A new school year brings new clothes, new schedules, and new friends. But it can also bring new opportunities for bed bugs to travel from one location to another. While bed bugs don’t actually live on people, they do know how to hitchhike. Backpacks, clothing and other personal belongings all provide easy transportation for bed bugs in search of new horizons.
Parents, students, and school staff can all take simple precautions to reduce the chances of bringing bed bugs home from school. A few good habits can make it easier to spot a problem early and prevent any unwanted infestations.
Know the Warning Signs
Early detection can make bed bug problems easier to manage. But to do that you need to know what you’re looking for.
Common signs include small reddish-brown insects, tiny pale eggs, shed skins, dark fecal stains, and small blood smears on bedding. Bed bugs are most often found around mattresses, box springs, and bed frames. So that is ground zero for infestations.
Bites can and do occur, but skin reactions can vary considerably depending on the person. Some people may develop noticeable bite marks while others show little to no reaction at all. So unexplained bites alone should not be considered proof of a bed bug infestation.
Inspect Secondhand School Items
Right now everyone is trying to save money wherever they can, and buying used clothing, furniture, books and other supplies is a good way to keep back-to-school costs down. However, while secondhand items can be a great value, they need to be inspected carefully before they enter the home.
Pay particular attention to used backpacks, book bags, and clothing. Check along the seams, folds, and other potential hiding places for signs of bed bug activity. Look for live bugs, shed skins, tiny eggs, or dark spotting.
Clothing and other washable items should be laundered before use. Wash on high heat and dry on an appropriate hear setting before storing or using the items. Heat can be an effective tool for killing bed bugs and their eggs when the items are treated properly.
Regularly Check Backpacks
Backpacks and book bags travel through classrooms, buses, and cafeterias every day. They get placed on floors, under desks and against walls. This is ideal for hitchhiking bed bugs looking for a ride.
Checking backpacks and book bags should be a part of your weekly back-to-school routine. Empty the contents and examine seams, pockets, straps and folds. If the backpack or book bag is machine washable, washing and drying it regularly can provide extra protection against bed bugs and other pests.
Be Careful with Sleepovers
In addition to studies a new school year brings sleepovers, sports trips, and band travel. That means overnight bags, backpacks, bedding and clothes moving between households and hotels.
Before bringing backpacks or overnight bags into bedrooms inspect them carefully for signs of bed bugs. Avoid placing sleeping bags, backpacks or clothing on unfamiliar beds before everything has been inspected and cleared. After returning home, promptly unpack everything and launder all appropriate items.
Simple Prevention Tips
Avoiding bed bugs isn’t solely the responsibility of parents. Children have a part to play as well. Of course, you don’t want your children to be unnecessarily frightened of bed bugs. Simply aware of their habits and how to avoid bringing them home.
Teach kids not to share personal items unnecessarily and to keep backpacks, jackets, and clothing in designated areas while in school. Also the importance of keeping personal items organized and checking for tell-tale signs of bed bugs as a precaution. Making these habits routine can be much more effective than reacting after a problem develops.
Don’t Panic Over School Reports
Learning that bed bugs have been discovered at your child’s school can certainly cause concern. But don’t panic. Bed bugs in a school does not automatically mean that every student has brought them home. Inspect belongings and watch of signs rather than assuming an infestation has taken hold.
Most schools have pest management procedures in place to address suspected infestation. If your child’s school sends home instructions, follow them carefully.
Act Quickly if You Find Evidence
If you do discover signs of bed bugs don’t ignore it and hope it will simply go away. Bed bugs can reproduce and spread at an alarming rate and it doesn’t take long for a small problem to become a major headache.
Avoid moving potentially infested furniture or belongings from room to room. Instead, document what you’ve found and contact a licensed pest management professional for an inspection. Professional identification is particularly useful because several household pests can be easily mistake for bed bugs.
A Smart Start to the School Year
Back-to-School bed bug prevention doesn’t require overly complicated routines. Simply knowing what to look for can significantly improve your chances of catching a problem early. With a little awareness and organization, families can concentrate on what really matters – starting the new school year prepared, confident, and ready to learn.
Published by Scott Palatnik
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