Bed Bug Awareness Week

With summer travel season quickly approaching, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) has declared June 7-13 as Bed Bug Awareness Week to remind the public that vigilance is key to quelling a potential bed bug infestation this summer. We are proud to take part in this important public education effort and encourages travelers to brush up on bed bug basics before packing their bags and hitting the road.

Bed bugs are still a pervasive problem, and they can be especially problematic for travelers due to their hitchhiking nature. These biting pests are easily transported from one place to another in belongings, such as suitcases, which means travelers must exercise caution during and after their trips.

In fact, new research by NPMA and the University of Kentucky found that 99.6 percent of pest control professionals have treated for bed bugs within the past year, with 75 percent reporting bed bugs in hotels and motels.

At Johnson Pest Control we have a few bits of advice to vacationers to help ensure they don’t bring home bed bugs as an unwanted souvenir.

At hotels, thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and in furniture. Pull back the bed sheets and check the mattress seams and box springs for pepper-like stains that may be evidence of bed bug activity.
If you suspect an infestation or problem, notify management and change rooms immediately. Be sure the new room is not adjacent to or directly below or above the possibly infested room.
Keep suitcases in plastic trash bags or protective covers during a hotel stay to prevent bed bugs from nesting there. Do not put them on the beds.
Upon returning home from a trip, inspect all suitcases and other belongings before bringing them into the house.
Wash all clothes – even those that have not been worn – in hot water and dry them using an extra-hot dryer setting

For more information on bed bugs check out our extensive amount of write ups on the little blood suckers. If you suspect an infestation of any level give us a call.

Bed Bug Free Spring Break Travel Tips

Spring Break is here, for some. For some spring break is coming up soon. The University of Tennessee put out this article with some spring break tips. Some of these tips contained personal travel tips. The rest of this list is dedicated to prevention and awareness of bed bugs.

We’ve talked about bed bugs and college before. It is a good thing to be vigil to the possibility of picking up bed bugs while traveling.

Spring Break Travel Health and Safety Tips

UT’s spring break is set for March 16-20. Will you be traveling during this time? Please keep in mind some important information to help you return to campus safely, recharged and ready for the rest of the semester.

Be sure that you:

Travel with a reputable travel agency. Know what kind of transportation, housing and food and beverages are included in your travel package.

Tell your friends and relatives where you will be vacationing, when you will depart and when you expect to return.

Stay aware of your surroundings and remain in groups.

Don’t carry all of your credit or bank cards in your wallet or purse. Carry the minimum amount of cash that you will need, including a small amount for backup. Traveler’s checks can be a good option when on vacation. If you have extra cash, leave it in your hotel room, hidden from sight.

Don’t resist if you are robbed — give up any money, jewelry or other valuables and call 911 (or another appropriate emergency number) immediately.

Don’t let anyone into your hotel room unless you trust them. Your personal and property safety is significantly compromised by allowing strangers or untrusted persons into your room.

Limit alcohol intake. Decision making skills are compromised under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The legal drinking age in the US is 21 years. If traveling to a foreign country, check the local legal drinking age and other applicable laws.

Also, take the necessary precautions while traveling to avoid picking up bed bugs.

Check beds by examining the bed sheets and upper and lower seams of the mattress and box spring, especially along the head of the bed. Check behind the headboard.

Elevate suitcases off the floor on a luggage stand, table top or other hard surface and bring large plastic trash bags in which to place your luggage.

Bedbug bites leave small white to red welts, and itch intensely. If you are exposed:

Contain all items suspected of carrying bedbugs in plastic bags until they can be laundered.

Upon returning home, transfer all washable clothing directly into the washer and/or dryer. Place clothing and bedding in a dryer on a high temperature setting for 30 minutes.

Collect all plastic bags that contained the suspect laundry into a clean garbage bag and discard.

Your suitcase can either be treated or discarded.

For those leaving vehicles on campus over spring break, make certain that no valuable property is left in plain view.

Have a great and safe spring break!

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