Let’s face it, bed bugs do not care where they get their next blood meal. They don’t mind showing up and disrupting the public library or how much damage they can do to the reputation of the local hotel. They could care less if they are ruining a good movie at the theater or interrupting classes at the local elementary school. Bed bugs really have no morals at all.
As a parent, you need to know some things about bed bugs. Like how bed bugs can be carried from place to place on coats, clothing, shoes, and backpacks. It doesn’t matter how clean your home or school is, bed bugs go wherever their food source goes. Talk to your child about keeping their coat and backpack up off the ground, inside their own locker or cubby, and to stay away from placing coats in a community heap. As soon as your child gets home from school, you should inspect them for bed bugs, this includes clothing and shoes. In the event your school has detected a bed bug infestation, you should have your child remove their clothing immediately and put them in a dryer at medium-high heat for at least 20 minutes.
You can identify an infestation by looking for these signs:
- Live bed bugs
- Tiny eggs or eggshells that are pale yellow
- Dark spots or rusty stains on bedding or mattresses from feces or crushed bed bugs
You will want to look at the seams of furniture and the folds of curtains. They may be lurking inside drawers, electrical receptacles, or appliances. Sometimes they hide under loose wallpaper or hangings as well as corners, creases, and in the tiniest of crevices. Another tell-tale sign of an infestation is a rash of tiny red raised itchy dots.
Despite all of your best intentions, bed bugs can still penetrate our defenses and get into our homes. Don’t worry! American Pest Solutions can help homeowners in Connecticut and Massachusetts with all of your bed bug problems. DIY methods fall short of eliminating entire infestations and they will just keep coming time and time again. Trust the professionals at American Pest Solutions for complete bed bug elimination. We have all of the right tools and technology to get the job done right. For more information just give us a call today!