Shield Your Summer Getaway: Terminix Shares 8 Essential Tips to Keep Bed Bugs at Bay

Summer travel season is on the horizon and experts predict another strong season for the Carolinas. The spike in travel throughout the region also comes with an increase in encountering bed bugs. June 2 – 8 is Bed Bug Awareness Week, an annual observance recognized by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA), and Terminix Service, Inc., the largest pest control company in the Carolinas and the 10th largest in the U.S., is providing travelers with helpful tips to keep bed bugs at bay this summer.

“With travel activity on the rise across our region this summer, the risk of encountering bed bugs also increases,” said Kevin Hathorne, Technical Director at Terminix. “It’s crucial for travelers to understand the dangers bed bugs present and take proactive steps to avoid bringing an infestation home.”

Bed Bug facts:

Bed bugs don’t fly but can easily climb onto luggage or clothing, which is how infestations usually spread. They are typically found in places where people sleep but have also been found on public transportation (taxis, planes, cruise ships, etc.), department stores, movie theaters, office buildings, schools, churches, and various other places.

A typical reaction for most people is a red, swollen bump at the bite site, perhaps with some itching. It is estimated that about 40% of the population does not react to bed bug bites. In rare cases, moderate to severe allergic reactions can occur. Bed bugs have not been shown to transmit any disease through the feeding process; however, recent research suggests that they can spread Chagas disease through contact with their excrement.

With travel being a primary source for bed bugs to spread, Terminix Service Inc. suggests travelers consider the following tips:

– Consider a hard-shelled suitcase, offering fewer crevices where bugs can hide.
– Check for bed bugs before unpacking or settling into the room. Avoid putting your baggage on the bed or the floor—use the luggage rack or place luggage in the bathroom while inspecting the room. For the duration of the stay, consider hanging clothing in the closet or keeping luggage on the dresser.
– Pull back sheets from the mattress and look for bugs along the seams or tiny blood spots on the mattress or sheets. Look along the edges and in the seams.
– Inspect the headboard and behind it.
– Examine upholstered furniture and window treatments.
– Notify management immediately and change rooms or hotels if there is evidence of bed bugs.
– Upon returning home, vacuum off luggage before bringing it inside the house, and consider using a brush to scrub items that can’t be washed.
– Unpack immediately and launder all clothes in hot water and dry on high heat.

“If travelers inadvertently bring bed bugs home, they should call 1-800-TERMINIX immediately,’ said Hathorne. “A small bed bug infestation is cheaper and easier to control than one with time to spread.”

About Terminix Service, Inc.

For more than 75 years, our customers have trusted Terminix Service, Inc., for the best termite and pest control protection for their homes and businesses. With annual revenue of over $150 million, the family-owned and operated Terminix Service, Inc. is the tenth-largest pest control company in North America. Terminix Service, Inc. operates in South Carolina, western North Carolina, and the Central Savannah River Area of Georgia. Visit www.TrustTerminix.com or call 1-800-TERMINIX.