AMBLER, Pa. —
Allergy Technologies, manufacturer of
ActiveGuard Mattress Liners, with the support of Philadelphia Councilman Mark Squilla and local affordable housing management, is spearheading an effort to address the rampant bed bug problem in Philadelphia.
Allergy Technologies, along with other leading researchers, has developed the ATAHC (Allergy Technologies Affordable Housing Control and Prevention) Program for bed bugs — a first of its kind program designed to create an affordable and sustainable model of control and prevention of bed bugs within affordable housing.
ATAHC (pronounced ‘attack’) incorporates an initial facility-wide remediation, effectively lowering the bed bug population, according to Allergy Technologies. This status is sustained by the installation of long-acting preventive measures property-wide. Program success relies upon early detection and prompt intervention through an emphasis on engagement by residents and staff through continuing education.
According to Councilman Mark Squilla, “I’m determined to eliminate Philadelphia from all lists of worst bed bug cities. Bed bugs have significantly impacted the lives of Philadelphia residents, apartment owners and other commercial establishments. I appreciate the work done on the ATAHC Program by Allergy Technologies — a great Philadelphia area company — and the cooperation of management, staff and residents at the property.”
The ATAHC Program will make a huge difference for managers, staff and residents of affordable housing, said Joseph Latino, president of Allergy Technologies. “The turnkey nature of the Program and the ability to protect residents from bed bugs further highlight this groundbreaking initiative,” Latino said. “While core tenets of the ATAHC Program include early detection and intervention, a key component of the program’s success comes from working closely with property management, staff and residents — all of whom have been incredibly supportive.”
Jeffrey Lipman, Esq., whose practice focuses on the legal consequences of bed bugs in multiple occupant housing, often encounters the significant financial and emotional consequences of infestations. “In addition to the costs of treating the continuous challenges of bed bugs for residents of affordable housing, budget constraints can often contribute to delayed treatments and therefore worsen the problem,” said Lipman. “I applaud this program’s core preventive objective that will alleviate the burdens placed on residents as a result of this insidious pest.”
Entomologist Dr. Jim Ballard, a principal of Ballard Consulting who has been researching bed bugs for 15 years, said, “I’m impressed with the proactive approach adopted by the ATAHC Program, which uses select, field-proven strategies to prevent infestations. The program has also emphasized staff and resident engagement, which typically is overlooked.” Staff and resident education about effective pest prevention and control as well as the benefits of the Program has already taken place at the initial selected property, Allergy Technologies reports.
“The fact that our hometown is ranked as one of the topmost bed bug-infested cities in the country is not acceptable, so we decided to do something about it,” said Gus Carey, managing director and founder of Allergy Technologies. “While this demonstration alone will not immediately solve the overall bed bug problem in Philadelphia, it will ultimately showcase an effective and cost-sustainable strategy for bed bug control and prevention that will improve the quality of life for Philadelphia residents.” Carey expects the success of the ATAHC Program will lead to its being replicated throughout the City of Brotherly Love and across the country.
In addition to developing the ATAHC Program, Allergy Technologies has donated more than $100,000 of ActiveGuard liners to the Philadelphia Housing Authority building complex. Corbett Exterminating, a professional pest control provider with expansive experience in affordable housing, has been chosen to implement the demonstration. Leading pest control industry suppliers including Key K9, Rockwell Labs, Bayer Environmental Science, Target Specialty Products, and MGK have made significant product donations and lent their professional time to support the effort.
Posted by Brad Harbison
