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The horrific story of a Rutland, Vermont foster familys bout with bed bugs and subsequent failed treatment, followed by the alleged application of banned pesticides by a second pest control company, suggests some changes need to be made to how bed bugs are treated and that education about how to deal with bed bugs needs to be more widespread.
Vermont Public Radio (VPR) reported today on the story of Neil and Patricia Whitney, who have been foster parents for 21 years (and were deemed Rutlands Foster Parents of the Year in 2008). Two years ago, the family took in a foster child who had bed bugs, on the condition that the Vermont Dept. of Children and Families would pick up the bill for treatment, if it ended up being necessary later. Its not clear whether DCF also offered any educational materials on how to prevent the spread of bed bugs (such as using a Packtite or the dryer to treat clothing and items worn or brought into the home).
Had the foster childs clothing and belongings simply been treated before her arrival, the problem would likely have been prevented. Instead, a month later, the Whitneys discovered they had bed bugs.
Vermont Public Radio reports that DCF then asked the family to self-treat for bed bugs:
At first, the Whitneys said they were given cans of bug spray and told to take care of the problem themselves. When that didnt work, the state hired a company called Natures Way.
Patricia and Neil said despite multiple treatments, their bedbug problem worsened. I told them several times that I didnt think it was working, said Patricia. I told social workers, I told the resource coordinator, I told the district coordinator.
Starting with self-treatment was not a good idea.
And then when a professional pest control team was brought in, the state hired Natures Way, a company whose website suggests they use Cryonite (freezing CO2) and Actisol Fog Machines in treating bed bugs, though we do not know if these were the methods in use in this case.
When the bed bugs persisted, things went from bad to worse. VPR reports that in April 2013, the state hired Cary Buck of AAA Accredited Pest Control which DFC claimed was the Dept. of Healths go-to company.
After treatment by Buck, the Whitneys were concerned by the state of their home, claiming chemical was dripping off the kitchen counter and I could see where it was pooling on the floor (the kitchen counter!), and then
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Vermont foster family gets bed bugs & hazmat situation ...
