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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?

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