Pest prevention in a daycare is a major public health issue. In Brossard, on the South Shore, we carried out a comprehensive prevention program for a family daycare for about fifteen children, located in a single-storey house transformed for this purpose. The proximity of the city of Saint-Lambert and the presence of a wooded park adjacent to the building created conditions conducive to the activity of rodents and insects throughout the year. The daycare manager wanted to guarantee a healthy environment for the children, in accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Families. Our pest prevention service has been mobilized to meet this demanding demand and set up a sustainable solution adapted to this sensitive environment.
Preventive diagnosis adapted to the paediatric context
The inspection began with a complete survey of the exterior envelope: foundation, door and window junctions, ventilation ducts, roof and soffits. Inside, attention has been focused on the kitchen, break room, play areas, bathroom and food storage space. Several critical points were identified: insufficiently jointed gaps under the exterior doors, cracks in the concrete of the foundation on the garden side, ventilation ducts without adequate protection and insufficiently airtight food storage areas. The inspection also revealed traces of mouse activity in the basement storage area. In a context where the safety of children is a priority, the use of chemicals must be rigorously supervised and limited to what is strictly necessary, which makes physical and mechanical prevention all the more essential as a first line of defence.
Sealing and exclusion interventions
The work was planned during the weekly closure of the daycare to avoid any disruption to activities. The protocol for closing the entry points was rigorously applied: sealing of foundation cracks with hydraulic mortar, installation of reinforced door seals at the three external entrances, and installation of stainless steel mesh on all ventilation ducts accessible from the outside. The gaps under the sinks and around the plumbing columns were filled with compacted steel wool and certified non-toxic sealant. The basement has been thoroughly cleaned and food products have been moved into airtight food-certified containers. The rodent monitoring stations were installed exclusively in areas that were inaccessible to children: a locked basement and a locked mechanical room.
Staff training and health protocol
A training component has been integrated into the program to maximize the impact of physical measures. The manager and her assistants received an information session on the warning signs of an infestation, good food waste management practices and hygiene measures to maintain on a daily basis. A monitoring log was provided to the facility to record any abnormal observations between our team’s visits. Quarterly follow-up inspections verify the integrity of sealing points and ensure that monitoring stations do not detect any new activity. To learn more about our other mandates in sensitive environments, see this prevention project and this caulking file.
Results and Ongoing Commitment
Since our intervention, the Brossard daycare has not recorded any intrusion of pests. The person in charge can carry out her activity with peace of mind, assured that the building is proactively protected and that the measures in place comply with the health standards applicable to childcare facilities in Quebec. A well-designed prevention program in a pediatric setting protects not only the children, but also the reputation of the facility and the peace of mind of parents. Our extermination services in Quebec always integrate the specific constraints of each environment, whether it is a daycare, a school or any other establishment welcoming vulnerable people. On the South Shore, our team is available quickly for any preventive evaluation.