This document provides information about bed bugs, including what they look like, where they live, and how to eradicate them. It describes bed bugs as wingless insects that feed on blood and are found in beds, furniture, and cracks or crevices. The document outlines how to identify bed bug bites and infestations. It recommends prevention methods like inspecting belongings and limiting personal items brought to work. Proper inspection and a multi-step cleaning and treatment process is described for eliminating bed bugs from an infected area.

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

2. 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)

3. 3
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?

4. 4
Visible At All Stages of Existence

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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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Where Are Bed Bugs Found?
 Homes (Mattresses, Wall Seams, &
Crevices)
 Hotels
 SROs
 Dorms
 Jails
 Office Buildings
 Stores
 Homeless Shelters
 Everywhere Humans Are

7. 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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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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Exposure Prevention: Your Work Site
 Limit Personal Belongings Clients Bring In (e.g.
bed rolls, tents, etc.)
 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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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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Exposure Prevention: Off Site (Field)
Workers
 Use Separate Clothes & Shoes For Field Work
 Shake Clothes Outside Before Entering Car
 Change Clothes At Work Before Heading Home
 Seal Field Clothes In Clear Plastic Bag For
Laundering
 Inspect Own Living & Work Spaces
Regularly

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This Is An Infestation

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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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What to Look For

15. 15

16. 16

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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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Bed Bug Elimination
 Contact Pest Control Company
 Clean & Organize Living Area
 Eliminate Clutter
 Bag & 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
 Clean/Replace Mattress & Pillow Covers
 Vacuum
 Caulk Cracks & Crevices
 Set Out Traps

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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, & Clothes
 Wash & Dry Bedding, Clothes On HOT

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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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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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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 usually 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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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.