Tips for College Students

Bed bugs thrive in places where there are many people, so college dorm rooms can provide a perfect environment for an infestation. In fact, in a recent survey by the NPMA, 35% of pest control professionals indicated that they have encountered infestations in college dormitories. Here are the NPMA's tips for preventing bringing bed bugs to college:

• Fully inspect your suitcases prior to re-packing for a return to school, especially if you have traveled during the summer. Be sure that any clothes that may have been previously packed in the suitcase have been washed in hot water.

• Before putting your sheets on your dormitory bed, inspect the mattress seams, particularly at the corners, for telltale stains or spots. Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking, including behind the headboard and in sofas/chairs. If you see anything suspect, immediately contact a university facility manager.

• If you are considering bringing "secondhand" furniture to campus, properly inspect it to ensure that a pest problem, such as bed bugs, is not the reason for its "secondhand" status. If you see anything suspect, do not bring it to your dorm, apartment or house.