Bed Bug Awareness Workbook

Transcription

1 Bed Bug Awareness Workbook Grace From Grace Hill s Apartment Hill s Bed Bug Management Awareness Learning course Center within Copyright 2009 ~ Grace (866) Hill s GRACEHILL Apartment ~ Management contact@gracehill.com Learning Center ~

2 Page 2 Section 1: Getting Started Welcome to Grace Hill s Bed Bug Awareness course! Reports of bed bug infestations are on the rise. The risks to the multifamily industry are real and the potential costs are high. However, many people are unable to even identify the pest of the 21 st century. After completing this course, you will know how to identify, help prevent, and respond to bed bugs in your community. At Grace Hill, we re here to help make your work experience as rewarding as it can be by empowering you with knowledge and skills. Thank you for taking the time to invest in yourself with education. You ll be glad you did! Grace Hill is proud to have produced this course in partnership with the Atlanta Apartment Association. The Atlanta Apartment Association is committed to providing its membership and the industry at large with the finest in multifamily education. The Bed Bug Awareness Workbook is designed to enhance your learning experience and to provide you with an easy-to-reference job aid when you return to work. Please take a moment to download and print the workbook now. After printing the workbook, simply fill in the blanks as you complete each section of the course. You can access the workbook and any other document referenced within the course by clicking the Resources button on the lower navigation bar. Please keep in mind that the contents of this course are for educational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. Grace Hill strongly recommends that you consult with your own legal counsel for specific legal advice with regard to company and community policies. Our help desk is available from Monday through Friday, 8:30am 6:00pm Eastern Standard time. Please call toll free (866) GRACEHILL or us at Contact@gracehill.com should you need assistance. The Grace Hill Gang

3 Page 3 Section 2: History & Habits Risks Apartment owners and management companies across the country are reporting an increase in the number of bed bug complaints. Some experts are describing the problem as. Why is the bed bug becoming a big problem for the multifamily housing industry?: 1. Bed bug infestation is incredibly for the residents involved. 2. Bed bugs are not easily. 3. Bed bug problem can be very to remediate. 4. A bed bug infestation puts a community at risk of. History The bed bug is most active at, preferring to hide close to where its hosts sleep. Its size and shape make it adept at hiding in in bedding or furniture. Bed bugs occur and can stow away in luggage, backpacks, and boxes. Circle one: True or False: Having bed bugs means that a person or their home is dirty. It is believed that bed bugs migrated to America with the. In, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, banned the use of in the United States based on adverse effects to wildlife and the environment as well as DDT s potential human health risks. In the early 1990 s, reports of bed bugs in, apartments, dormitories, nursing homes, and hospitals began to surface with.

4 Page 4 Multiple factors have contributed to bed bugs' resurgence: Suspended of DDT Increased Worldwide Travel Purchase or Use of Merchandise Awareness Changes in Bed Bug Habits Identification Bed bugs are. Identifying them at any stage of their life cycle is an important component of a good treatment plan. A female bed bug will lay between and eggs in her lifetime. She can lay up to 12 eggs in one day! Adult bed bugs are a reddish-brown color and typically around 1/4 of an inch long, or about the size of an. When bed bugs have available food sources, they also have a Bed bugs that feed regularly have a lifespan of. lifespan. Circle one: Bed bugs habits: True or False: The ideal temperature range for bed bugs is between 65 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Habits Bed bugs are creatures. Bed bugs cannot jump or. Bed bugs have a distinctive odor. Bed bugs bite is initially. Bed bug bites can be found anywhere on the body. Bed bug bite reactions from person to person. Bed bug bites often occur in a. Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans.

5 Page 5 Get Informed Section 3: Prevention & Inspection Prevention & Early Detection Train community personnel to recognize bed bugs and signs of bed bug activity. Many pest control companies supply their customers with information sheets that include details on bed bug, behavior,, identification and pest management technologies and techniques. Be Proactive Some apartment owners and management companies employ an inspection plan to ensure that every apartment is free of bed bugs at the time of a new and then again after move-in. This type of proactive planning and follow up helps to minimize. Monitors that emit carbon dioxide to imitate a presence, cardboard meal traps, and rings of sticky tape that fit under the legs of a bed and trap bed bugs are just some examples of popular used to alert a property owner or manager to the presence of bed bugs. Infestation Personal possessions such as luggage, pillows, backpacks, boxes, and other items that are moved between apartments, homes, and hotels can provide transportation for bed bugs. Used furniture whether rented or purchased secondhand at yard sales or flea markets is of of harboring bed bugs and their eggs. Bed bugs are equal opportunity pests whether a luxury high rise or a neighborhood duplex, any community can face a bed bug problem! Bed bugs can live for over a without a blood meal while hiding in cracks and crevices. If the live bugs and their eggs are not from a dwelling, the bugs will repopulate a residence as soon as a is present. Circle one: True or False: There is no need to treat bed bug complaints as an emergency service request.

6 Page 6 Do for the results from the maintenance inspection to put your pest control company on notice. Instead, call them and schedule an inspection by a trained, inspector. Early is your most powerful in controlling or eliminating a bed bug problem. Inspection In order to conduct an inspection to detect the presence or absence of bed bugs, you must have the. Bed bug droppings will turn red or reddish brown like blood when they come in contact with alcohol or. Droppings are often the only sign of bed bugs that you will find during the day, so wipes are an especially helpful detection device. Anyone involved in inspecting and housekeeping will be at risk for picking up bed bugs from an or apartment and transporting them elsewhere. Do not bring bags, or personal items into the room. During a bed bug inspection, be on the lookout for these warning signs of bed bug activity: The presence of the live bugs or their cast off. Exoskeletons are the outside body casings left behind when a bed bug. Blood spots or on or under bedding, on walls, or on other upholstered furniture. The bed bug. It is a sweet raspberry smell when the infestation is minor, and turns to a sweaty, more malodorous smell when the infestation is more significant. Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, is defined by the EPA as: an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. Circle one: True or False: A good PCO practicing Integrated Pest Management will insist on inspecting the apartment before quoting a final price. Bed bugs have been known to crawl up to feet.

7 Page 7 Section 4: Remediation & Communication Policies Proactive property management firms recognize the need to create procedures for the inspection, removal, and control of bed bug problems. and A thorough approach to bed bug response requires three steps: 1. Establish company policies and procedures for the inspection and remediation of bed bugs so that, when an infestation is, you can respond quickly and. 2. Work only with knowledgeable and reputable Pest Control Operators to define elimination procedures and guidelines that are appropriate for your community. Don t forget to follow your, if any, for addressing bed bug problems. 3. Ensure that your residents understand their in the prevention and removal of bed bugs. Having a comprehensive plan in place prevents panic. Procedures Bed bugs have demonstrated the ability to build up that are used to exterminate them. to the chemicals Five general steps involved in bed bug remediation: Resident Responsibilities Most states Landlord Tenant laws require the property owner or manager treat a bed bug infestation just as they are to treat for any other or pests.

8 Page 8 Residents have the responsibility to: NOT bring bed bugs into the community. Report a suspected problem. NOT attempt to treat bed bugs with insecticides. Regulations may require that insecticidal applications be made solely by a licensed PCO. with community staff and the licensed PCO to implement an elimination plan. Prepare their apartment in of the bed bug service visit. Resident cooperation is essential to control bed bugs successfully. Residents should be aware that all can harbor bed bugs and therefore should be removed. NOT put infested furniture, mattresses, or other items in the. Others may take the discarded items for their own use, spreading the bed bug infestation to another location! Who Pays for Remediation? Landlord Tenant laws require property owners and managers to remediate pests in any rental apartment of who the problem. If you do choose to hold residents responsible for the costs of bed bug remediation, beware of an unwanted of such a policy. Residents may choose not to report an infestation for of being forced to pay for treatment. Resident Communication Four tips for handling complaints about bed bugs: Be attentive and. Document the complaint and the action taken. Reassure the resident that will be taken. Follow through and follow up. While you want to evict the bed bugs for good, you also want to earn the continued residency of your valuable residents. Offering exceptionally good service during these challenging circumstances will help you to achieve this goal.

9 Page 9 You have completed our Bed Bug Awareness course. Best of luck to you on the Knowledge Challenge, and be sure to print out a copy of your Completion Certificate for your records. We hope to see you again for another property management course in the Apartment Management Learning Center. Please call on us if we may be of assistance. Sincerely, The Grace Hill Gang Phone: (866) GRACEHILL Fax: (706) Web: contact@gracehill.com