How to deal with bed bug infestations
Cat Pryke
Bed bug infestations have hit the headlines, prompting business owners to take action safeguarding their operations and ensuring customer well-being. Any location is susceptible, but hotels with their soft furnishings and ever-changing clientele are particularly prone. As a business owner, you may be wondering how best to protect your business, guests and staff.
What are bed bugs, and how can they impact my customers and business?
With over 90 species (the most common is known as Cimex lectularius)Â bed bugs, are reddish-brown insects that have plagued humans for centuries. While they do not transmit diseases, their bites can cause discomfort and sleepless nights and can have a negative impact on a businesses reputation.
How can bedbugs infest my business, and why are they hard to detect?
These resilient hitchhikers, can infest hotels restaurants and public transport through luggage, overnight bags, clothing or second-hand items. They adeptly hide in mattresses and furniture, making detection difficult until infestations worsen. Their ability to adapt to various environments and seek warmth in human dwellings adds to the challenge of early detection.
How would I know if I have a problem?
An unfed adult bed bug is about the size of a grain of rice so difficult to spot, signs include:
- guests reporting raised, itchy bite marks, in a cluster or line
- bloodstains
- dark faecal stains
- musty odours (which could indicate a large infestation).
Early detection is crucial to prevent the escalation and mitigate potential health risks, including rare cases of anaphylaxis.
How can I prevent an bedbug infestation in my business?
Vigilance is key. Train housekeeping staff how to identify bed bugs and signs of their presence, and to understand their behaviour. They should thoroughly inspect hotel rooms in between uses. After removing bedding, they should check the seams on the the mattress and box springs. White mattresses and box springs make it easier to discover and therefore treat bed bugs. They should also check other furniture as bed bugs may be in headboards, armchairs, couches and even desk chairs. Although housekeeping staff may be the most likely to notice an issue, customer service employees should also know exactly what to do if a guest complains about bed bugs in their room.
It can also help to schedule regualr inspections and bed bug monitoring services from a professional pest contractor.
What measures can I take if I have an infestation?
Quarantine any rooms that may be affected, including the rooms that guests were moved into. Place all linen inside plastic bags and leave these in the room until a time when they can be washed and heat treated without contaminating other linen. With bed bugs immune to many chemicals used for eradication, heat treatment is the best option.
Call a professional pest contractor to carry out a bed bug treatment and follow their recommendations.
How do Safer Food Scores support their hotel clients?
If you are unlucky enough to receive a complaint from a guest, we can help you complete an investigation, respond to the guest and prevent recurrences.
To find out more please contact usÂ
Any guidance given in our articles is not official and Safer Food Scores can take no responsibility if the information is used to form part of any legal or regulatory compliance for your business. However, please do get in touch if you are interested in our support services and would like to benefit from official guidance relating to your particular circumstances, email [javascript protected email address]
