College and University Residence Halls

Transcription

1 i Bed Bug Checklist College and University Residence Halls Residence halls are buildings primarily housing sleeping quarters for large numbers of people, usually students in colleges or boarding schools. Many military barracks and even housing for inmates of low-security correctional institutions are basically residence halls. Bed bugs in these facilities can pose special concerns and problems. Residence halls can be configured as traditional halls, suite style, or apartment style and have single, double or even triple occupancy rooms with occasionally more. They have various types of shared common areas including community showers and bathrooms, laundry rooms, lounges, kitchens, television rooms, study areas and recreation rooms where bed bugs can be spread from resident to resident. In addition, the social activities at institutions with these types of housing create the ideal setting for the rapid and widespread distribution of bed bugs throughout numerous nearby buildings. This checklist is intended to be a guideline and should not be viewed as a comprehensive list of all of the actions that could or should be taken. Be Proactive Develop a bed bug action plan in advance to deal with bed bug infestations. Include strategies for dealing with the following issues: Responding to reports of suspected bed bug activity. Whether or not students will be present during inspections. Eliminating known infestations. Laundering infested items. Managing the spread of bed bugs to other areas. Requests for relocation. Responding to the media. Responding to parents concerns. Consider advanced budgeting for dealing with future bed bug infestations. Implement a community-wide education program.

2 Consider implementing an ongoing inspection and monitoring of common areas such as lounges, laundries, etc. Consider purchasing furniture that is less bed bug friendly to replace furniture that has been discarded due to its age or conditions. Consider implementing a policy that prevents residents form introducing used and secondhand furniture into the dormitories. Consider inspecting rooms between semesters to identify infestations that have not been reported. Consider canine scent detection to identify low level populations of bed bugs. Education and Training Educate residents through handouts, customized web pages or other means on the following issues: That bed bugs have become a common problem throughout the United States. Where bed bugs come from. The role of bed bugs as public health pests. What is being done to reduce the likelihood of experiencing a bed bug infestation. Who to contact if they have questions regarding bed bugs. How to prevent bed bugs. How to identify the signs of bed bug infestation. What steps to take if an infestation of bed bugs in suspected. The role of clutter in bed bug infestations. How to reduce the likelihood of further spreading bed bugs to other areas (including their home when they leave school). How they can cooperate with pest control service. That it may take weeks or months before the infestation is eliminated. Train critical staff (maintenance workers, custodial staff, site manager, and any staff member who conducts inspections) in the following: How to identify the signs of bed bug infestation. How bed bugs are introduced and spread in residence halls. The role of bed bugs as public health pests.

3 The role of clutter in bed bug infestations. What steps to take immediately upon learning of an infestation. How to assist the pest control contractor during service. How to maintain records of complaints, inspections, and service. How to ensure resident cooperation with pest control service. Educate pest management staff If your institution uses in-house pest control services, the technicians need to be up-to-date on bed bugs and their control. If your technicians are not up-to-date, facilities management should (1) consider hiring a pest control consultant to advise and train staff, or (2) contract separately for bed bug service with a bed bug experienced pest control company. If your institution uses a pest control contractor, educate them on any constraints on pesticide use, mandated IPM procedures, notification, posting, and other issues specific to your facility, and make sure they agree to work in compliance with these policies and practices. Actions by Residents That Can Help Prevent Bed Bugs Do not scavenge mattresses, beds, or other furniture that has been discarded at a dumpster or along the road. Inspect carefully to make sure there are no bed bugs in any used or reconditioned items you have purchased or been given. Secondhand fabrics, such as blankets, sheets, and the like, should be sealed in a plastic bag until they can be washed and dried or dry-cleaned. Vacuum the room often, particularly the area around the bed and the bed itself. Take precautions when traveling or visiting friends including: The first night in a new location do not unpack until you check the bed for bed bugs. Prior to your departure you should carefully inspect your luggage for bed bugs. Wash your clothes immediately upon return. Inspect your luggage.

4 Actions by Residents That Can Help With Early Detection Change bed linens often inspecting linens as they are changed. Regularly inspect bed frames and the seams in your mattress and box spring. Bed skirts and bedspreads should not touch the floor. Pull bed a couple of inches away from the wall so that it is not touching the wall or curtains. Reduce clutter. Don t keep piles of clothes, boxes, shoes, etc. on the floor, under the bed, or in closets. They provide hiding places for bed bugs. Responding to a Bed Bug Incident If you receive a complaint about bed bugs, get samples whenever possible for positive identification by a qualified professional. Samples should be placed in a sealed container in rubbing alcohol to prevent escape and insure that the insects are dead. An alternative method, but one that does not insure that the bugs will not escape, is to collect them on a piece of tape and then stick the tape on a piece of paper. Samples collected this way should be double bagged in zip lock bags and sealed tightly. If you receive a complaint about bed bugs, even if it is not confirmed, arrange for a professional inspection to be conducted as quickly as possible. Have the inspector confirm that the species present is in fact the bed bug, Cimex lectularius, and not related species such as a bat bug, which would require a different control strategy. Respond sympathetically to people reporting bed bug problems; do not make light of their concerns. Interview the residents in the affected rooms to determine other rooms or areas that they visit regularly which may also be infested.

5 Take actions to prevent further spread of bed bugs. All adjacent rooms above, below, and on both sides of the infested room should be inspected. Consider encasing mattresses and box springs with bed bug proof encasements in both the infested room(s) as well as the adjacent rooms above, below and on both sides. Inspections should be conducted in all areas adjacent to the newly identified infestation. Follow-up inspections should continue until no more infestations can be found. Determine the type of inspection(s) that will be conducted in the surrounding rooms Comprehensive inspection. Presence or absence inspection. Confirming an obvious late stage infestation. Determining the source of the infestation. Immediately schedule treatment of all areas where bed bugs have been confirmed. Every room that has been serviced for bed bugs should be rescheduled for inspections and serviced as necessary until successful control has been confirmed. Continue with follow-up inspections in all rooms adjacent to infested room(s) until the primary infestation is eliminated. If there are bed bug infestations scattered in different parts of a building or in multiple buildings, the infestation is likely widespread. All rooms may need to be inspected and, if infested, serviced as appropriate. Consider using canine scent detection as one tool to locate low-level infestations and help confirm after the final service that bed bugs have been eliminated. Track infestations on floor plans. Color-code floor plans based upon level of infestation. Determine where the utility lines are installed and the directions they run and evaluate if the lines correlate with the spread of infestations. Implement a long-term inspection program to prevent wide-scale infestations from reoccurring. Consider inspection of rooms between semesters or during spring or winder breaks. Consider using canine scent detection to identify low-level populations.

6 Accurately document all of the actions taken by the management of the facility and the pest control company to identify, control, and prevent bed bugs. Actions by Housing Staff Prior to Bed Bug Control Service Inform and educate residents about the upcoming service and the specific requirements for resident cooperation with the program. Use both written handouts and meetings as appropriate. Enforce resident cooperation with the pest control service. Provide access for the pest control company into ALL areas scheduled for service. Provide a staff liaison to accompany pest control personnel during service. Resident Preparation for Bed Bug Service NOTE: There are two opposing schools of thought regarding how residents should prepare their rooms for the initial bed bug service. The pest control contractor may prefer one method over the other. Preparation alternative 1: Minimal resident preparation. The resident does NOT prepare for initial service other than providing access for pest control technician. Make sure the technician can get into all closets. If possible, move furniture away from walls so there is a three foot space between the furniture and the walls. The bed bug environment is left undisturbed so that the pest control professional can better evaluate the infestation. An added advantage is that this alternative eliminates the risk that the bed bugs will be disturbed by residents during preparations, and possible be dispersed throughout the dorm room. During the initial service, the technician strips the bed, pulls items from closets and drawers, and places these items in sealed plastic bags.

7 After service, the resident must deal with these bagged items as appropriate; wash and dry all washable items, dry no-washable items in a clothes dryer, heat treat the items, or have the items dry-cleaned (but be sure to inform the dry-cleaner about the risk of bed bugs). Preparation alternative 2: Thorough resident preparation. Remove all sheets, blankets, mattress covers, pillowcases, etc. from beds and wash and dry them. Fold them and place them in tied-off plastic bags. Do not put them back on the bed until the evening after pest control service. Wash and dry ALL washable clothing, towels, and other linens. Place the clean items inside sealed plastic storage bins or plastic garbage bags. Store them until after treatment. If clothes or fabrics require dry-cleaning, inform the cleaner about the bed bug risk. Remove everything from room and closets where bed bugs have been observed or occupants believe they have been bitten. Empty all dresser drawers and nightstand drawers. Remove all clothing, shoes, boxes, etc. from dorm room floors. Provide access for pest control technician. Make sure the technician can get into all closets. If possible, move furniture away from wall so there is a three foot space between the furniture and the walls. Actions That Can Help Reduce the Further Spread of Bed Bugs Seal or caulk cracks and crevices near beds such as those along baseboard and moldings, and around heating and A/C units; seal openings around pipe chases, conduits, etc. Repair holes and other damage in walls. Re-glue peeling wallpaper, repair peeling paint, and fix other damage that may provide hiding places for bed bugs. Bag, seal, and discard belongings and debris left behind by residents who have moved out.

8 Damage or destroy potentially infested beds, mattresses, and furniture that is going to be discarded so that they cannot be reused. i This checklist is adapted from action checklists that appear in the Bed Bug Handbook by Pinto and Associates.