Guttman Community College is committed to ensuring and protecting the health and safety of the Guttman community. We try to mitigate hazards by coordinating and organizing health and safety compliance through training and information on campus.
Environmental Health and Safety
Bed Bug Information
Bed bugs are small insects that feed mainly on human blood. They can be confused with other insects, and many people are not even aware of their presence until they have been bitten. However, not everyone has a reaction to bed bug bites. You may not discover that you have bed bugs until you see other signs of the pests. These can be the bed bugs themselves, their eggs or droppings, or the blood stains they leave behind, found in the tufts and folds of mattresses, box springs, chairs and other material.
Bed bugs spread mainly by hitchhiking onto furniture, luggage and clothing, and by travelling along spaces that connect apartments, and rooms in commercial and institutional settings. Effective control requires cooperation with your neighbors, landlord and pest management provider. It is hard but not impossible to get rid of bed bugs. Do not try to get rid of them on your own. Get help from a well trained and licensed pest management professional.
Anyone can get bed bugs. Seek help immediately if you find them.
Bed Bugs and Health
Although bed bugs and their bites are a nuisance, they are not known to spread disease. Other health-related consequences have been noted:
Bed bug bites can be very itchy and irritating. Most welts heal in a few days but in unusual cases, the welt may persist for several weeks. An anti-itching ointment can help, but if bites become infected, people should see their doctor.
The anxiety about being bitten can lead to sleeplessness, which can affect well-being. Properly and effectively responding to bed bugs helps to keep anxiety in check.
Some people become so desperate that that they use illegal or excessive amounts of pesticides which can lead to poisonings.
Prevention and Control
- Never bring bed frames, mattresses, box springs or upholstered furniture found on the street into your home, and check all used or rented furniture for bed bugs.
- Be aware of your surroundings and pay attention to reports about outbreak infested areas.
- When traveling, inspect furniture. Keep book bags and jackets off the floor and bed, and inspect them before you leave.
- If you suspect you have been around bed bugs, immediately wash and dry your clothing on hot settings, or store items in a sealed plastic bag until you can treat them.
- Do not use pesticide bombs or foggers to control pests. Get professional help to control bed bugs.
For more information, visit the Connect Center in 020
