How Pests in the Home Negatively Impact Health

citrus-yellow-mite-989500_1280Keeping your home safe is an important component of protecting your family’s health. And while you probably spend considerable amounts of time preparing healthy meals, vacuuming floors, and tidying up bedrooms, have you ever paused to think about pests and rodents and whether or not your home is conducive to infestations and the negative effects that come along with their presence?

Common Household Pests and Rodents

While an occasional bug in the home may not elicit immediate fear of an unhealthy infestation or breakout, you should keep an eye out for the following common household pests and rodents. Believe it or not, they can directly impact your family’s health in certain situations.

  •         Cockroaches: Is there anything nastier than a cockroach slinking around your home under the veil of darkness? These nasty and surprisingly agile bugs can present a very real danger. One in five children reportedly have severe sensitivities to cockroach allergens, and the bugs frequently carry bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli on their bodies.
  •         Bed bugs: The thought of bed bugs is enough to make anyone squirm. Bed bugs are very hard to get rid of once they become present in the home and have a tendency to spread like wildfire. And while you may not notice them at first, you’ll certainly feel the rashes, bites, and lesions they leave behind. Even worse, they can have a psychological impact on your ability to get a quality night of sleep.
  •         Ants: While you may spot a single cockroach, you’ll rarely see an ant alone. These social insects flock together and can contaminate food and cause painful bites. If you see ants in your home, you need to take immediate action.

Other common household pests and rodents include mice, rats, spiders, and fleas. And while some may seem more intimidating than others, it’s imperative that you remove them as quickly as possible.

How to Protect Your Home

Protecting your home from pests and rodents requires a concerted effort and fast reflexes. You never know when an infestation is about to occur and you must be able to quickly respond with precision. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

  •         Close open orifices: “Leaving your doors and windows open for long periods of time is a sure-fire way to invite pests in. Vermin and bugs will expect your windows and doors to be open, and soon you’ll have a major problem,” writes Green Residential, a Houston-based property management firm. The moral of the story? Keep windows and doors shut at all times. If you absolutely must have them open, use a screen for protection.
  •         Use healthy pesticides: While killing and removing pests is important, you don’t want to do so at the expense of your family’s health. When using pesticides, make sure you know what you’re spraying inside your home. If possible, non-chemical pest control measures are always preferred.

Your family’s health and safety is of paramount importance. While you can’t totally prevent pests from entering the home, you can certainly prepare your response. Think about these tips and educate your family regarding proper protocol.