This document provides information about bed bugs, including their appearance, where they live, health risks, and how to identify and eliminate an infestation. It describes bed bugs as small wingless insects that feed on blood and are found in beds and furniture. It outlines prevention methods like inspecting belongings, limiting items brought to work, and changing clothes after visits. Signs of an infestation include stains, shed skins, and live bugs. Proper cleaning and use of insecticides or calling pest control are recommended for treatment. The document ends with protocols for addressing potential bed bugs in the office.

1. Bed Bugs: What They Look Like
Where They Live
&
How To Eradicate Them
Shawn Holle: Safety Analyst
DPH OSH Services

2. What Is A Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius)?
Wingless Insects That Feed On Blood
Three Stages: Egg, Juvenile, Adult
Small But Visible At All Stages
Found In Beds, Under Baseboards,
Clothing, Furniture, Bedside Clutter,
Crevices & Cracks
Cannot Fly Or Jump
Photophobic (Do Not Like The Light)
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3. What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
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4. Visible At All Stages of Existence
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5. Characteristics
Attracted by Carbon Dioxide
Photophobic: Only Eat in the Dark
Need Victims to Be Still (Sleeping)
Feed On Blood & Only Blood
Feed Every Five to Ten Days
Life Expectancy is 18 months (12 months
without food)
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6. Where Are Bed Bugs Found?
Homes (Mattresses, Wall Seams, &
Crevices)
Hotels
SROs
Dorms
Jails
Office Buildings
Stores
Homeless Shelters
Everywhere Humans Are
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7. Human Health Risks From
Bed Bug Exposure?
Bites: Reactions To Bites Vary
Widely
Most Common Symptom: Itchy
Welts
Scratching Welts Can Cause
Infection at Bite Site
Bed Bugs Have Not Been Proven
To Pass Infectious Diseases To
Humans
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8. What Do Bed Bug Bites Look Like?
Red Raised Welts
Typically 3 Or 4 In A
Row (Due To Feeding
Interruptions)
Found On All Bodily
Surfaces
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9. Exposure Prevention: Your Work Site
Limit Personal Belongings Clients Bring In
Phase Out Upholstered Furniture
Inspect Office Regularly
Immediately Report Observed Bed Bugs To
Facility Management
Facility Management Will Take Whatever Action is
Necessary
Don’t Panic: One Or Two Bed Bugs Is Not An
Infestation
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10. Exposure Prevention: Site Visits
Carry As Few Extra Items With You As Possible
If You Have to Bring Gear Don’t Put It On the Floor
Carry Your Gear in a Backpack
Do Not Sit On Beds Or Upholstered Furniture
Check Clothing After Visit & Before Entering Car
If Exposure is Suspected Put Belongings In Clear
Plastic Bags & Seal Them Up
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11. Exposure Prevention: Off Site Workers
Use Separate Clothes & Shoes For Field Work
Shake Clothes Outside Before Entering Car
Change Clothes At Work
Seal Field Clothes In Clear Plastic Bag For
Laundering
Have Facilities Set Test Traps
Inspect Own Living & Work Spaces
Regularly
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12. This Is An Infestation
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13. Inspections At Home, Work, & Off Site
Check For Small Stains On Furniture & Bedding
Look For Shed Skins, Amber In Color
Check Crevices / Cracks
Check Screw And Nail Holes
Turn Over Furniture To Check Underside
Pull Out Drawers And Inspect All Sides
Set Out Traps
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14. What to Look For
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17. Exposure Prevention:
Maintenance Workers & Cleanup Crews
Wear Tyvek Suit or Other
Coveralls & Plastic Shoe
Covers
Seal Coveralls in Plastic Bag
After Use & Discard
Dedicate a Vacuum for Pest
Control
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18. Bed Bug Elimination
Contact Pest Control Company
Clean And Organize Living Area
Eliminate Clutter
Bag And Remove Bedding And Clothes
Use HOT Dryer For 30 Minutes For Plush Toys, Shoes, Coats
Isolate Clean Items Until Bed Bugs Are Gone
Caulk Holes In Floors & Walls
Mattress & Pillow Covers
Vacuum
Caulk Cracks & Crevices
Set Out Traps
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19. Cleaning
Scrub Mattress Seams With Stiff Brush
Vacuum Mattresses, Bed Frames, Furniture,
Floors, And Carpets - Especially Around Bed And
Furniture Posts
Put Vacuum Cleaner Bag In A Sealed Plastic Bag
Immediately After Vacuuming
Dispose Of Sealed Bag In Outside Container
Clean Linens, Curtains, Rugs, Carpets, And
Clothes
Wash And Dry Bedding And Clothes On HOT
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20. Avoid Exposure To &
Spreading Of Bed Bugs
Inspect Luggage After Traveling
Wash Donated Clothing On HOT Before Wearing
Do Not Pick Up Discarded Items On The Street
Inspect Any Used Furniture Or Other Purchases
Wrap Infested Items In Plastic Before Discarding
Label Discarded Items “Infested With Bed Bugs”
To Prevent Reuse
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21. What If I Think I Have Bed Bugs?
Call DPH Environmental Health At 415 252 3800!
Seal All Sheets, Blankets And Pillow Cases In A Plastic Bag
Before Removing Them From The Room To Avoid Spreading The
Infestation To Other Areas
Wash All Bedding With Hot Water And Dry On The Hottest Setting
Treat Mattresses With A Light Mist Of Bed Bug Specific
Insecticide On Seams, Folds, Buttons And Torn Areas. Allow The
Mattress To Dry Before Placing Bed Sheets
Do Not Spray Linen
Do Not Treat Infant’s Mattresses Or Bedding
Vacuum Cracks And Crevices And Other Hiding Spaces In Walls,
Floors And Furniture Where Adult Bed Bugs Or Eggs Can Be
Found
Eggs Are Not Affected By Insecticides, So Repeat The Insecticide
Application 2-3 Times (Every 10 Days) To Remove Post-treatment
Hatchlings
A Licensed Pest Control Company Is Recommended For
Insecticide Applications
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22. Questions & Answers
Q. Is this bite on my leg from a bed bug (which I think
I must have gotten at work)?
A. Highly Unlikely. A bed bug only feeds on a person
who is completely still, which predominantly means
sleeping.
Q. Bed bugs have been observed/caught in our office
building. Is the office building infested?
A. Highly Unlikely. There have been no known cases
in DPH of Worksite Infestation. One or Two bedbugs
does not make an infestation.
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23. Questions & Answers
Q. Bed bugs have been observed/caught in our building. Is it
possible that if I bring as few as one home to my house that my
house can become infested?
A. Not Likely. To cause an infestation in your home, a bed bug
would not only need to attach itself to you or your property, but
would need to stay attached all the way to your house, get to
your bed, and lay eggs. If all of this does occur, then take the
necessary steps to eliminate them.
Q. I suspect a client may have bed bugs because they told me
that they have them at home. What should I do when client
arrives for an appointment?
A. Check the area where client was sitting. If client brought
items to the appointment, check areas where items were
placed. If any insects are observed immediately call Facilities
Management.
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24. 1380 Howard Protocols for Office Environment
1) Scheduled monthly placement and inspection of insect traps/monitors at
each site/program location by Pest Control Vendor and/or Facilities Team, with
a report of findings submitted and discussed with Facilities staff at each site.
2) If bed bugs are suspected or sighted, Facilities Team or Program Manager or
designee will contact BEHM Inspectors Mario Oblena 252-3826 and Joseph
Ossai 252-3892 for assistance. The detailed report of the findings should be
supplied to the inspectors along with any other information from the Pest
control vendor.
3) If the suspect carrier is a client/visitor, we should inform them that their visit
or session has ended and they need to leave the premises to prevent possible
contamination of clinic occupants. Facilities Team can/should make
arrangements to contact BEHM and the bldg manager for the client/visitor if
possible.
4) If the suspect carrier is an employee, their supervisor or Facilities Team
should share the suspicion or findings with the employee, ask if there is an
issue at home, and contact Human Resources on the next step. Facilities Team
will make arrangements to vacuum the area and /or arrange for more intensive
treatment by Pest Control vendor, under the guidance of BEHM.
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