Bed bugs
I have been seeing more bedbug bites than ever these day. Was just reading an interesting (long) report on bedbugs from Vandu and the City of Vancouver. They started a pilot program where they washed laundry, replaced some beds and sprayed the rooms at 2 hotels: the Regal and the Walton.
Were any of you in the Regal or Walton hotels when they were treated? Have the bedbugs stayed away?
Learned a few other impressive stats. Seems bedbugs can live for over a year without a meal ie biting us. Hardy little beasts. We can treat bedbug bites with cream for the itchiness and antibiotics if the bites get infected and it is important to wash clothes and bedding. But in the end we also have to get them out of the building to really get rid of them. If you are interested in reading the report about the anti-bedbug program in Vancouver here is the URL:
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20070403/documents/a8.pdf
In Montreal. We had to take EVERYTHING out of the house and put it in the cold, get sprayed, plug cracks - it took months and the little bastards still didn't go away. They completely suck and I feel terrible for anyone who gets them.
it seems like bedbugs are making a comeback, and not just in the SROs, a family member went on a trip to the Seattle, stayed in a hotel (in the best western price range) and came back with bed bugs.
are there things that can be done to prevent them?
i know a few people who just got a place they are looking for a free bed (which is pretty easy to get in this city). what should they look for before bringing one home?
i dont really know how to get rid of them but i know the cold works i had them in the end of the summer and i slept out side in the winter and they went away
Used furniture, particularly bed frames and mattresses, can easily harbor bed bugs and their eggs. Bedbugs can survive for many months without feeding, so they may live in a mattress or vacant apartments for a long time. You can try these things to make sure bedbugs are not in your mattress, especially if you are getting used stuff:
•Check seams and tufts of mattresses and box springs, because that is where bed bugs hide and lay their eggs
•Dismantling bed frames will expose more bug hiding spots.
•Mattresses and box springs can be permanently encased within plastic mattress bags. Once you have put on the bag, check to make sure there are no holes or tears. If you find any, seal them completely with permanent tape like duct tape. Any bugs trapped within these sealed bags will eventually die.
If you saw signs of bed bugs when traveling it is possible that you may have brought them home in your luggage or clothes. Here are a few things you can do when you get home:
•Clothing should be washed in hot soapy water as soon as possible.
•Delicate clothing can be put in a bag and placed in a freezer for several days.
•Vacuum often with strong suction all possible places that bed bugs may hide including the mattress, box spring, and bed.
•Use a scrub brush to remove bed bugs and eggs from the seams of mattresses.
•Suitcases should be carefully inspected, scrubbed with a stiff brush, and thoroughly vacuumed.
•Leaving luggage for several hours in a closed space in full summer sun may render the items bug free.
Hope this helps
Street Nurse
i used to live in a group home called columbia house in East Van. there was alot of street intrenched youth going through there and they got bed bugs. lice too actually. they changed the beds but i hope it's enough.