08/26/2012

Watch Out for Bed Bugs!

By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, President, Safety and Environmental Solutions, LLC

Removing Remains from a Home or Long-Term Care Facility?

Watch Out for Bed Bugs!

By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, President, Safety and Environmental Solutions, LLC

Bed bugs are probably the furthest thing from your mind when removing remains from a private residence or a long-term care center, but you may want to start thinking about what you would do if you encountered the creatures or signs of a bedbug infestation during a removal. The last thing you want to do is carry them back to your funeral home or your own home.

There is a plethora of information about bed bugs out there, but one excellent resource is the Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force’s website: http://www.centralohiobedbugs.org/index.html. Most of the following information was obtained from this site.

Identification

Bed bugs are small but visible insects. There are three main life stages: the whitish egg (about 1 mm in length), five pale juvenile (nymph) stages that range from 1mm to 4.5 mm (1/4 inch), and the adult which can be as long as 7 or 8 mm (3/8 inch) when fed. The newly hatched nymph is very pale until it feeds, then it looks like a tiny droplet of blood. The adult is about the size and shape of an apple seed, and dark red to brown in color. It is also as flat as a credit card before feeding.

Interesting Fact: Bed bugs can live for a year after consuming a blood meal.

Signs of an Infestation

The first sign of a bed bug infestation is usually the appearance of bites on the arms, neck, torso, or legs. If you see what appear to be insect bites on the deceased, you may want to consider donning the personal protective equipment recommended below. Clusters of small stains or droplets of dried blood on furniture and bedding may also be found. These stains are the bed bugs’ fecal droppings. They may be accompanied by shed bed bug skins because bed bugs shed their outer skin, or molt, as they grow.

How to Avoid Transporting Bed Bugs When Making Removals

• Wear disposable shoe covers and tuck your pants into your socks. This may be very difficult to do in the presence of family members, but a few awkward moments could save you a huge headache later. If you don’t use shoe covers, designate a pair of shoes specifically for removals and inspect them before getting into your car or returning to the funeral home. Store your “removal shoes” in a sealed plastic bag until they can be placed in a dryer for 15 minutes.
• If the home is known to be infested with bed bugs or you see evidence of the bugs, don a disposable paper suit. (Yeah, I know you’re laughing now.) If this isn’t possible, carry an extra set of clothes with you and change out of your “bed bug clothes” as soon as possible – preferable before you get into your vehicle. Place your clothes in a sealed plastic bag until you can wash them. Wash potentially contaminated clothing in hot, soapy water and dry in a dryer using the highest heat setting. Any clothing or items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned should be placed in a hot dryer for at least 15 minutes. Before making a removal, check with your local health department to see if they keep a list of homes that they know are infested with bed bugs. This could help you make an informed decision about whether you should suit up or not.
• Do not sit on sofas, upholstered chairs, or beds, and avoid placing any items on upholstered furniture, bedding or on carpeted floors.
• Carry a spray bottle containing a 70% solution of isopropyl alcohol. Do a self-check before getting into your vehicle and spray any beg bugs you may find with the solution. Pay particular attention to inside and outside of shoes, lace holes, socks, pant legs, leg area and around hands and arms.

For more information on preventing the transfer of bed bugs from an infested home, refer to the Guidelines for Reducing the Risk of Transporting Bed Bugs on the Task Force’s website: http://www.centralohiobedbugs.org/pdf/healthcare_guidelines.pdf

Remember -- Bed bugs have been found in the following establishments:

• Private homes
• Senior housing
• Nursing homes
• Firehouses
• Apartment buildings
• Hotels
• Schools
• Churches
• Movie theatres
• College dorms
• Social service agency offices

Let’s try to avoid adding funeral homes to this list!

If you have any other health, safety, or environmental questions, please feel free to contact me at (614)404-384 or bgarrison@sandesolutions.net.