Steps for Success in Dealing with Bed Bugs in School

Imagine dealing with itchy, painful bites every time you sit down on your favorite chair or play with a stuffed animal—bed bugs are a nightmare. They can hitchhike from mattresses and linens, all the way to school and daycares. Bed bugs can live for months without feeding, so if you suspect there’s an infestation, you should take action immediately. Here’s how and why you should seek bed bug treatment.

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are a small (5mm), brown, flat-bodied insect that feeds on human blood every five to 10 days. After they feed, their bodies swell up and become reddish brown.

They lay about five to seven eggs per week, and can lay as many as 500 over the course of their lifetime. They tend to be more active when the weather gets warmer—around 80 degrees Fahrenheit is prime egg-laying time.

Bed bugs are often found in mattresses. You may see droppings and molting in the corners and seams of your mattresses, furniture and bedding or bags of clothing. They move easily from place to place, so students, teachers and staff may inadvertently bring bed bugs from home to school.

The bad news is that bed bugs feed on blood, so they’re just as likely to show up in immaculate classrooms and homes as they are in filthy ones. The even worse news is that they can multiply quickly, since they lay so many eggs. If you see evidence of a bed bug infestation, it’s prudent to call an exterminator right away.

Bed bug bites tend to be grouped in rows of three, and can be painfully itchy. Some people may have an allergic reaction to bed bug bites, which may or may not require medical attention. Generally, they’re harmless—albeit annoying—but the itchy bites can make it difficult to sleep or focus on daily life.

How to deal with bed bugs in a school

If you’ve noticed signs of a bed bug infestation in your school, alert your staff and higher-ups immediately. While one bug is not a sign of an infestation, it could be a harbinger of things to come.

First, make sure everyone is educated on what bed bugs are, how they travel, where they hide and other signs of infestation. Everyone should be on the lookout for bed bugs in their own classrooms and offices. If there is an infestation, it’s time to create an action plan. This usually includes notifying parents, hiring an exterminator and considering policies that will help cut down on bed bugs. You may need to ban stuffed animals and ask parents to seal their child’s backpacks in plastic bags over the weekends—this will suffocate any bed bugs that may be lurking.

Be sure to ask whether your exterminator uses non-toxic pest management solutions, which are safe enough to use around children.

When you notice a bed bug infestation in your school, reach out to Pied Piper Pest Control for fast and effective bed bug treatment.

Categorised in: Bug Control

This post was written by Ken Perry