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(HealthNewsDigest.com)-With bed bug infestations on the rise, you may want to learn more about keeping your home free of these invasive insects.
Bob Hickman, a pest control professional with BASF, works with key researchers, pest management professionals and the public to better understand and improve bed bug control. Here, he answers a few questions for the Bed Bug Institute.
Q: Where are some of the places that I might find bed bugs?
A: Bed bugs love dark, secluded spaces with a lot of nooks and crannies to hide in. They also need access to humans for their meals. So they do best in places like hotels, hostels, dormitories, camps, apartment buildings and even hospitals, movie theaters and air and rail cabins.
Q: Why is travel such a big bed bug risk?
A: Travel creates risk mainly because you are moving from place to place frequently and using spaces that have been visited by many different people from many different places.
Q: How will I know if there are bed bugs in my room?
A: Most hotels do everything they can to prevent infestation. Taking a few simple steps can lower your risk. When you get to a hotel, check your room for any signs of bed bugs. They could be lurking on the bed itself, in headboards, wall hangings, draperies, furniture or carpets. Check seams and edges carefully for any live bugs, skeletons, eggs or tiny blood stains.
Q: If I don’t find anything in my inspection, am I safe ?
A: It’s a good idea to use the metal luggage rack the hotel provides. Bed bugs cannot easily climb metal. If you have more items with you than fit on the rack, keep them in the bathtub or on the bathroom counter, as smoother surfaces also inhibit bed bug climbing.
Avoid putting your clothing, luggage or bags on beds, as this is the most likely place bed bugs may hide. If you are very concerned, bring a plastic trash bag and put your whole suitcase and other luggage in it overnight.
Q: What should I do when I get home?
A: Leave your luggage in the garage or another place outside your home, so any bugs hidden in your luggage will not get into your house. Wash and dry every item of clothing in hot water and dry them on high heat immediately when you return. Bed bugs do not tolerate heat, and laundering items will reduce the risk that any stowaways get into your home.
For more information, visit www.bedbuginstitute.com.
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