Bed Bug Treatment Gone Wrong

It appears nightly news is now regularly including stories on bed bugs. Right here in New York, just south of our main office in New York City bed bugs are spreading like crazy. From hotels, movie theaters, stores, hospitals and now schools, it is scary to think where they may show up next.

Our local ABC news aired a story about bed bugs in a NYC School. A exterminator was hired to service a school for bed bugs, however he did much more. Upon returning to the school, teachers found fluid from the exterminator's product on their desks, children's desks, the floors, on books, etc. When reading this, the most important thing to do before hiring a pest professional or anyone, is to check their credentials.

The National Pest Management Association Lists Tips for Finding A Pro:

1. Always deal with a qualified and licensed pest management company. Consider asking to see the license or other credentials of the pest control professional that comes to solve your pest problem.

2.Evaluate pest control companies that are members of national, state or local pest management associations.

3.Consider an NPMA QualityPro company.
4.Ask friends and neighbors to recommend pest control companies they have used successfully and how satisfied they were with the service.
5.Be wary of the exterminator who comes to your home uninvited and offers to give your house a free inspection for pests. He or she may try to scare you into authorizing immediate and costly treatments.
6.If a sizable amount of money is involved, get bids from several pest management companies.
7.Don't rush a decision. Since you are paying for professional knowledge as well as skillful application of pesticides, look for someone whose judgment you can trust.
8. Before signing a contract, be sure to fully understand the nature of the household pest to be exterminated, the extent of the infestation, and the work necessary to solve the problem.
9.Find out if the pest control company has liability insurance to cover any damages to your house or furnishings during treatment.
10.If a guarantee is given, know what it covers, how long it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what kind of continuing control, prevention and management are necessary.
11.Buy value, not price. Beware of exterminators that offer bargains that sound too good to be true.
12.Homeowners can call state pest control regulatory agencies for information regarding the status of pest management companies. In most states the regulatory agency is the State Department of Agriculture.

Although those tips apply to general pest control, what about bed bugs? How to you choose a professional, BEdBugCentral provides these helpful tips:

Not all pest control companies are created equal and are equipped and knowledgeable enough to treat bed bug infestations. Listed below you will find questions we recommend you ask before contracting a pest control company to treat your bed bug infestation.

Questions to Ask

Is the company licensed and insured?

Although this question may seem basic, it is a very important question many people may forget to ask. Pest control operators (PCO) may need to work with pesticides and chemicals, which are only effective when used properly by a licensed PCO who has been trained to do so.

What experience does the company have treating bed bug infestations at structures or sites similar to your own?

Be sure to confirm that the pest control company has not only treated bed bug infestations before, but ones at structures similar to your own. As you learn more about bed bugs, you will realize that the way an infestation is treated varies by site and structure (ie. apartments, rowhomes, etc.).

Get references.

Make sure to not only ask if they have treated infestations at structures similar to your own, but to ask for references of the previous work they have done. Make sure to follow up with these references before taking further action with the pest control company.

What is the plan of action to handle infestations?

Do not hire a bed bug company unless they can provide you with some type of bed bug protocol for your type of structure beforehand and/or after the inspection.

Does the company endorse or require the use of encasements?

We believe that the most effective bed bug eradication plans require the use of encasements on all mattresses and box springs. For more then one reason, we believe this to greatly aid in managing and treating a bed bug infestation.
Is the pricing a flat fee does it vary by job?

We think that every bed bug infestation is unique and should be treated that way. We may be wary of a flat fee pricing system because depending on the level of your infestation, the pricing may or may not be fair.

Other things to keep in mind

IPM

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to pest management that involves using both chemical and non-chemical measures to manage pest infestations. This approach is used to manage and reduce the amount of pesticide damage done to the environment.

Vacuum and Steam.

The use of vacuum and steam has proven to be a very effective and useful tool in bed bug management program. This is usually part of an IPM protocol, and is an effective alternative to pesticides.

Educational Materials

A knowledgeable pest control company will provide you with educational materials educating you on the behavior and biology of bed bugs, and what you can do to aid in the eradication process. They should also provide you with directions, written or spoken, or what to do during treatments.

For more specific information on how to choose a pest control company, you can email BedBugCentral at questions@bedbugcentral.com or contact Craig Thomas Pest Control at info@callcraig.com.

We at Craig Thomas Pest Control are proud to be members of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). NPMA an organization including many pest management companies, whose many goal its to protect the health, home and/or property from pest. Craig Thomas is even on the board of directors! As division of NPMA includes QualtiyPro. Craig Thomas Pest Control is proud to be one of the 303 companies (as of February 2010) to be QualityPro. QualityPro increases the professionalism of the pest management industry, by instituting background and reference checks on all new employees, drug testing, clear contracts and warranties among a host of other items. On top of all of these qualifications, we are BedBugFree Certified. This certification shows the commitment Craig Thomas Pest Control has in controlling bedbugs.

We are a licensed and trained in bedbug control and would like the opportunity to protect your health, home and property in the near future. For questions, contact us by phone 800-255-6777, email, twitter or facebook.

Picture Source

June 2010 Meeting

Here at Craig Thomas Pest Control (CTPC), we understand the importance of a pest free environment and outstanding customer service. CTPC is committed to continuous training of all our staff, extending from the management, office, sales and technicians. As a QualityPro company, a designation from the National Pest Management Association, we pride ourself on being part of the 1% of national pest management companies with this mark of excellence.

QualityPro is an industry program designed to increase professionalism of the industry through self-regulation and a higher public perception of industry professionalism. The pest management industry needs to raise the bar for quality. QualityPro makes it easier by clearly identifying pest management companies that excel. Performing background checks, reference checks, maintaining a drug free workplace, practicing environmentally responsible pest control, employing highly trained employees, offering clear warranties and service agreements are all part of our dedication to QualtiyPro.

June 30, 2010, CTPC held their monthly meeting to discuss several topics from bees, fleas, flies, marketing and safety. Below are some great pictures of the CTPC Team:

The field staff learning on the job safety. Thank you to everyone who played a "role." It was a great educational experience.

The entire CTPC team gathered as one! We love to support and cheer on our fellow colleagues.

Lastly, we awarded one of our technicians, Henry Montalvo with a TV, DVD Player and Movie for his outstanding effort in sales over the last three months.

Congratulations Henry! You deserve it, keep up the great work!!

(L-R) Rick Harris, General Manager, Henry Montalvo, Technician, Craig Thomas, President.

If you are interested in joining the Craig Thomas Pest Control Family,

fill out an application today!

What QualityPro Means...

You hear QualityPro in our advertisements, on our trucks and on our brochures.
Many ask the questions, what is QualityPro?

QualityPro is the mark of excellence in pest management designated through the The National Pest Management Association. This program is designed to separate QualityPro companies from the competition and increase the overall professionalism of the industry. QualityPro members inform consumers about QualityPro, through the marketing tools provided are encouraged to hire smartly, train correctly, and upgrade professionalism through the training and education of service technicians and sales personnel. Here at Craig Thomas Pest Control, we perform background checks, reference checks, maintain a drug free workplace, practice environmentally responsible pest control, employ highly trained employees, offer clear warrantees and service agreements. Craig Thomas Pest Control takes pride in being a QualityPro company, which sets us apart from our competition.

GreenPro is a way for your company to stand out as an environmentally-responsible business. To meeting the standards of this program, Craig Thomas Pest Control employs a comprehensive, environmentally friendly approach when treating a property. Investigate the source of the problem – and eliminate it – before applying pesticides. Going green has never been so important. As a GreenPro company, we show our commitment to your customers and the environment.

Children spend countless hours in school buildings and on surrounding fields and playgrounds. Thus, the management of pests in such a sensitive environment demands special care. QualityPro schools companies, while meeting QualityPro qualifications, recognize that pests in schools need to be managed in a careful and environmentally responsible way. Each QualityPro Schools company is required to provide reduced-risk IPM services in schools. Additionally, their technicians and sales people who service schools are experienced, trained and tested on school IPM techniques above and beyond state requirements. Craig Thomas Pest Control cares about protecting children in the school environment.


For more information about Quality Pro, visit The National Pest Management Association or Craig Thomas Pest Control .