Don’t Let Bed Bugs Come Home for the Holidays

FAIRFAX, Va. (November 20, 2012) – Thanksgiving is the one of the busiest travel days of the year. In fact, 43.6 million people are expected to travel at least 50 miles this holiday weekend, according to AAA. As people hit the roads this week to feast on turkey with friends and family, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is urging caution against bed bugs.

Whether going to a relative’s home or a hotel, travelers should be on the lookout for signs of bed bugs. The NPMA recommends following these tips to prevent bed bugs from hitching a ride this holiday:

• Thoroughly inspect the entire room before unpacking. Don't put luggage on the bed.
• Pull back bed sheets and inspect mattress seams, particularly the corners, for telltale brownish or reddish spots. Bed bugs can also be found in box springs and behind baseboards, electrical switch plates, picture frames, wallpaper, in upholstery and furniture.
• If changing rooms within the same hotel, ensure the new room is not adjacent to the possibly infested room.
• If staying at a residence, inform the homeowner immediately of a suspected bed bug problem.
• Use a large plastic bag to store luggage.
• Upon returning home, inspect and vacuum suitcases before bringing them into the house.
• Wash all clothes - whether worn or not - in hot water or take them to a dry cleaner
• If you suspect an infestation in your own home, contact a licensed pest professional to inspect the property.