BED BUGS: A GROWING CONCERN FOR NURSING HOMES
Previous to the 1950’s bed bugs were rampant. Once pesticides were introduced, bed bugs became nearly non-existent in the United States and remained that way for decades. This changed once more in the 1990’s when people began to travel more, which brought bed bug problems back. Over the course of the past several years, the bed bug population has drastically increased, mainly due to the fact that they can survive in many places besides bedrooms. You can find them in hotels, schools, libraries, and airports; literally, every public place and all forms of public transportation are at risk. And tragically, bed bugs are now becoming a problem for our senior citizens as they spread into nursing homes and retirement facilities.
Bed Bug Education
No one wants to have to deal with bed bugs, and education is key in preventing an infestation, so it is very important to make facility staff, residents, and their loved ones aware of the signs of bed bug activity. One of the myths that many people believe about bed bugs is that they are dirty pests, and this may cause residents to conceal a discovery of bed bugs due to embarrassment. The fact is that bed bugs will go anywhere, from pristine clean to the most filthy of places, to get a blood meal. Bed bugs need the blood in order to thrive and reproduce, and they are very hardy pests that can get around relatively easily.
How Do Bed Bugs Transport?
They can be transported from one place to another on clothing, shoes, bags, and other personal items. It’s not pleasant to admit to finding a bed bug, but catching an infestation early can help reduce the threat of spreading it throughout multiple areas of the facility.
How to Check for Bed Bugs
You can spot an infestation by looking for:
- Adult bed bugs that are small dark brown colored ovals
- Larvae that can be as small as a pen tip
- Dried red-brown blood stains, urine stains, and shed exoskeletons on bedding
- Black smear marks on beds, walls, and outlet covers
- Tiny black feces and shed exoskeletons in seams and corners of mattresses and upholstered furniture
- Bites on humans that are in a row or cluster, usually causing a red itchy rash
When it comes to an infestation, it is best to have a pest control professional do an inspection and eradicate the problem for you. Knowledgeable bed bug technicians can guarantee your bed bug problems will go away, and potentially discover their source. You can call Viking Pest Control in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland for all of your bed bug concerns, taking comfort that our technicians are QualityPro trained and certified, and will guarantee the complete elimination of bed bugs in your facility. We can routinely monitor your facility for bed bugs and other pests, minimizing the risk of future problems. Call us today, we will be happy to assist you with your bed bug problems.
Call Viking at 800-618-2847 to learn more about our bed bug control and extermination services, or get a fast, free quote online today!
