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IPM
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USAG-Humphreys IPM STAR Certified 2008-2010 |
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September 16, 2008 USAG Humphreys Child and Youth Services has earned IPM STAR certification after passing a rigorous, 48-point inspection of facilities used for childcare and after-school services . IPM stands for Integrated Pest Management, a common sense approach to solving pest problems using a minimum of pesticides. IPM STAR is the only IPM accreditation program for schools and childcare/youth services facilities that uses a rigorous, on-site evaluation of policies, practices and conditions to verify a high standard for IPM. More than 2 million children have benefited from reductions in pest problems and pesticide use under IPM STAR since 2003. Mr. Chin Song Kim has been coordinating USAG Humphrey's IPM program for two years. This year to date, the installation has not made any pesticide application in the Child and Youth Services facilities. Instead, the focus has been on improving inspection, sanitation and exclusion to deny pests access to food, water and shelter. As a result, the number of pest complaints has gone down. Food service areas are inspected monthly for signs of pest problems and each facility is inspected annually for maintenance issues. Floor drains and hard-to-reach areas are cleaned on a regular schedule to ensure that that food doesn't accumulate and attract pests. Exclusion issues are also resolved promptly, like replacing door sweeps and seals to keep pests out and which also cuts energy costs by keeping air conditioning and heating in. To ensure that the IPM program is always up-to-date, USAG Humphreys has an IPM Committee which meets quarterly to review and evaluate the garrison's IPM Plan. The Committee includes the IPM Coordinator, Child and Youth Services director, pest control foreman, IMCOM-K pest management consultant, preventive medicine entomologist and pest management program manager and is responsible for setting a direction for the IPM program and addressing opportunities for improvement. This success story demonstrates that IPM works to protect the 116 children and numerous staff who use the garrison's facilities from the hazards of pests and pesticides. And this is a very good thing – according to US EPA, children are more vulnerable to pesticides than adults. Pound for pound, they eat, drink and breathe more than adults, and have more contact with the ground, floors and walls where they are more likely to encounter pesticide residues. Their developing systems are more susceptible to pesticides and other environmental toxins. Preventative medicine and public health are the driving forces behind USAG Humphreys' work, and this commitment is evident in their excellent IPM program. IPM Star is operated by the IPM Institute of North America, an independent non-profit organization. The program was developed with support from the USDA IPM Program and the US EPA Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program. Support for IPM STAR in the US Army Child and Youth Services Program is provided by the US Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM-Korea)/ Family Morale Welfare Recreation Command and the US Environmental protection Agency. The effort is being implemented by the US Army Center for Health Promotion Preventive Medicine-Pacific and coordinated with the US Army Environmental Command and the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management. - Prepared as part of the IPM STAR Certification Process by the IPM Institute of North America for posting on its website with permission from USAG Humphreys.
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