Bed Bugs: What They Look LikeWhere They Live&How To Eradicate Them

Shawn Holle: Safety Analyst

DPH OSH Services

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What Is A Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)?

Wingless Insects That Feed On Blood Three Stages: Egg, Juvenile, Adult Small But Visible At All Stages Found In Beds, Under Baseboards,

Clothing, Furniture, Bedside Clutter, Crevices & Cracks

Cannot Fly Or Jump Photophobic (Do Not Like The Light)

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What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

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Visible At All Stages of Existence

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Characteristics

Attracted by Carbon Dioxide Photophobic: Only Eat in the Dark Need Victims to Be Still (Sleeping) Feed On Blood & Only Blood Feed Every Five to Ten Days Life Expectancy is 18 months (12 months

without food)

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Where Are Bed Bugs Found?

Homes (Mattresses, Wall Seams, & Crevices)

Hotels SROs Dorms Jails Office Buildings Stores Homeless Shelters Everywhere Humans Are

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Human Health Risks From Bed Bug Exposure?

Bites: Reactions To Bites Vary Widely

Most Common Symptom: Itchy Welts

Scratching Welts Can Cause Infection at Bite Site

Bed Bugs Have Not Been Proven To Pass Infectious Diseases To Humans

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What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?

Red Raised Welts Typically 3 Or 4 In A

Row (Due To Feeding Interruptions)

Found On All Bodily Surfaces

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Exposure Prevention: Your Work Site

Limit Personal Belongings Clients Bring In Phase Out Upholstered Furniture Inspect Office Regularly Immediately Report Observed Bed Bugs To

Facility Management Facility Management Will Take Whatever Action is

Necessary Don’t Panic: One Or Two Bed Bugs Is Not An

Infestation

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Exposure Prevention: Site Visits

Carry As Few Extra Items With You As Possible If You Have to Bring Gear Don’t Put It On the Floor Carry Your Gear in a Backpack Do Not Sit On Beds Or Upholstered Furniture Check Clothing After Visit & Before Entering Car If Exposure is Suspected Put Belongings In Clear

Plastic Bags & Seal Them Up

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Exposure Prevention: Off Site Workers

Use Separate Clothes & Shoes For Field Work Shake Clothes Outside Before Entering Car Change Clothes At Work Seal Field Clothes In Clear Plastic Bag For

Laundering Have Facilities Set Test Traps

Inspect Own Living & Work Spaces Regularly

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This Is An Infestation

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Inspections At Home, Work, & Off Site

Check For Small Stains On Furniture & Bedding Look For Shed Skins, Amber In Color Check Crevices / Cracks Check Screw And Nail Holes Turn Over Furniture To Check Underside Pull Out Drawers And Inspect All Sides Set Out Traps

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What to Look For

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Exposure Prevention:Maintenance Workers & Cleanup Crews

Wear Tyvek Suit or Other Coveralls & Plastic Shoe Covers

Seal Coveralls in Plastic Bag After Use & Discard

Dedicate a Vacuum for Pest Control

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Bed Bug Elimination

Contact Pest Control Company Clean And Organize Living Area Eliminate Clutter Bag And Remove Bedding And Clothes Use HOT Dryer For 30 Minutes For Plush Toys, Shoes, Coats Isolate Clean Items Until Bed Bugs Are Gone Caulk Holes In Floors & Walls Mattress & Pillow Covers Vacuum Caulk Cracks & Crevices Set Out Traps

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Cleaning

Scrub Mattress Seams With Stiff Brush Vacuum Mattresses, Bed Frames, Furniture,

Floors, And Carpets - Especially Around Bed And Furniture Posts

Put Vacuum Cleaner Bag In A Sealed Plastic Bag Immediately After Vacuuming

Dispose Of Sealed Bag In Outside Container Clean Linens, Curtains, Rugs, Carpets, And

Clothes Wash And Dry Bedding And Clothes On HOT

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Avoid Exposure To & Spreading Of Bed Bugs

Inspect Luggage After Traveling Wash Donated Clothing On HOT Before Wearing Do Not Pick Up Discarded Items On The Street Inspect Any Used Furniture Or Other Purchases Wrap Infested Items In Plastic Before Discarding Label Discarded Items “Infested With Bed Bugs”

To Prevent Reuse

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What If I Think I Have Bed Bugs? Call DPH Environmental Health At 415 252 3800! Seal All Sheets, Blankets And Pillow Cases In A Plastic Bag

Before Removing Them From The Room To Avoid Spreading The Infestation To Other Areas

Wash All Bedding With Hot Water And Dry On The Hottest Setting Treat Mattresses With A Light Mist Of Bed Bug Specific

Insecticide On Seams, Folds, Buttons And Torn Areas. Allow The Mattress To Dry Before Placing Bed Sheets

Do Not Spray Linen Do Not Treat Infant’s Mattresses Or Bedding Vacuum Cracks And Crevices And Other Hiding Spaces In Walls,

Floors And Furniture Where Adult Bed Bugs Or Eggs Can Be Found

Eggs Are Not Affected By Insecticides, So Repeat The Insecticide Application 2-3 Times (Every 10 Days) To Remove Post-treatment Hatchlings

A Licensed Pest Control Company Is Recommended For Insecticide Applications

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Questions & Answers

Q. Is this bite on my leg from a bed bug (which I think I must have gotten at work)?

A. Highly Unlikely. A bed bug only feeds on a person who is completely still, which predominantly means sleeping.

Q. Bed bugs have been observed/caught in our office

building. Is the office building infested?

A. Highly Unlikely. There have been no known cases in DPH of Worksite Infestation. One or Two bedbugs does not make an infestation.

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Questions & Answers

Q. Bed bugs have been observed/caught in our building. Is it possible that if I bring as few as one home to my house that my house can become infested?

A. Not Likely. To cause an infestation in your home, a bed bug would not only need to attach itself to you or your property, but would need to stay attached all the way to your house, get to your bed, and lay eggs. If all of this does occur, then take the necessary steps to eliminate them.

Q. I suspect a client may have bed bugs because they told me that they have them at home. What should I do when client arrives for an appointment?

A. Check the area where client was sitting. If client brought items to the appointment, check areas where items were placed. If any insects are observed immediately call Facilities Management.