Medical facilities must consider stinging pests and the infections that they can cause when maintaining their grounds to protect their patients and staff.
Mainly active during the summer months when the temperatures are warmer, stinging pests can cause significant concerns for your facility operations. Stinging insect populations can proliferate if nests are not treated as soon as they are discovered. They can also disrupt productivity, become a nuisance, and potentially harm employees and customers with painful stings.
Stings from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and some ants can cause adverse health effects, so it is important to stay proactive if you observe stinging pests around your facility. Some of the most common categories of sting reactions and symptoms are:
If you are stung by a pest and experience any of the above symptoms or are concerned about your well-being, immediately contact emergency services, your physician, or a health care professional.
How to Help Prevent Stinging Pest Populations
When it comes to stinging pests, a variety of techniques can help keep these pests at bay:
If you find stinging pests around your property, notify your pest control provider immediately. Keeping detailed records of pests can assist them in quickly identifying the pest issue and removing the threat safely. For certain pests, such as honey bees, that are highly beneficial to the environment, relocation/removal done by a professional is paramount. If a hive is disturbed through improper removal, it can prompt an aggressive, antagonistic, and potentially medically hazardous response from the hive. Check local honeybee regulations, as many states have legal restrictions protecting these bees.
Now that you understand some types of stinging pests you may encounter and ways to help prevent and control a growing population at your facility, review your unique Integrated Pest Management plan with your pest control provider. Staying on top of stinging pests can help keep your facility protected, staff and guests safe, and operations running smoothly.
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