The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is reminding you of the importance of bed bug prevention as a part of Bed Bug Awareness week, which is this week from 6/6 to 6/12. Cindy Mannes, vice president of NPMA, says that people should stop thinking that bed bugs only are only found in beds. “They can be anywhere humans congregate… Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and are capable of traveling long distances,” Mannes said.
To prevent these unwanted guests from invading your home, the NPMA has some recommendations for keeping your home bed bug free.
- Before unpacking, be sure to check your room for signs of an infestation. Check under lights, inside dressers, and behind the headboard
- Do not place your luggage on racks or furniture where bed bugs may be hidden
- Carry a flashlight with you to detect bed bugs in hard to see areas
- Wash all clothes and washable items when returning from a trip
- After vacation, thoroughly check your luggage for evidence of bed bug activity before bringing the items inside
It is easy to forget basic pest safety measures when traveling or on vacation. These simple guidelines, however, are excellent measures you can take to stop an infestation before it happens. For Bed Bug Awareness week we should all take time to understand the risks, and execute solutions to prevent bed bugs from gaining access to our homes. If you do have an infestation be sure to check out Sure Fire Bed Bug Heaters’ line of products that will eliminate these pests for good.
