Once thought only to be a household pest, over the past number of years bed bugs have made their way into every facet of our lives, whether we like it or not. The numbers of reported cases of bed bugs have, since 2015, seen a rise of as much as 43% according to pest control professionals in Canada, and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Bed bugs are found in some of the most unsuspecting of places, including hotel rooms, movie theatres, schools, day care centres, and retirement homes to mention a few. Bed bugs are expert hitchhikers and are most likely to be brought into a school or similar setting from catching a ride on a student’s backpack, or on their clothing. As we begin learning about bed bugs it becomes clear to see that there are some preventative measures that can be taken to avoid bringing these pests home with you from school, as well as what to look for when looking for signs of bed bugs.

Avoiding Bed Bugs at School

Understanding bed bugs are the first line of defence and something that is going to help you prevent bringing these little guys home with you. Bed bugs are brought into a place by a person, without them even knowing, and education is the key to stopping the spread of these little bloodsuckers. One of the best and most effective ways to avoid getting bed bugs from classmates is to hang your coats and jackets separately, making sure that they do not touch each other. This goes for personal items as well, including bags and backpacks, hats, beanies, and shoes. A regular clean and declutter of the classroom is a great way to discover any bed bugs that may be hiding around your classroom. If bed bugs are spotted in the classroom or on a classmate, your teacher should be told immediately, and that person and their belongings must be separated from the class as soon as possible. These books, bags, and other items should be placed in a sealed bag to prevent the spread of bed bugs to other students. Learning about bed bugs is going to help both teachers and student to be more vigilant when it comes to managing a potential problem, while regular checks and inspections are going to go a long way in preventing a full-blown bed bug infestation at school.

Spotting the signs and taking the right action is always the best way to prevent the spread of bed bugs from school to your home, and can be done with some ease. Avoid mixing your clothes with those of your classmates, and keep your school bag away from theirs, not touching, so no bed bugs can catch a ride on your bag home.

Schools need to have the correct and proper procedure in place in order to properly detect and therefore manage any bed bugs situation that may arise. Letting parents or guardians know about the problem is paramount, while having a response and action plan readily available is going to be best. Taking care of a bed bug problem in the confines of a school is something that needs to done with care and attention, as well as some know-how. That is why calling your Truly Nolen pest control professional is the best way to go about any bed bug problem. Our expertise and years of experience have made us the premier pest control company that no school should be without.