Lessons Learned: A New PSA Campaign from the National Pest Management Association
We learn a lot of valuable life lessons from our loved ones, like kindness and respect. But we also learn daily habits that help keep ourselves and our homes safe. Our 2024 public service announcement focuses on the valuable teaching moments passed down through generations. In this PSA, we follow three different families, weaving in and out of their storylines, connecting the daily habits being taught to pest prevention tactics that can limit our health risks related to pests like mice, ants, mosquitoes and cockroaches.
Some of these pests not only contaminate foods and food surfaces through transferred germs and droppings but also exacerbate respiratory issues, triggering allergy and asthma attacks, especially in children. This PSA highlights the value of a pest free home. Learn the facts you need to keep your family healthy at PestWorld.org.
“A pest-free home is a healthy home, and a healthy home is a happy home.”
60 Second PSA
30 Second PSA
Pests Featured in This Year's PSA
There are more than 700 ant species found in the U.S., although only about 25 species commonly infest homes. Ants are social insects that typically live in underground colonies, made up of workers and a queen. Although they may be small in size, ants can pose serious threats by contaminating food and damaging property. Ants will eat practically any kind of food but are especially attracted to sweets. While species like red imported fire ants can inflict painful stings and even send people to the hospital, Argentine ants can contaminate food and carpenter ants cause significant property damage. Living and working in large colonies, an ant infestation can quickly spread if left unchecked.
With over 70 species in the United States, this creepy nuisance pest is known to spread at least 33 kinds of bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella, as well as six kinds of parasitic worms and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. Cockroach pest control and management are important for health and safety reasons because cockroaches can trigger asthma and allergy attacks as their droppings, saliva, and shed skin contain potent allergens and can exacerbate asthma symptoms, especially in children. See these pests in action at OutOfSight.PestWorld.org.
These insects are much more than a nuisance; they also transmit serious diseases including malaria, yellow fever, dengue, encephalitis, Chikungunya, West Nile virus and Zika, making them one of the deadliest creatures in the world. Mosquitoes thrive in humid conditions and can rapidly multiply, as they need only half an inch of standing water to lay their eggs.
Rodents invade millions of homes across the U.S. each year in search of food, water and shelter, which is particularly pressing as mice can squeeze their bodies through openings the size of a dime, while rats can squeeze through openings the size of a quarter. Once indoors, rodents can cause property damage by chewing through drywall and insulation, as well as the electrical wiring in your walls or vehicles. More importantly, these pests are associated with several health risks, spreading more than 35 diseases that can be transmitted to humans with their droppings and dander from rodents triggering asthma and allergy symptoms, especially in children. See these pests in action at RodentsRevealed.PestWorld.org.
Tips to Prevent a Pest Infestation
-
Seal cracks and holes on the outside of the home including entry points for utilities and pipes.
-
Keep tree branches and shrubbery well-trimmed and away from the house.
-
Keep basements, attics, and crawl spaces well-ventilated and dry.
-
Store garbage in sealed containers and dispose of it regularly.
-
Repair fascia and rotted roof shingles; some insects are drawn to deteriorating wood.
-
Replace weather-stripping and repair loose mortar around the basement foundation and windows.
-
Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house and five inches off the ground.
-
Contact a qualified pest professional for additional advice and treatment if necessary.