Question: Re: insecticide fumes sickening students at Highlands Intermediate School recently: It’s not clear who we should call when such things happen. Is it the Honolulu Fire Department? The Department of Emergency Services? Can you please publish phone numbers? School closings, fire department calls, hospital trips — isn’t it about time the EPA banned malathion?

Answer: If you are not sure what the odor is or if you feel it’s an immediate threat to health and safety, call 911.

That’s the advice from the state Department of Agriculture’s Pesticides Branch.

Otherwise, if you know that a pesticide is being used, call the Pesticides Branch during business hours at 973-9401 (Oahu), 873-3557 (Maui, Molokai, Lanai), 974-4142 (Hawaii island) and 274-3074 (Kauai).

Malathion has been around since the 1950s and is unlikely to be banned any time soon. It is used to control mosquitos and other insect pests, and is found in thousands of products registered in the United States for use by homeowners.

The Pesticides Branch warns homeowners and gardeners that all pesticides should be used according to label instructions and that "the label directions are not just recommendations, it is the law."

The problem is that as malathion breaks down, its odor becomes more pronounced, so many of the complaints received by the Pesticides Branch involves malathion use.

While malathion is a familiar product, pesticides specialists say there are newer pesticides that may be just as effective in controlling household and garden pests, without the strong odor.

They also recommend that consumers buy only what they can use within a year or so.

Question: I observed a Department of Education vehicle marked "For Official Use Only" parked in the School Street Walgreens parking lot at 1:25 p.m. Sept. 20. I called the superintendent’s hot line to report the possible misuse of a state vehicle, providing the license number. That was in case the superintendent wanted to have someone check the vehicle’s trip ticket to see whether it showed the stop at Walgreens, which it should if the trip was official. But a friend said that my call would conveniently disappear and nothing would be done. Is it possible to find out whether anyone checked to see whether the stop at Walgreens was official business?

Answer: The person driving the car was on official business, said DOE spokeswoman Sandra Goya.

She said the DOE encourages the public to contact the Communications Office at 586-3232 or by e-mailing doe_info@notes.k12.hi.us to report the possible misuse of a state vehicle.

A license number, location and time and date should be provided.

However, even without license information, the DOE follows up on all inquiries, Goya said.

Mahalo

To a man who was willing to get involved. A short while ago my son was assaulted, robbed and dragged through Waikiki hanging onto the bad guys’ vehicle after they stole his backpack. Many skin grafts and 18 days in the hospital later, he is doing well. A driver followed the car, and when my son let go, he circled the block, returning to provide the license number to my son and his buddy. Nobody got the driver’s name, so I want to say mahalo nui loa for doing this or they would have gotten away. As it is, both have been charged with assault and robbery. Your effort to help is deeply appreciated. — Honolulu Parent

Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or e-mail kokualine@staradvertiser.com.