Bed Bugs: Hopefully Not Coming to a School Near You

Northeast Ohioans have gladly welcomed the warmer temperatures, but the annual rise in insect infestations typically isn’t as well received. That’s why district officials are getting the word out about how to stem the spread of certain pests, like bed bugs, that threaten to invade and inhabit . 

According to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and Lakewood City Schools public relations specialist Christine Gordillo, here are some good facts and tips about bed bugs — and steps parents and children can take to keep them away from schools:

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency have declared the bed bug a “pest of significant public health importance.”
• Bed bugs do not transmit disease but they do feed on the blood of people and mammals, causing small welts that can become infected from excessive scratching.  
• Anyone who comes in direct contact with bed bugs or their eggs can unknowingly carry them into their home or school.
• They are easily spread by moving beds, luggage, book bags, or clothing from one location to the next.
•  Bed bugs prefer inhabiting wood, fabric or paper materials versus plastic or metal. They particularly like fabrics found on furniture, mattresses and box springs.

How can you eradicate bed bugs?

• Wash clothing and linen in water exceeding 120 degrees. Then dry on a hot setting.
• Thoroughly vacuum the affected area and throw away infested contents in sealed garbage bags.
• Enclose infested mattresses and box springs in a zippered cover labeled “allergen free” for at least one year.
• Bed bug pesticides are sold over the counter and might provide effective pest control.
• Do not use “bug bombs.” Typically, it will only kill a small number of bed bugs and will cause the insects to disperse into adjacent walls or rooms.