Bed bugs are crawling back into the news with some interesting reports from schools around the country. With children going back to school this fall, there have been some recent discoveries of bed bugs showing up in the classroom. Apparently, one bed bug showed up in Hadley Junior High in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago. After a few days, a light infestation was declared and a professional pest control company was called in to help eliminate the problem. (http://wgntv.com/2013/11/05/bed-bugs-found-in-glen-ellyn-school/)
Another bed bug report came from two separate schools in Meade County, Kentucky. This time, the bed bugs were found on a student, on some of the students’ belongings and in the classroom. Exterminators were also brought in to correct the problem, but parents were advised to thoroughly wash any gym clothes and washable school items. (http://www.wdrb.com/story/19926940/bed-bugs-found-in-two-meade-county-schools)
In general, bed bugs can easily hide in backpacks, gym bags or in jackets without detection. Once they’ve found a way into your home, bed bugs can multiply quickly and become difficult to eliminate. How can you tell if you have a bed bug problem? Some of the typical signs of a potential bed bug infestation include:
•Itchy areas on your skin when you wake up from a night’s sleep.
•Small blood stains on any sheets or pillowcases.
•Dark spots of bed bug feces on sheets or mattresses.
•A musty smell that comes from bed bugs’ scent glands.
If you suspect that bed bugs have entered your home, contact a professional pest control company right away. Not only will a trained crew be able to inspect your home correctly for a bed bug infestation, they also have the proper treatments to eliminate these pesky bugs!
