and has worked

closely on multiple initiatives addressing Baltimore’s Latino population with Evelyn

Rosario and the Esperanza Center.

Section 1 : Health & Your Home

Section 2 : Pests & Your Health

Pests & Baltimore City

Cockroaches

Mice & Rats

Bed Bugs

Section 3 : Healthy Solutions

Pesticides Aren’t the Safe Solution

Things You Can Do

Cockroach Control

Rodent Control

Bedbug Extermination

Preparation Steps for Bed Bug Treatment

Section 4 : Resources & Information

1–3

5–15

6–7

8–9

10–13

14–15

18–19

20

21

22

23–24

25–26

17–23

26–27

HEALTH & YOUR HOME

THE AIR INSIDE YOUR HOME IS OFTEN LESS HEALTHY THAN THE AIR OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOME.

Indoor air pollution can be caused by many things:

COCKROACHES CAN SOMETIMES TRIGGER ASTHMA.

We usually don’t think about it, but pests can trigger asthma attacks and other breathing problems and spread disease.

tobacco smoke

wet carpeting, floors, ceilings & walls

high humidity

some cleaning products & building products

burning oil, gas, kerosene coal, wood, radon gas

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1

3

PEOPLE SPEND AN AVERAGE OF 17 – 22 HOURS EACH DAY INSIDE BUILDINGS AND THEIR HOMES.

YOU CAN MAKE THE AIR INSIDE YOUR HOME CLEANER WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR FAMILY HEALTHIER!

THE AIR IN OUR HOMES IS OFTEN MUCH DIRTIER THAN THE AIR OUTSIDE.

PESTS AND PESTICIDES CAN MAKE YOUR HOME’S AIR DIRTY AND MAKE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SICK .

A HEALTHY HOME = A HEALTHY YOU

You can control pests in your home without relying on pesticides. Many times you will not need to use pesticides at all by simply keeping your home clean and repairing leaks and cracks.

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YOU CAN MAKE THE AIR INSIDE YOUR HOME CLEANER WHICH WILL MAKE YOUR FAMILY HEALTHIER!

All of us have had pests in our homes. Pests are everywhere in Baltimore. Pests can destroy property, cause fires by damaging electrical wires, and make us uncomfortable in our homes. Pests like cockroaches and rodents can also cause asthma attacks and breathing problems. You do not want pests in your home.

PESTS = DIRTY AIR = ASTHMA & BAD HEALTH

PESTS & YOUR HEALTH

2

5

Above is an image of a Baltimore alley

which has been home to pests such

as rodents and cockroaches due to

litter and unkept trash receptacles.

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There are about 600,000 people living in Baltimore. Many of us live very close to each other in row homes, duplexes, or apartment complexes.

This makes it very easy for pests to pass from one home to the next! So if your neighbor has a pest problem, then you might have one too. Everyone needs to work together to solve our pest problems.

In this book we will talk about:

Then we will look at healthy ways to control these pests, and why our traditional ways of controlling them can make us sick.

PESTS & BALTIMORE CITY

COCKROACHES BED BUGSRODENTS

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What Do Cockroaches Eat?

CRUMBS CARDBOARD GLUE

TRASH GREASE

* One drop of grease can feed 20 cockroaches!

Where Do Cockroaches Drink?

SINKS COUNTERS

PIPES

FLOORS

DRIP PANS & GASKETS

PET BOWLS

AIR CONDITIONING

UNITS

SHOWERS

How Do You Know You Have Cockroaches?

Where Do Cockroaches Live?

You probably won’t know you have cockroaches until you see the skin they shed, their poop, and dead cockroaches. Cockroaches usually come out when it’s dark. If you see cockroaches during the day, your home may be infested!

Cockroaches live anywhere in buildings, but they like to be near water, food and warmth. Cockroaches only need a space as thick as a credit card to enter your home, and to hide and multiply inside your home!

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COCKROACHES

6 MONTHS

(18,000 COCKROACHES)

(1 COCKROACH)

How Can I Get Sick from Cockroaches?

How Quickly Do Cockroaches Multiply?

Cockroaches can trigger asthma attacks. In preschool–aged children, cockroaches can even CAUSE asthma.

This happens by breathing the dust that comes from the skin they shed and their poop.

Cockroaches can also carry disease. We can get the diseases when we come into contact with things the cockroach touches, like food, countertops, sinks, stove tops, etc.

Did you know that one cockroach can quickly turn into hundreds or thousands? If you have one pregnant cockroach in January, you may have over 18,000 cockroaches by July!

Cockroaches are very common in Baltimore. Everyone has seen cockroaches.

STOPPING ONE COCKROACH DOES A LOT!

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Mice can enter your home through holes as small as 1/4 of an inch!

Rats can enter your home through holes as small as 1/2 of an inch!

1/2”

1/4”

MOUSE

RAT

How Do You Know You Have Mice or Rats?

Sometimes it’s hard to know if you have mice or rats. You will probably see droppings first.

Sometimes you see holes they chew in food containers or in walls where they hide.

Sometimes you hear scratching sounds in walls and ceilings.

You may need to look for the holes they use to move around in your home.

Mice and rats need very small spaces to enter your home. Mice need a space about the size of a dime (about one quarter inch) to enter your home! Rats need a space about the size of a nickel (about half an inch) to enter your home!

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MICE & RATSMice and rats are very common in Baltimore! Mice and rats are rodents. They like to gnaw on things – which can damage property and sometimes cause fires! Mice and rats can also make you and your family sick.

How Can I Get Sick from Mice & Rats?

When you breathe the dust caused by rodent poop, it can cause asthma attacks and other breathing problems.

Mice leave little drops of urine wherever they go. Mouse urine can also trigger asthma attacks.

Mice and rats can carry many types of diseases. When you come into contact with rodent poop or urine, or eat or drink food that has been contaminated by their poop or urine, you can get these diseases.

Rats may bite people when threatened. In a baby’s crib, rats may bite when they are drinking spilled milk.

How Quickly Do Rodents Multiply?

Do you know that one mouse or rat can quickly turn into hundreds or thousands? For example, one pregnant mouse in January can leave you with 4,500 mice in December!

1 YEAR

(4,500 MICE)(1 MOUSE)

STOPPING ONE MOUSE OR RAT DOES A LOT!10

Where Do Mice & Rats Live?

Mice live close to their food - usually inside your home. They make nests of things they find in your home.

Rats live outside homes most of the time, but not always! If they find food and water and a safe place to hide in your home, they will stay!

The above image is an example of a

rodent nest inside a box of stuff. Rodents

like to collect paper, hair, cloth, stuffing

and anything else they can find to build

a nest for their home. If you see a nest

similar to the one above, you must take

the necessary steps to get rid of the

rodents immediately.

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What Do Mice & Rats Eat?

Rodents eat the food we have in our kitchens and the food we put in our garbage.

MICE & RATS

Where Do Mice & Rats Drink?

Where do mice and rats get water? From many of the same places as cockroaches – from leaking pipes, in sinks and bath tubs, air conditioning units, plant saucers, even dew on windows!

SINKS COUNTERS

PIPESPLANTS

FLOORS

DRIP PANS & GASKETS

PET BOWLS

AIR CONDITIONING UNITS

SHOWERS

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A mouse dropping on a kitchen counter behind a jar of sugar.

Bed bugs hitchhike from place to place. They ride into your home on just about anything! It could be on a mattress, box spring, furniture, backpack, boxes, bags, pets, laundry, and people – including you!

They can also enter your home by crawling on pipes and wires that you share with another home.

How Do Bed Bugs Get To Your Home?

Bed bugs feed on our blood like lice and fleas do.

They can live over a year without biting you!

Bed bugs live anywhere in buildings, usually close to their food.They can be found near your bed, couch or chairs.

They live in all kinds of small spaces like behind wall paper, wall sockets and moldings, inside furniture (especially near beds) and picture frames, along the edges of baseboards, in seat cushions, carpeting, clothing, and mattresses, box springs, and bed frames.

You see bed bugs most often when it is dark on the seams of mattresses, box springs and seat cushions.

What Do Bed Bugs Eat & Drink and Where Do They Live?

STOPPING ALL BED BUGS IMMEDIATELY IS IMPORTANT!

ONLY A PROFESSIONAL CAN FIND AND KILL EVERY BED BUG IN YOUR HOME.

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Bed bugs do not spread diseases, but when you scratch their bites, you can get infected.

Bed bugs also cause us a lot of stress! They make us lose sleep and spend money to exterminate them!

Bed bugs are also called chinches or chintzes. They live everywhere in Baltimore and do not care if you are rich or poor – they like everyone equally!

If you see even one bed bug in your home, you should hire a professional quickly to exterminate them. This is because bed bugs multiply very quickly. They can hide and not be found for many months. They have several life stages that can’t be killed by one method.

Did you know that one pregnant bed bug in January can give you 31,700 bed bugs in July!

Bed bugs can hide for over a year without coming out to feed! Bed bugs have 6 life stages – no method kills them all.

How Can I Get Sick from Bed Bugs?

How Quickly Do They Multiply?

BED BUGS

6 MONTHS

(31,700 BED BUGS)(1 BED BUG)

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For many years, we have used pesticides to get rid of cockroaches, mice and other pests. You still see pesticides everywhere, in hardware stores, grocery stores, and in people’s homes. But, that does not mean pesticides are safe. They are made with chemicals that can be dangerous to our health.

Sometimes you can’t see or smell dangerous pesticide chemicals. Your family can breathe and touch them without knowing it. They can be in the air, on your floors, on your counters, and on your furniture. Some of these chemicals may lead to health problems and may increase your risk for cancer. Your risk of having these problems increases each time you use pesticides.

HEALTHY SOLUTIONS

3

17

IPM takes away the 4 things pests need to live in your home:

1. A way in2. Food 3. Water4. A place to hide

If pests can’t get into your home, you won’t have pests.

If pests can’t hide and don’t have food or water, they won’t stay in your home!

Why Does IPM Work?

Remember:

IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Is Easy!

PESTS ARE INSIDE YOUR HOME BECAUSE YOU ARE NICE TO THEM & GIVE THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.

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There is good news! You can control pests without using dangerous pesticides.

There is a healthy, less expensive and more effective way to control pests!

A Healthy Solution

Pesticides may kill some pests, but they don’t kill them all.

Pests are smart and hide when they sense poisons.

There are always more pests outside that are waiting to come into our homes.

We’ll never kill them all! We need to stop using poisons in our homes and around our families.

The Baltimore City Health Department is promoting a different, healthy way to control pests that is safe and effective. It is called Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

IPM is effective at getting rid of pests & preventing them.

IPM is healthy for your family.

IPM saves you money!

IPM (Integrated Pest Management)

YOU CAN CONTROL PESTS WITHOUT RELYING ON PESTICIDES!

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR HOUSE A CLEAN AND HEALTHY HOME!

PESTICIDES AREN’T THE SAFE SOLUTION

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COCKROACH CONTROLDo NOT use foggers, bombs or sprays on cockroaches!

Use boric acid under refrigerators, behind cabinets, and in cracks before you seal them.

Place cockroach bait stations—roach motels— where you see cockroaches or their poop, behind or along the sides of refrigerators and cabinets, and other areas where you store food.

Use cockroach gel, a small drop or two at a time, in spots you can’t place a bait station (like under a cabinet).

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Apply boric acid to cracks at the base of the floor. Once the boric acid is applied, you should seal the crack to be sure no pests can enter again!

Tenants and Families

Contractors, Landlords, and Do-It-Yourselfers

Don’t leave food or trash out.

Store food in tightly sealed containers.

Use garbage cans with covers (this is now a law in Baltimore City!).

Wash and dry dishes after each use.

Reduce clutter and empty your kitchen trash every day.

Clean your counters, dining tables, and sinks daily with soap and water.

Clean your kitchen and dining area floors at least twice a week with soap and water.

Clean any food or beverage spills when they happen.

Empty plant saucers of any water.

Fix leaks quickly. Check for leaks around sinks, bathtubs, toilets, and pipes.

Use caulk and plaster to seal holes and cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings. This includes spaces around pipes or ducts.

Place steel wool or copper mesh in rodent holes before sealing.

Install doorsweeps on exterior doors.

THINGS YOU CAN DO

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BED BUG EXTERMINATION

Do not use foggers, bombs or sprays on bed bugs!

Do not change where you sleep in your home. Bed bugs will usually find you and spread the infestation to new areas in your home.

Do not change residences to get away from bed bugs. Bed bugs are very good at hiding and you might bring bed bugs to your new home.

Bed bugs are extremely difficult to exterminate.

If you try without professional help you will almost always spend time and money and still have bed bugs.

What NOT to do:

Instead, Hire a Professional!

A Professional Will Know:

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To prepare for professional

bed bug extermination

services, move all items

one foot away from walls

so that bed bugs have no

place to hide.

RODENT CONTROLDo not use poisons on rodents!

Use snap traps or glue traps.

Make sure the bait side of the snap trap is against the wall. Rodents always move with their sides against a wall.

If you know what a rodent is eating, use it as bait in the trap! Try foods such as peanut butter, cheese or bread crumbs.

The above image shows a

properly placed snap trap with

the bait side toward the wall. It is

baited with peanut butter.

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How many bed bugs you have and where they are.

The products and methods needed to exterminate.

How to use them safely and effectively.

PREPARATION STEPS FOR BED BUG TREATMENT:

Remove electrical outlet wall covers.

Remove all objects that are mounted to walls.

Move all items away from walls at least one foot.

Remove all objects from under bed frames or mattresses.

Wash all fabrics with hot water and soap and dry at the highest setting for at least 30 minutes.

Store all washed and dried materials in a sealed plastic container or bag.

Completely cover pet cages and fish tanks. Turn off fish tank filters/pumps.

Remove pet food and water dishes.

For each room in your home, including closets:

MAKE SURE ALL PEOPLE AND PETS ARE OUT OF YOUR HOME AT LEAST 3 HOURS AFTER A TREATMENT.

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Remove all electrical outlet wall

covers because there could be

bedbugs inside the outlets that

must be exterminated.

BED BUG EXTERMINATION

Be state certified and licensed

Provide references

Provide a 90 day warranty

Insist on at least 3 treatments

Independently assess extent of bed bug presence (rather than trust customer’s description)

Use bed bug monitors

Use extermination methods that may include vacuuming, steaming or heating, and diatomaceous earth

Strongly suggest use of mattress and box spring covers

Insist on adequate preparation of residence for treatment

A Reputable Professional Will:

BED BUGS ARE GREAT AT HIDING. IF YOU DO NOT PREPARE YOUR HOME, THE EXTERMINATOR MAY NOT FIND ALL THE

BED BUGS, AND SOME MAY SURVIVE AND MULTIPLY.

DO NOT USE FOGGERS, BOMBS AND SPRAYS. STORE ALL CHEMICALS IN YOUR HOME OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

BECAUSE MANY ARE POISONOUS.

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RESOURCES & INFORMATION

Emergency: 911

Maryland Poison Control Center: 1 800 222 1222

Bed Bugs: 311

General Healthy Homes Information:

Asthma Home Visiting and Community Education Programs, Home Pest Control Information, Lead Abatement and Testing

Baltimore City Health DepartmentHealthy Homes and Communities Division1800 North Charles, 5th floorBaltimore, MD 21201Phone: 443 984 2460

Home Asthma Programs, Legal, Advocacy and Other Support ServicesCoalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning2714 Hudson StreetBaltimore, MD 21224Phone: 410 534 6447

Energy Conservation and Efficiency AssistanceBaltimore Housing Weatherization Program2700 North Charles StreetBaltimore, MD 21218Phone: 443 984 1066Applications available by dialing 311

Questions for Those Without Health InsuranceBaltimore Health Care Access201 East Baltimore Street, Suite 1000Baltimore, MD 21202Phone: 410 649 0521

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Bed bugs cause painful skin sores and lack of sleep.

Covering trash cans will eliminate pests’ food sources.

Keeping countertops and tables clean will eliminate pests’ food sources.

Keeping floors clean will eliminate pests’ food sources.

Caullking holes and cracks will eliminate pests’ access to your home.

Cockroaches can trigger asthma and respiratory issues.

Mice can trigger asthma and respiratory issues.

MARYLAND POISON CONTROL: 1-800-222-1222

THIS BOOKLET SHOWS SPECIFIC WAYS TO

CREATE A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FOR YOU

AND YOUR FAMILY BY CHANGING THE WAYS

YOU CONTROL PESTS IN YOUR HOME. USING

SAFE AND SIMPLE PEST CONTROL METHODS

WILL MAKE YOUR HOME CLEANER AND YOUR

FAMILY HEALTHIER AND CAN REDUCE ASTHMA

ATTACKS AND RESPIRATORY DISTRESS.

THE PANEL TO THE LEFT CAN BE REMOVED AND

USED AS A TOOL SUMMARIZING THESE SAFE AND

SIMPLE METHODS. PLACE IT IN A HANDY SPOT, ON

YOUR REFRIGERATOR OR NEXT TO A TELEPHONE, SO

YOU CAN EASILY FIND IT WHEN YOU NEED IT.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE

REFER TO THE RESOURCES & INFORMATION SECTION AT THE BACK OF THIS BOOKLET.

List of State Certified Pest Control ApplicatorsMaryland Department of Agriculture

50 Harry S. Truman ParkwayAnnapolis, MD 21401Phone: 410 841 5700http://www.kellysolutions.com/md/Applicators/index.htm

Nutrition ResourcesWomen Infants and Children (WIC)Phone: 410 396 9427

Rent Escrow:

Baltimore City Health Department, Healthy Homes and Communities DivisionPhone: 443 984 2460

Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning Phone: 410 534 6447

311 Baltimore City Non-Emergency Services:Non-Emergency police and fireDepartment of Public Works and SanitationDepartment of Parks and RecreationAnimal Control and Rat RuboutMayor’s OfficeHealth Department

Smoke Detectors and Installation (free service)Baltimore City Fire DepartmentSmoke Detector Hotline: 410 396 7283