The principal of an elementary school in Chambly, on the South Shore, contacted Nova Extermination after a teacher discovered what appeared to be bed bugs in the break room of the after-school daycare. The presence of these insects in a school environment represents a particular challenge: children are particularly susceptible victims to bites, the risk of spread to family homes is real via clothing and backpacks, and the management of communication with parents must be careful and transparent. Chambly, a municipality on the South Shore neighbouring Carignan, is home to several active schools, and this unusual situation required a quick and expert response.
Precise identification and perimeter limitation
The intervention began with a thorough inspection of all the spaces likely to be affected: the break room with its bunks, the classrooms, the locker rooms, the library and the dojo used for extracurricular activities. The inspection confirmed the presence of bed bugs in the daycare break room, concentrated in the mattresses of the stackable bunks and in the cracks in the bed frames. No other area of the school showed any active traces, which made it possible to clearly delimit the perimeter of treatment. The probable origin of the infestation was attributed to bed bugs carried in a child’s clothes or cuddly toys from an affected household. Our exterminators in Chambly have carried out this investigation with rigor and discretion. Our bed bug extermination service includes this type of intervention in a school setting.
Treatment outside school hours
In order not to disrupt educational activities and guarantee the safety of the children, the entire treatment operation was planned for the evening and at the end of the week. The infested bunks were treated with high-temperature steam, a method particularly suitable for mattresses and upholstered objects in contact with children. A residual insecticide registered for use in children’s environments, once dry, was applied to all rigid surfaces in the break room: baseboards, floor corners, wall cracks and around electrical outlets. Diatomaced powders were blown into the wall voids and under the baseboards to create a persistent barrier. The changing rooms have received a preventive treatment targeted at the areas where clothes and backpacks are stored. The entire room was ventilated and inspected before the resumption of activities on Monday morning. Our achievements in high-traffic environments are a testament to our ability to intervene effectively without disrupting operations.
Communication, staff training and school prevention
Nova Extermination supported the school management in drafting a clear and reassuring communication to parents, explaining the measures taken and the precautions to be adopted at home. The daycare staff and janitors have been trained to recognize the first signs of an infestation and to take preventive measures: regular inspection of the berths, washing of bedding at high temperatures on weekends, and alert procedure in the event of discovery. A monthly inspection protocol for the rest rooms has been put in place. For the annual update of the school’s pest management plan, we strongly recommend a school-based pest prevention plan . Our implementation in a comparable institutional context illustrates the effectiveness of this preventive approach. Nova Extermination, a certified exterminator, supports educational institutions in Chambly and throughout the South Shore to ensure healthy and safe environments for children.