Playground equipment and bees

[Massmagic]

What does your school do with hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets that build nests in the playground equipment? It is a problem at our schools in the Fall. The playground has multiple holes in the equipment, like the metal slides, monkey bars, chain attachment of swings and many other places. The bees get into these metal pipes through small holes so the nests can not easily be destroyed. The little Preschoolers get stung going down the slide ..so sad. I just think it is not right to not do something about this when there are so many life-threatening bee allergies. Am I being a brat? In the past, I have had to battle with the janitors to do something. Law prohibits spraying, so the janitors kind of ignore the problem. They tell me "we can't do anything, it is against the law." So many of my students get stung. I think that this is not right at all. I am ready to do an official complaint this year to the superintendent and have Pest Control come. I think this should be a yearly thing. What does your district do?

[amoLucia]

Does your school have a Pest Control provider contract? In all the LTC places I've been we always had a contract with a 'bug service'. Perhaps they could do something or at least make some kind of recommendation.

[Massmagic]

The district does not have a contract with Pest Control and I think I have to start bringing this to the attention of the Superintendent of Schools and the Head Custodian. I am certain the answer will be "not enough money", so I may have to become the squeaky wheel.

[itsmejuli]

They better do something before one of those kids has an anaphylaxic reaction

[T-Bird78]

An anonymous call to the local news channel will get action very quickly. Imagine the lead story at 6:00--local school has wasp problem, officials do nothing about it, children could get stung. As an allergy nurse, that bothers me that there's a strong possibility of a sting and subsequent reaction. Can you keep an Epi-Pen out there if a venom allergy kid is playing?

[AussiePupOwner]

Last time we had a problem, I emailed all the teachers and had them keep in our insect sting allergy kiddos. The principal then called in a work order to have our playground treated. Honestly, I don't know how they treat though. Sorry.

[amoLucia]

To OP - I don't know HOW you could NOT have a Pest Control program in place. I want to say that any place that has a kitchen or Food Service services freq absolutely NEEDS a 'bug service'. I've worked some very good LTC facilities, yet no matter how good there were, there was always a problem with cockroaches. Like it's a given fact.

There may be a contract in place with the district but maybe on a PRN basis and that's how they avoid costs. And there probably are alternative methods to deal with flying things. Your custodial staff just needs to address the issue.

Good luck.

[Massmagic]

Thanks all for your responses. I approached the supervisor of maintenance and expressed my concern. He said that he was going to put it on the "to do list" for the custodians prior to the return of the students in September. I shall see if this is carried out. I have a feeling that the custodians will not rid the playground of bees as they gave excuses last year. I will just keep going over their heads until something is done. I am determined now as I just get furious over this. It is like this at my school. No one cares about the safety of the students....It is like staff just sends them out for recess....get them out of our hair and let the nurse deal with injuries, tics, and the bee stings. Our fields are loaded with deer tics also. Yes, I have a list of things that I am not happy with. I also know I will have support from the other 2 nurses as they are pretty vocal and proactive.