Bed bugs
are on the rise! Watch out!
 Bed bugs are on the rise and there is no stopping them. Due to our travel habits over the
past fifteen years or so, bed bugs have been able to make a comeback in our country. Once a common insect in our country before
the 1950's, the bed bugs have returned. They are infesting our homes, apartments, hotels, motels, cruise ships, hospitals,
nursing homes, day cares, schools and businesses. Because they are so wide spread any one of us at any time can encounter
this tiny, creepy, blood sucking pest. We can pick one up by going out to a movie, sending clothes to a cleaner, riding on
a bus, in a taxi, or a train and even an airplane. You can go visit Aunt Mary, or have your grandchildren come to visit you
and WOW! now you have bed bugs. Think of how scary this can
be! Do
not think that throwing away your bed will solve your problems?
Bed bugs are not only confined to a bed. They only get
their name because they are known for feeding while we sleep. But when finished feeding, they travel back to a hiding spot
and stay there, laying eggs and waiting till it is time to feed again. They usually hide within 10 to 15 feet from where you
sleep. This can be in or on a mattress or box spring, a night stand, alarm clock, moldings, picture frames, dressers, outlets
and switches, clothing such as shoes and pocketbooks. They will get into any crack or crevice they can find. Each bed
bug will feed five times during its' life cycle. They need to feed in order to grow; however, a bed bug can live up to
eighteen months without having a meal. They prefer to feed on a human host, but if one is not available, they can and will
seek an alternative food source such as a dog, or a cat and even rodents. 
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Treatment for bed bugs: All items in an infested room must be inspected for signs of bedbugs. All
clothing must be placed in plastic trash bags and sealed. They must then be removed and placed in a dryer under high heat
for twenty to thirty minutes and then removed and placed back into NEW trash bags and sealed. They should remain in the bags
for about two weeks. This should include clothing of any kind, curtains, sheets, towels, shoes, and pocket books. You can remove articles as needed or keep approximately two weeks of clothing in a separate
plastic bin with a lid. NOTE: Because you are only using heat, these items should not become damaged by the heat process.
Once
items are removed, proper chemicals labeled for the treatment of bedbugs should be used. These chemicals generally include
a material for the beds, furniture, and walls. They are usually a mixture of liquids and powders. You should also use properly
labeled bedbug covers for your mattress and box spring. These are also available for pillows and cribs.
A proper cover is one that has been tested and approved for bedbug use. This type of cover
will not be plastic, which can rip very easily.
Bed Bug Preventions
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