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8/3/2019 Bed_Bugs-FF
1/2
This PSHSA Fast Fact is intended to provide information on
the prevention and management of bed bugs for everyoneworking in the healthcare, municipal and education sectors.
What are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are insects that resemble an apple seed in
appearance, are about inch long, do not jump and have
no wings. Prior to eeding they are at but ater eeding
on blood they become bloated and turn dark red. The
eggs are white, about the size o a pin head and are ound
in clusters in cracks and crevices o urniture, linens,
clothing, mattresses and box-springs, behind baseboards
and in chairs. Bed bugs have a one-year lie span duringwhich time emales can lay up to 200-400 eggs. Eggs
hatch in about 10 days.
How can Infestation Occur?
Bed bugs move very quickly and can travel through
hallways, plumbing and electrical lines. They can climb
into bags or on clothing. They usually eed at night and
hide during the day. These insects preer darkness and
tend to hide near the bed. They travel up to 20 eet in
search o a human host. Bed bugs usually eed once a
week but can survive or up to 14 months without eating.
Who is at Risk?
Anyone, anywhere, rich or poor, clean or dirty all are
at risk. Places with a high turnover o residents have
a higher risk or bed bugs. This could include hotels,
schools, rooming houses and hospitals. Acquiring items
second-hand also increases risk. Bed bugs preer to
eed o humans but will also bite animals and birds.
Bed bugs are making a strong resurgence in North
America. Reasons given include increased globalization,
restrictions on the use o pesticides and resistance to
certain pesticides.
What are the Symptoms?
Bites arent usually elt since the insect injects an
anesthetic that is mixed with their saliva. Individual
response to bites varies, and some people do not react
at all. Bites usually appear as small, raised, red lesions.
They may cause itching and scratching which could lead
to inection. There is no concrete scientifc evidence thatthey carry blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis B or C,
or HIV.
How do I Prevent Bed Bugs from
Entering my Home?
Be careul when buying used urniture. Inspect each
item careully and wash/clean prior to use. When buying
used clothing, immediately wash with hot water and
dry in hot dryer. I you fnd evidence o bed bugs it is
advisable to throw out the item.
Take the following precautions when staying in a
hotel:
Keepclothinginatightlytiedplasticbaginyour
suitcase or hang clothing in the closet. The bathroom
is a good place to keep your luggage, or on a luggage
rack.
Beforeyouunpack,inspecttheheadboardandnight
stand frst, as mattresses and box springs are
requently changed in hotels. Then examine the
mattress including the seams and mattress tag orevidence o bedbugs. This could include blood
stains and bed bug droppings.
Ifyoudetectsignsofbedbugsrequestanotherroom
and inorm hotel management o the problem.
Ifyouhavebitesorndevidenceofbedbugsduring
your trip take special precautions when you return
home. Unpack outdoors, launder washables using the
hot water setting, place everything in the dryer at the
highest temperature or at least 30 minutes and
vacuum your luggage thoroughly.
Purchasehard,smoothluggagewithoutpockets.
These same precautions can be ollowed i you are
working in a clients home or other workplaces where
bed bugs may be present.
Bed Bugs: Nuisance or Nightmare?
8/3/2019 Bed_Bugs-FF
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Public Services Health & Safety Association
4950 Yonge Street, Suite 902, Toronto ON M2N 6K1
tel: 416-250-2131 toll free: 1-877-250-7444 fax: 416-250-9190
www.pshsa.ca
2011 IPRFCCEN0611
The information contained in document is correct at the time of publication.
The Fast Facts series is copyrighted by the Public Services Health & Safety Association
(PSHSA). Individual Fast Facts can be copied freely provided appropriate credit isgiven to PSHSA.
What if I Find Bed Bugs in my
Home or at the Workplace?
Some workplaces are susceptible to bed bugs, or perhaps
you encounter them while working in a clients home.
I you suspect bed bugs are present in the workplace,
report this to your supervisor. I your concerns are
not addressed in a timely manner, you can report theconcern to your joint health and saety committee or
health and saety representative.
Confrm you have bed bugs by consulting your local
public health unit or pest control operator. Discuss
options that pose the least risk to people and the
environment. An integrated pest management system
which combines a variety o techniques and products is
usually the best option.
What Should I do as an Employer?
Provideinformationtostaaboutbedbugs.
Askstatoreportiftheyndbedbugsatthe
workplace or while on business travel. Advise them to
stop using that hotel until hotel management provides
assurance that the risk o bed bugs has been
eliminated.
Developapolicyandproceduresforidentication,
prevention and management o bed bugs.
Where do I Find Additional
Information about Bed Bugs?
There are many resources available on the internet. A
good place to start is with your local public health unit.
For a listing o public health units:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/contact/phu/phuloc_mn.html
Below are some additional resources:
Public Health Agency o Canada: http://www.phac-aspc
gc.ca/tmp-pmv/ino/bb-pl-eng.php
Health Canada: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/
pest/_pnotes/bedbugs-punaises-lits/index-eng.php
Government o Ontario: http://bedbugsino.ca/tools
Toronto Public Health Unit: www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugs
Fast Facts:Bed Bugs: Nuisance or Nightmare?
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/contact/phu/phuloc_mn.htmlhttp://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/contact/phu/phuloc_mn.htmlhttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/info/bb-pl-eng.phphttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/info/bb-pl-eng.phphttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_pnotes/bedbugs-punaises-lits/index-eng.phphttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_pnotes/bedbugs-punaises-lits/index-eng.phphttp://bedbugsinfo.ca/toolshttp://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugshttp://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugshttp://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/contact/phu/phuloc_mn.htmlhttp://www.toronto.ca/health/bedbugshttp://bedbugsinfo.ca/toolshttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_pnotes/bedbugs-punaises-lits/index-eng.phphttp://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/info/bb-pl-eng.phpRecommended