What is a Bed Bug Report?
A bed bug report is a formal record of findings from a bed bug inspection performed by a professional exterminator, facility maintenance personnel, or housekeeping staff members. Bed bug reports indicate whether evidence of bed bugs were found in a room or not, details items and specific locations that have been infested, and includes suggested actions to be taken in order to resolve the infestation.
What is a Bed Bug Inspection Report Template?
A bed bug inspection report template is a tool used by inspectors to easily document bed bug assessment results of a specified location. Regular use of bed bug inspection report templates can help hotel managers, building supervisors, and landlords make sure that their areas of responsibility are free from bed bug infestations. Utilize digital bed bug inspection and reporting tools to detect early signs of bed bugs and eradicate potential infestations at the onset.
Bed Bug Inspection: How to Check for Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are generally found in locations often occupied by people since they strive to be near a food source. Residential bed rooms, hotel rooms, college dorms, and even office buildings, are susceptible to bed bug infestations. Due to their small size, however, they can be difficult to spot. Here are a few precautions to take to prevent a bed bug infestation.
Perform Regular Visual Inspections
Not surprisingly, bed bugs often dwell in beds for easy access to their primary food source. Check mattresses, the folds of blankets and sheets, box springs, headboards, as well as wallpapers, electric outlets, and picture frames if there are any near the bed. Bed bugs are also often found in upholstered furniture, the seams of couches, between and underneath cushions, lampshades, cabinets, nightstands, desks and even suitcases.
A thorough visual inspection is needed in order to clear a space of bed bugs since nymphs or juvenile bed bugs can be as small as 2.5mm.
Know the Signs of Bed Bug Infestation
Aside from spotting actual live bed bugs, there are other ways to tell if there are bed bugs occupying a space. Check for small, reddish stains of dried blood on bedsheets which are indicative of bed bugs accidentally being crushed. Look for small dark spots that look like marker ink as these are bed bug droppings. Lastly, check for the small yellow skin that bed bugs shed as they grow larger.
Resolving Bed Bug Infestations
Once the presence of bed bugs is confirmed, professional exterminators or other appropriate personnel need to take swift action to resolve the issue before it turns into a full-blown infestation.
Top 3 Tips to Help Get Rid of Bed Bugs
Since bed bugs can be a U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violation when it is determined that they may cause physical harm to employees in the workplace, employers should continue to provide a safe work environment by considering practicing the following tips to eliminate these hazards:
- Wash Infested Sheets in Hot Water – After noticing bed bugs on bed sheets, the best way to ensure it’s bug-free is to wash them in hot water no less than 120°F. This temperature is enough to kill adult bed bugs, nymphs, and any eggs they may have laid already. Check cabinets and closets to ensure that clean linens are free of bed bugs.
- Use a Steamer – Bed bugs often hide in hard-to-reach places such as cracks in walls and headboards. An effective way to exterminate bed bugs in hiding is to use a steamer. Make sure that surfaces reach a temperature of at least 160°F since bed bugs may survive against lower temperatures. To protect surfaces and other items, do not let the steam temperature go over 180°F. Steamers can also be used to eliminate bed bugs from carpet surfaces, beds, couches, and mattresses.
- Vacuum Thoroughly – After using a steamer, use a vacuum to get rid of dead bugs and other bed bugs that managed to survive. The vacuum’s suction must be turned up to the highest setting to ensure that live bed bugs are captured since they tend to cling to crevices and fabrics. Afterwards, place the vacuum bag inside another plastic bag and seal it before disposing of it in the trash.
Bed Bug Infestation: Common Prevention Measures
After eliminating bed bugs, the final step is to establish preventive measures to avoid further infestation issues and expenses. Here are some tips on how to prevent bed bug infestations:
Cover Power Outlets When Not in Use
Bed bugs can hide in power outlets and even travel from room to room through electrical wiring, effectively spreading the infestation to other parts of the house or establishment. Improvised covers can be used, but outlet covers can also be bought from hardware retail stores at a cheap price.
Check Second-hand Furniture and Items Before Purchasing
Most of the items from yard sales or clearing sales are no longer maintained regularly. Even though they are generally in good working condition, not all sellers will take the time to inspect second-hand items for bed bugs before putting them up on sale. Second-hand couches, mattresses, and beds must be thoroughly checked for bed bugs before purchasing. Bed bugs may also hide in second-hand electronics such as laptops, computers, and TVs.
Check Your Lodgings When Traveling
Bed bugs can easily enter homes by hitchhiking through luggage. When traveling, it is best to perform a thorough visual inspection of the room while keeping luggage away from the walls or the bed. Check pillows, bed sheets, mattresses, and furniture for bed bugs. If bugs are spotted, it is best to request a transfer to a room much farther because there is a good chance that adjacent and nearby rooms are infested as well.
Jona Tarlengco