You know intellectually how heat treatment works to kill bedbugs, right? But do you want to see it? You know you do!
This bed bug infestation was found in an apartment and treated with high heat to kill bed bugs at all stages of their development: eggs, nymphs and adults. Watch them freak out!
The high temperatures dry out the bed bugs until they are dead, dead, dead. And they don’t come back because the eggs are dead, too.
If you have a problem with bed bugs in California, please don’t panic! Let the bugs to do that! Contact Alliance Environmental Group and we will send one of our highly trained professional teams to your location to eradicate bed bugs with one treatment, which leaves no chemical residue behind!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
This Presidents’ Day, I decided to do some research about environmental challenges at the White House and see if our Presidents were exposed to any of the materials that we are more careful about today.
Did you know…
The White House wasn’t always white! It is built from gray sandstone and was not painted white until the building was reconstructed after being set on fire by the British in 1814. The first paint used on The White House was made of rice glue, casein and LEAD. Aha! Here is a picture of The White House after the fire. Although it does not show any damage, the interior of the building was destroyed and the exterior badly charred. The White House was reconstructed enough to be lived in by 1817 when President James Monroe and his family moved back in, but even then it was not completed.
Lead was often used in the 18th and 19th centuries on roofs and eaves, but was found to be unusable for The White House because of the climate of Washington, DC. The extreme temperature changes and summer heat would make the roofs crack and leak and lead could even slide down the roof.
LEAD also makes an appearance in stories about The White House plumbing, but although widely believed, it was a hoax. Then Vice President Millard Fillmore was reported to have seen a mahogany and sheet lead tub in Ohio and ordered one for The White House when he succeeded Zachary Taylor. The hoax was perpetrated by journalist H.L. Mencken, who said that he had created the story to distract people from the horrors of World War I. The story was later known as “The Mencken Hoax.” But, of course, the piece was reprinted even after the author confessed to making it up. The hoax was even referenced seriously by the Washington Post in 2001!
.jpg)
Do you remember this dog? This is Millie, the family dog of President George H.W. Bush. A lovely English Springer Spaniel born in 1985, she was the “Second Dog” while Mr. Bush was Vice President, but was promoted when he was elected President in 1988. Unfortunately, she died in 1992 of lead poisoning from lead dust released in White House renovations. Remember, environmental hazards affect pets as well as humans!
I have one more and then you can get back to your long weekend. The White House heating and air conditioning system was renovated in 1986 as the last phase of a 10-year project begun in 1977. Asbestos which had not been exposed until the renovations was removed while the Reagans were on vacation in California. It had been removed from the Executive Office Building the previous year.
Today’s White House is safe from asbestos and lead contamination, thank goodness! If your house was built before 1978 or you are doing renovations and find asbestos containing materials during the process, you may need lead paint removal or asbestos abatement services. If you are in California, contact Alliance Environmental Group for a consultation. We have highly trained crews ready to tackle your worst environmental challenges!
And Happy Presidents’ Day to all!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
It’s Friday so it must be Ronald McDonald House Day on the blog! We are busy promoting our Dinner With Friends event here, on Facebook and on Twitter and we hope you are going to join us or help with the silent auction!
How can you help?
Attend the event! Tickets can be purchased HERE!
Let us know you’re coming on the event’s Facebook Page!
If you cannot attend, you can still donate HERE! You can also donate items to our Silent Auction! We are looking for:
- Vacation and travel - vacation homes, resort/hotel stays, golf or spa packages, airline tickets, cruise tickets, winery/brewery private tours, etc.
- Sports and recreation - golf or tennis packages or equipment, tickets to Chargers or Padres games, fitness club memberships, personal trainer sessions, etc.
- Entertainment - Museum or theme park memberships or tickets, movie tickets, restaurant gift certificates, kids birthday party packages, etc.
- Retail - donations and gift certificates from local and major retailers; electronics such as iPads, laptops, digital cameras; bottles of wine to be used in the “wine bottle grab;” etc.
- Services - maid service, teeth whitening, chiropractor services, accounting/tax services, etc.
Contact Matt Teeter at matt.j.teeter (at) gmail (dot) com if you have any items you would like to donate or any other goods or services that could help with the event!
And here is today’s attempt to whet your appetite!
Chef Michael Ruffner will be serving Beef Sliders, Smoked Chicken Flatbread Sandwiches with tart coleslaw and Fish Street Tacos, yum!!
I’d better find out the desserts pretty soon!
All of the proceeds from this event will go directly to the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego. We hope you can join us!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
You might be surprised to hear it, but there is always a lot of news about asbestos. Asbestos exposure, asbestos products and asbestos production are challenges all over the world every day.
* Asbestos Released in Demolition Leads to Fines and Corrections
A $300,000 restitution judgment and four years of community corrections result from a Colorado homeowner’s decision to hire untrained workers to demolish his house, releasing loose asbestos into the air. It is also suspected that he reused some of the asbestos-contaminated materials after the demolition.
In California, as in Colorado, it is illegal to allow asbestos fibers to enter the environment and property owners must use licensed contractors to do these jobs or risk fines and other penalties, not to mention disease for themselves, their families and their neighbors. Any demolition where asbestos is present must be done by professionals who know and comply with all safety rules and regulations for the demolition, removal and disposal of this dangerous material.
* Asbestos Found at California State University, Northridge Campus
Several buildings at the CSUN have tested positively for asbestos, causing the administration to issue health warnings to all staff and students. Materials such as putty, pipe insulation, weather stripping, water pipes, and floor and ceiling tiles were found to be still in use in campus buildings.
These materials are not thought to be an immediate health threat, but we all know that asbestos is unsafe in any location. Students and staff have been cautioned against drilling holes or hanging objects from walls or ceilings, but the issue will definitely have to be addressed by having a licensed team in to remove the asbestos safely in the near future.
* Asbestos Found in Two Water Pumping Plants Near Bakersfield, CA
Although plant owners reassure the public there was never any danger to water safety, two plants in the last month have tested positive for asbestos, causing speculation on not only water safety but the safety of workers at the plant as well.
The Chrisman and Wheeler Ridge pumping plants were those found to be contaminated. The Buena Vista plant is now being tested. The asbestos has already begun to be cleaned up at the other two plants.
As I said, there is always news about asbestos—after all, the US is importing more asbestos than ever. But since there is no safe level of exposure, awareness of what products can contain asbestos and what to do if you find asbestos is all important. We at Alliance Environmental Group are committed to providing information as well as asbestos abatement services in California.
Check out our previous blog posts about Asbestos:
Asbestos 101 - facts about asbestos
Asbestos Today - where to look for asbestos in your home
Dashing Through the Asbestos? - odd old products that contained asbestos
Someday, asbestos will be a thing of the past, but today we must raise our awareness so that no one is exposed today only to get sick tomorrow.
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
I bet you didn’t think I could tie Lincon’s Birthday with bed bugs, but you would be wrong, haha!
Bed bugs have been a problem for humans for thousands of years. And until the 1940’s with the invention of DDT and similar pesticides, they were just a fact of life.
In ancient Greece, bed bugs were thought to have medicinal properties for treating ear infections and snake bites and were used medically until at least the 18th century for treatment of hysteria (I have a feeling that didn’t work out so well).
Here is a scientific drawing from 1860 of the parts of the bed bug:
Abraham Lincoln definitely had his share of encounters with bed bugs, if not in the White House (there’s nothing about that), in hotels and inns. Michael Burlingame, in his book Abraham Lincoln: a life, Volume 1, writes that President Lincoln had some experience with bed bugs, but did not complain:
“He was a ‘most perfect gentleman’ to his hosts and their families and servants. ‘Others would growl—complain—become distressed and distress others—with the complaints and whine about what they had to eat—how they slept—and on what and how long—and how disturbed by fleas, bed bugs or whatnot.’ Only rarely Lincoln would voice displeasure with the food. ”
I expect that Mr. Lincoln, like everyone until 1950 or so, just accepted that some times and places, you would have to deal with bed bugs and that was that. I’m glad it’s not like that today, aren’t you?
What did they use to try to treat bed bugs before DDT? Lots of things: plants, fungi, and insects, black pepper, black cohosh, eucalyptus oil, henna, tobacco, turpentine, wild mint, geranium, cannabis and many others. In the mid-19th century, they tried smoke from peat fires. Dusts have been used including “plant ash, lime, dolomite, certain types of soil, and diatomaceous earth (Wikipedia). Sounds like people were pretty desperate, not unlike now.
DDT worked very well eradicating bed bugs, but was found to be extremely toxic to our environment in other ways and was banned in the US in 1972. Since then, bed bug populations have become increasingly resistant to pesticides.
What is the best way to get rid of a bed bug infestation? Research has shown that high temperatures are the most reliable and safest method of bed bug eradication. A building is sealed up and then interior temperatures are raised to 130 degrees or higher for 2-3 hours, killing any pests inside at every stage of development. Alliance Environmental Group uses ThermaPureHeat to treat areas, rooms, apartments, homes and entire buildings for bed bugs, without any dangerous chemicals or their residue, without the need to bag food or wash linens and without needing to stay out of the building for days, waiting for pesticides to dissipate.
One ThermaPureHeat treatment is all it takes to kill eggs, nymphs and adult bed bugs—there is no fear of a resurgence later and the need for repeating the treatment.
If you discover a bed bug infestation anywhere in California, please contact us. We have teams ready to help quickly, efficiently and professionally, putting your mind totally at rest.
I still can’t believe they used bed bugs to treat hysteria! Bed bugs would MAKE me hysterical!
Next time: a video showing bed bugs freaking out from high temperatures!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
I got lots more information about the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego dinner that we are putting on March 10 this week!
I started telling you about this great event a couple of weeks ago, but now I have details about the menu, what we are looking for in donations for the silent auction and information about how you can help!
Our own Carlos Sanguinetti of the San Diego Office of AirTek is putting together this charity dinner in support of one of our favorite causes, the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego! This is the eighth dinner that Carlos has done for RMHCSD and we want it to be the best ever!
On March 10, we invite you to join us for fun, food and fundraising!
The dinner will be held at the Ronald McDonald House across from Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego and will include a cocktail reception, tour of the facility, as well as dinner catered by Chef Michael Ruffner, owner of Urban Eats Gourmet Food Truck and former chef at the Hotel del Coronado. My mouth is watering already! This week I will give you the first course to whet your appetite:
Polenta Fritters
Smoked Salmon Crostini
Mini BLT
And the evening’s wine selection will be provided by Shadow Mountain Vineyards!
I told you last time about the mission of the Ronald McDonald House. This week I want to tell you Carlos’s story.
In June of 2009, Carlos was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He has since made a full recovery, but this life experience caused both Carlos and Matt to reevaluate their contributions to the community. They both shared the same vision of helping others in need. Carlos had heard good things about Ronald McDonald House Charities and in September of 2009 Carlos and his wife Shana organized our first volunteer event on behalf of the organization - we had the pleasure of serving dinner to the deserving families staying at RMHC. It was an incredibly rewarding opportunity and everyone involved had a great experience. The upcoming dinner on March 10 will be the eighth dinner organized by Carlos and Matt, and the second to be catered by professional chef, Michael Ruffner. Please help us to make it the most successful ever!
How can you help?
Attend the event! Tickets can be purchased HERE! Let us know you ‘re coming on the event’s Facebook Page!
If you cannot attend, you can still donate HERE! You can also donate items to our Silent Auction! We are looking for:
- Vacation and travel - vacation homes, resort/hotel stays, golf or spa packages, airline tickets, cruise tickets, winery/brewery private tours, etc.
- Sports and recreation - golf or tennis packages or equipment, tickets to Chargers or Padres games, fitness club memberships, personal trainer sessions, etc.
- Entertainment - Museum or theme park memberships or tickets, movie tickets, restaurant gift certificates, kids birthday party packages, etc.
- Retail - donations and gift certificates from local and major retailers; electronics such as iPads, laptops, digital cameras; bottles of wine to be used in the “wine bottle grab;” etc.
- Services - maid service, teeth whitening, chiropractor services, accounting/tax services, etc.
Contact Matt Teeter at matt.j.teeter (at) gmail (dot) com if you have any items you would like to donate or any other goods or services that could help with the event!
We hope you will join us for this great event in support of a fantastic organization which serves so many, so well! Thank you!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
We got such a nice review for a bed bug project the other day, I wanted to publish it on the blog as well!
From David K. in North Hollywood, CA:
After various quotes from other companies and dealing with their associates to remove bed bugs I finally went with Alliance to do the job. Best choice I ever made! Let’s face it dealing with bed bugs for the first time is one of the most frightening experiences, let alone the process to get ready for them. It’s one chapter in my life I hopefully never want to deal with again.
Alliance was professional and did an excellent job from the moment I made that call to Elaina in their customer service department. A few hours later I received a call from Ralph Bingochea who came out to give me a free inspection and an estimate to do the job, and I just knew I found myself in the best of hands. Ralph was empathetic towards the situation and spent a great deal of time going over the process from room to room, advising me on items that needed to be removed. He reassured me that this would take care of the problem along with a 30 day guarantee. Heat treatment is the only way to rid your apartment or home from bed bugs, so don’t use pesticides—it’s a waste of money and only creates health issues later for you.
On the day of the job, Christian and his associate showed up on time and took care of my belongings as if they were their own. They walked me through the process of the heat treatment and how they monitor the rooms as well as how they treat sensitive items such as electronics. Once the procedure was finished, they showed me where various items were relocated due to the intense heat. They even helped me move a few heavy items back into place. The crew went beyond the call of duty by removing my old bug infested bed, wrapped it up and put in outside for me. Kudos, guys!
For additional peace of mind, they recommend for an additional cost an independent K-9 service which sniffs out the eggs of bedbugs to assure that the problem is gone. This shows how confident they are in their work as well as no conflict of interest.
My home is once again my castle thanks to Alliance. I highly recommend their services to anyone!
I love “My home is once again my castle,” what a great feeling!
If you have a bed bug infestation in your home, apartment or condo, please contact Alliance Environmental Group. We have offices all over California which provide prompt, professional and thorough pest control in one treatment of ThermaPureHeat. Although David did have to move some items to keep them safe from the over 130 degree temperatures we used in his apartment to kill all bed bug eggs, nymphs and breeding adults, he did not have to bag his food or launder all of his clothes and linens to remove pesticide residues—ThermaPureHeat leaves nothing behind! And he could move right back in after the treatment—no need to wait for insecticides to dissipate from his indoor air!
And check out our previous blog posts for bed bug detection dog videos! These trained dogs can detect even one or two bed bugs and help you stop them before they get a chance to take over!
Bed bugs are indeed a difficult physical and psychological experience, as David expressed. Don’t panic! Call Alliance and we will quickly be there to deal with your problem and put your mind at rest!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
There have been a lot of stories about killing bed bugs in San Diego this winter so I went looking and found this video about bed bug infestations in a firehouse, apartments and hotels.
I can’t quite figure out why they keep saying “get a jump on” bed bugs when bed bugs don’t jump! Are they confusing them with fleas? Bed bugs are creepy enough without jumping!
View more videos at: http://nbcsandiego.com.
You can increase your chances of avoiding a bed bug infestation by following some simple guidelines:
* Check any new or used furniture for signs of bedbugs outside before you move it into the house.
* Prevent bringing bed bugs home from trips by inspecting your hotel room before you unpack or put your luggage on the floor.
* Launder the clothes you took on a trip, even if you didn’t wear them—don’t put them straight back in the closet.
If you discover that you have a bed bug infestation in San Diego, or anywhere in California, we recommend you call in a pest control professional to deal with the problem. DIY solutions, especially pesticides, are often unsuccessful and can be dangerous unless used exactly as directed. Many people overuse insecticides because they are so psychologically traumatized by the idea of bed bugs. Serious health problems have been reported and one pesticide related death in the last two years.
Alliance Environmental Group has offices all over California which use ThermaPureHeat to kill bed bugs at all stages of development in one treatment. Eggs, nymphs and adult bed bugs are eradicated without the need for dangerous insectides, bagging of food, huge loads of laundry or moving out to wait for the chemicals to dissipate. There is no residue or necessity to repeat the treatment after eggs hatch.
ThermaPureHeat raises the indoor temperature of your home, condo, apartment or even commercial building over 130 degrees for 2-3 hours, killing any pest inside including eggs.
Contact Alliance for help with killing bed bugs, even if you are catching them early. We can treat an area, a room or an entire structure!
See you on Wednesday!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
ABC did a feature on bed bug detection dogs and heat treatment for the bed bug infestation on Nightline.
Meet Cruiser and Freedom, two bed bug detection dogs working in New York and watch ThermaPureHeat at work killing all stages of bed bugs in an apartment. There are also interviews with other bed bug sufferers and researchers.
If you discover that bed bugs have invaded your home, apartment, condo or building, you need a professional to make sure that they are eradicated as soon as possible. In California, Alliance Environmental Group has offices near you with crews who can come in and eliminate all stages of bed bugs—eggs, nymphs and adults—from an area, room, apartment or entire building with ThermaPureHeat treatments. Heat treatment raises the interior temperature to over 130 degrees for 2-3 hours, killing any insects living inside in one treatment.
What are the advantages of using heat to kill bed bugs?
1. It works! Insecticide treatments often do not work due to resistance to common pesticides that bed bugs have developed over time. They also leave viable eggs which can hatch and start the whole cycle over again.
2. No dangerous chemicals! DIY treatments for bed bugs can be dangerous unless you follow instructions exactly and that is hard to do when you are freaked out by bugs that attack in your sleep! The psychological impact of bed bugs can be worse than the physical one.
3. No need to bag food or move out! Even if you have a pest control company treat your home, if they use insecticides, you have to bag all the food in your home and move out for 2 or three days to let the poisons dissipate. And then you are left with the task of washing all of your linens to get the pesticides out. Heat treatment leaves no residue.
Please do not try to treat bed bugs by yourself! You will never know if you got them all—and you probably won’t! Contact Alliance Environmental Group for help!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
We would like to think that asbestos is a problem of the past. After all, we have known for over 100 years that it causes disease. Many countries have banned its use altogether. Where can you find asbestos in your house? Check out this graphic from the British Health and Safety Executive.
1. Water Tanks are usually made of asbestos cement and are often found in older properties (pre 1978).
2. Pipe insulation—used to keep heat in or cold out. Often painted over or protected by outer coating so not obviously asbestos.
3. Home Insulation—loose asbestos can be found as insulation in wall and floor cavities and in lofts.
4. Textured ceilings and walls.
5. Roof overhangs can be made from asbestos cement or asbestos insulating board.
6. Toilet cisterns can contain asbestos-reinforced resin composite materials.
7. Outdoor siding and indoor paneling—particularly around windows.
8. Fuse box—each fuse wire can have an individual asbestos flash guard and the panel behind the fuse box can be asbestos.
9. Boiler enclosure can contain asbestos insulating board.
10. Floor tiles—vinyl and linoleum floor tiles can contain asbestos. The tile backing may also contain asbestos paper.
11. Roof gutters and down pipes can often be made of asbestos cement.
The United States Geological Survey has released a report showing a dramatic increase (34%) in asbestos imports into the United States from 2010 to 2011.
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization responded with a strong statement of condemnation. Here is a PowerPoint presentation of their statement:
There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is often present in buildings constructed before 1978 and becomes exposed during renovations and after natural disasters. It is not safe to remove asbestos materials yourself. There are strict rules governing the removal of asbestos for your safety and the safety of the removal crews.
If you are planning a renovation of an older home or find exposed asbestos at your residence or commercial building in California, please call in a professional. Alliance Environmental Group provides all necessary asbestos removal services with strict adherence to safety regulations to protect your family, your employees and your community from exposure to these carcinogenic fibers. Contact us if you need help with asbestos removal! We have offices all over California including our newest office in Anaheim.
Please do not handle asbestos yourself—the fibers are tiny and extremely dangerous!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
Every house gets a little mold every once in a while—it’s inevitable. But there are ways to prevent a major mold problem before it starts!
Anywhere there is moisture, there can be mold. And there will be, if it is left alone. Bathrooms, kitchens, basements and roofs are classic places where moisture collects and can become harbors for mold spores to grow and spread.
How can you prevent mold?
1. Keep it dry—Monitor the moisture level in your home and use a dehumidifier if the humidity inside is high.
2. Keep it aired out—Use the fans in the bathroom and kitchen to remove steamy shower and cooking water vapor from the house before it gets a chance to condense on the walls or in the corners.
3. Fix leaks—Water damage is a major cause of mold growth. If you have a leak, fix it right away or call in a contractor to deal with the problem. Mold will grow where you can’t see it if there is water present in walls, foundations or basements.
4. Clean your gutters—Clogged gutters can cause water to back up into your roof, causing mold to grow where you are least likely to be aware of it. Make sure you get the leaves out of the outflow.
What if I have mold?
A little mold can be cleaned with a mild bleach cleanser and some elbow grease. But if you have a big mold problem, you need to call a professional cleaning company. In California, Alliance Environmental Group uses Thermapure heat treatments to kill mold and then our highly experienced cleaning crews will remove all wet materials from the site and provide the necessary air circulation to deter dampness before bacteria can multiply.
Where water damage and mold have had a chance to spread extensively over time, we will perform a survey to determine the best way to remediate the problem based on what kind of mold it is and the extent of the damage. Mold has to be contained during removal or it will spread to other areas, so Alliance offers proper containment and removal as well as thorough decontamination of the area.
Mold can be damaging to your health, causing allergic reactions, skin irritation, respiratory problems and infection. Immediate removal is essential to your health and the health of your family. If you need help getting rid of mold in your home or other building, please contact us!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
Apparently bed bugs don’t discriminate against the well-heeled, as they were found to have infested a room at the swanky Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York this week!
With its beautiful views of Central Park and designer decor—not to mention high prices of up to $4500 per night—you might think that a fancy hotel like the Ritz-Carlton would be immune to the scourge of bed bugs, but no! It seems Room 1005 is the center of a bed bug infestation which has caused some guests to check out in a hurry and many more to relocate within the hotel.
Unfortunately, they didn’t inform the staff member scheduled to clean the room before she went in—she found out by discovering the pest control professionals who had been called in to deal with the infestation while they were working. Let’s hope none of them went home with her!
The management describes bed bugs as “inevitable” and to a certain extent they are right. Hotels cannot control whether bed bugs enter their buildings with guests, but they certainly should be inspecting thoroughly and often.
Bed bug inspections can take many, many hours, especially in a building as big as the Ritz-Carlton, with its 596 rooms and suites. A bed bug inspection dog could do this job much faster than human inspectors, however. Here’s a video profile of a bed bug inspection dog from Texas:
Bed bug dogs are especially good for inspections of large buildings with lots of rooms, like hotels and dormitories, finding very small infestations before they can spread.
If you are traveling there are some things you can do to try to prevent any contact with bed bugs like checking the Bed Bug Registry before you make your reservations and inspecting your room. Here is a comprehensive post about how to avoid bed bugs when you are traveling.
If you discover a bed bug infestation in your home, apartment, office building or hotel, the best treatment is high heat like Thermapure heat. Raising the internal temperature of a room or an entire structure over 130 degrees for 2 hours kills bed bugs at all stages of their development in one treatment, without damaging furnishings, leaving harsh chemicals behind, or making you move out until pesticides have dissipated. From our offices all over California, Alliance Environmental Group can eliminate bed bug infestations in an area, a room or an entire structure with just one visit.
Bed bugs can be as damaging to your psyche as they are to your skin. Don’t let them get to you! Call Alliance Environmental Group and know that your bugs are gone and won’t come back!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
With the possibility of lead poisoning standards being lowered dramatically, it’s a good idea to be aware of the dangers of even a tiny amount of lead dust to children.
Although lead-based paint has been banned in the US since 1978, any home built before that time could—and should be assumed to—be a potential source of lead poisoning.
You may not see any peeling paint, but lead dust enters the air when painted surfaces rub against each other, like when you open doors or windows. Lead also becomes a danger during renovations, when old paint may be scraped or sanded.
There are very strict rules about construction and renovation when lead is present, but not all contractors are following them or checking the dates on homes before they begin work. If your house was built before 1978, have it tested for lead and if you are going to do any renovations, have a certified lead removal contractor take care of all lead-based paint before you do the work.
Lead is extremely dangerous and even a very tiny amount can cause permanent brain damage in children. Here is a video from a news station in Portland, Oregon about a family who thought they were safe, but fell victim to an irresponsible renovator with dire consequences to their 3 children.
A career in Crime and Trauma Scene clean up might be a good fit for you—if you have the right stuff!
Of course, this career is not for everyone! And some of the people who might seem like good candidates are weeded out right away. Do you have what it takes?
Question 1: Are you squeamish?
The people on Crime and Trauma Scene crews have to have iron stomachs. If turn green at the sight of blood, this job is not for you! If nothing gets to you, no matter how gross, move on to question 2.
Question 2: Are you mentally stable?
If you get depressed easily, this career is not a good match for you. Crime and Trauma Scene crews encounter a lot of tragic situations and if they are easily emotionally affected, could suffer from stress. The job is physically stressful enough, but that is another Question.
Question 3: Do you love blood and gore?
On first thought someone who is drawn to horrific things sounds like a good candidate for a career cleaning up Crime and Trauma Scenes, but it is definitely not the case. Most companies will not take on employees who seem to get entertainment value from crime scenes. Crews need to be professional and in control at all times.
Question 4: Are you super empathetic?
Again, you might think this is a good quality for a Crime and Trauma Scene team member. After all, you would encounter terribly upset family members quite often and they could need support. Unfortunately, if you are too empathetic, you too can be traumatized along with the family. You are more suited for this work if you can keep your emotions under control. Sympathy is better than empathy here.
Question 5: Are you strong and healthy?
Crime and Trauma Scene cleanup crews wear full body hazmat suits, gloves, boots and air filter masks at all times during the project. Sometimes it can be very hot and the shifts can be long.Question 6: How about training?
There is a lot of training involved in becoming part of a Crime and Trauma Scene cleanup team. From training in the handling, dangers and characteristics of bodily fluids and how to clean, transport and dispose of them to passing a “gross factor” test with graphic photos and possibly even visual presentations, expect there to be many hours of class work before you go out into the field.
The following is a video from National Geographic about Louise, a Crime Scene cleanup worker in Maryland, which shows a bit of the process that a clean up team goes through and how she feels about her job. It is not recommended for sensitive stomachs or children.
We are very sorry when anyone finds themselves in a situation where they need us to clean up after someone has passed away. But if you need us we are here. The highly trained, professional staff at Alliance Environmental Group will take care of your situation quickly, effectively and discreetly. Contact us if you need any of our services.
And if you think you have what it takes to join our team at any of our offices all over California, learn more about us and get in touch!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
Our own Carlos Sanguinetti of the San Diego Office of Alliance Environmental Group is putting together a charity dinner in support of one of our favorite causes, the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego!
You’ve probably heard of this great organization, but do you really know what they do?
Ronald McDonald House Charities provide a home-away-from-home for the families of critically ill children from all over the world. The Houses are safe, clean and full of all the amenities that families need while their child is being treated in the hospital: laundry, kitchens, play areas, computers and internet access, fun family activities, and many other services including counseling. Without the Ronald McDonald House, many families would be separated from their child, sleeping in their car, driving hours to visit or, worst of all, unable to take advantage of the amazing care in US children’s hospitals.
I spent some time last spring as an intern with the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House and was incredibly impressed with the facilities and the people who work there. They are committed to caring for these families and develop lifelong relationships with those who have long stays. Most stays at the Ronald McDonald House are 4-10 days, but some families live there for months at a time.
When I was working with the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, I took the opportunity to shoot photos of their biggest fundraiser of the year, the Walk for Kids. It was an amazing experience and very inspiring!
Won’t you join us in supporting the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego? In March of 2012, Carlos Sanguinetti will be putting on a fundraising dinner at the Ronald McDonald House across from Children’s Hospital in San Diego. We will be conducting a silent auction which will give us an opportunity to feature local businesses while we raise money for this worthy cause. If you are interested in getting more information about this event or talking to Carlos about his involvement with the Ronald McDonald House, you can email him at carlossanguinetti@alliance-enviro.com.
Thank you for your support!
Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. She welcomes your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!
Mark A.
Yorba Linda, CA
March 2007
Alliance Environmental Group provides safe, efficient, clean and high quality services to our customers and partners.
Copyright 2012 Alliance Environmental Group
Site Map | Links | Privacy Policy
990 W. Tenth St., Azusa, CA, USA 91702.
Twitter
LinkedIn