Bed Bugs: Hopefully Not Coming to a School Near You
District officials are educating parents and students to help prevent the spreading of insects this spring and summer.
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 Lakewood’s schools.
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.
Shelly Roberts
6:46 am on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
It can be a great problem for schools, the students and the teachers alike if a bed bug infestation is present at a school. Schools (or sections of it) may need to be closed down for an extended period of time while treatment is done. The students and teachers could also unknowingly transfer bed bugs back to their homes where the infestation would then grow further, leaving not only the school infested but also the homes of the students and teachers.
Bed bug monitoring is vital to check for infestations so that they can be dealt with as quickly as possible. I recently bought a bed bug home protection kit for my family which included bed bug monitoring tools from www.USBedBugStore.com. I even got a 5% discount by using the code APRIL5.
It really has helped my family sleep in peace.
Richard Pollack
8:28 am on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monitoring is, indeed, important. As part of that process, however, one should be absolutely sure that the villains are properly identified before taking action. Many (most) presumed bed bugs are merely other kinds of innocuous insects that do not justify aggressive action. Physical specimens can be sent, and digital images uploaded, to https://identify.us.com for a rapid, confidential, independent and expert evaluation. This daily saves many people a fortune otherwise spent on unnecessary pest control efforts. This website also offers educational information and guidance for the home and school.
Richard Pollack, PhD (IdentifyUS LLC)
Jeff Grill
2:18 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
It's incredibly helpful to be familiar with http://www.bed-bugs-handbook.com/bed-bugs-pictures.html to help identify a potential problem on school back packs, jackets and other items a child might bring home from school. Our site has even received reports of used library books spreading infestations as they are usually kept on a night stand, which could be next to an infested piece of furniture.
Harry Case
2:24 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Unfortunately, bed bugs in schools has become reality. With large numbers of students, teachers, parents, vendors, maintenance staff and others visiting schools daily, someone is bound to bring in a hitchhiking bed bug or two. It's inevitable. See my article: http://pestcontrolcenter.com/blog/?p=1041
mike
8:46 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
See my bed bug dog “Lillie” finding bed bugs on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqjYKtkQIgM
aldka513
5:21 am on Tuesday, June 28, 2011
How about getting rid of the bugs inside your mattress? Is it possible or do you need to throw your expensive mattress and buy a brand new one?
http://www.mattressdetective.com