MAJORITY OF SCHOOL NURSES SURVEYED SAY SCHOOLS NOT EDUCATING STUDENTS ABOUT FIRE ANT HAZARD

Nearly 45 Percent Say Fire Ants Pose Serious Threat to Students

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (July 6, 2006) - Nearly 96 percent of 247 school nurses and athletic trainers, from 19 southern and western U.S. states surveyed, said their schools do not educate students about how to avoid fire ant hazards, with most of the remaining four percent saying their schools educate students only after incidents occur. Nearly half of the respondents said that fire ants pose a serious threat to students.

Other findings of the January 2006 survey*, commissioned by Bayer Environmental Science and conducted by International Communications Research, indicate that:

62 percent of respondents have treated students for fire ant-related injuries, with an average of 13 students per respondent.
74 percent believe that elementary school students are the most common victims of fire ant swarms. (Other research indicates that children are most at risk because they are not mature enough to actively avoid fire ant mounds).
34 percent believe the threat of fire ants and fire ant stings is often severe.
Only 51 percent of respondents said their schools treat their grounds for fire ants.

While they infest 19 states in the southern and western United States, fire ants continue to adapt to cooler weather, migrating to new states every year. They can be found nesting in the soil, at the base of trees and along sidewalks. When fire ant colonies are disturbed, several hundred thousand fire ants will attack, simultaneously biting then stinging the intruder. The bite and sting causes immediate discomfort with swelling and blister formation at each point of attack. A fire ant attack can result in hundreds of blisters, the blisters and the discomfort will last for several days.
Ten to 15 percent of the general population is allergic to fire ant stings. A fire ant allergy can cause severe swelling, epileptic seizures and respiratory problems. In the most severe cases the fire ant sting can result in death.
Sensitive areas with zero tolerance fire ant policies often include schools and nursing homes—where children and the elderly are most at risk. “Fire ants can be controlled with the professional application of TopChoice® fire ant control, a product from Bayer Environmental Science. TopChoice virtually eliminates existing mounds, and creates an exclusion zone where populations are controlled for up to one year,” says Dr. Nate Royalty, entomologist with Bayer Environmental Science. “School administrators in fire ant infested states should work with local lawn care or pest management professionals on the best ways to educate students, as well as periodically inspect school property for infestations,” suggests Royalty.
For more information on combating fire ants, visit www.nofireants.com, featuring the Stinging Truth About Fire Ants Quiz from now until July 15, 2006. The quiz tests one’s knowledge of fire ants and helps educate with functional facts about these pests.

*Findings based on experiences of respondents in the past year. Survey suggests 95% confidence level with maximum margin of error +/- 6.2%