NORWALK, Ohio — Amid the presence of bed bugs and cockroaches at several of its buildings, the Norwalk City School District says it is working to eliminate the pests, while offering helpful tips for parents to screen their children.
In a joint statement, Huron County Public Health (HCPH) and the Norwalk City School District (NCSD) say both agencies received several calls this week about bed bugs and cockroaches being present in school buildings. After investigating, NCSD school officials acknowledged that bed bugs were discovered at the following locations:
- Norwalk High School
- Norwalk Middle School
- Main Street Intermediate
- Pleasant Elementary
- Maplehurst Elementary
Norwalk school officials say they have taken the following steps to address the concerns of the community:
- The district says it is using "Diatomaceous Earth," a non-toxic powder, to kill the bed bugs. "Though effective, it does take time to resolve the issue," they told parents in the joint statement.
- HCPH conducted inspections at three of the schools, including Norwalk High School, to see if there were any signs of cockroach infestation in the cafeterias/kitchens. Although the specialists did not observe cockroaches, school personnel have indicated that "isolated incidents" of them have been seen on students' personal items.
- The district has hired a professional pest control company, Taylor Pest Control. The company treated Norwalk Middle School, Pleasant Elementary School, Main Street Intermediate, and Maplehurst Elementary School for bed bugs last week. Earlier this week, the company treated those same schools for cockroaches and Norwalk High School for bedbugs.
So how can parents protect their children and their homes from bed bugs? The Environmental Protection Agency has put together a list of tips that include the below:
- If you have a dryer at home, utilize the dryer to kill any bed bugs potentially brought home on your child's clothes, backpacks, etc. A dryer on high heat can kill bed bugs.
- Reduce clutter in the home to reduce hiding places for bed bugs.
- Vacuum frequently to reduce any successful hitchhikers.
- Be vigilant when using shared laundry facilities. Transport items to be washed in plastic bags (if you have an active infestation, use a new bag for the journey home). Remove from dryer directly into bag and fold at home.
You can read the joint statement, plus the district's policy regarding students found with bed bugs, and more below: