All posts in “bedbugs”

Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers

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Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers:

EPA has prepared this fact sheet to help users reduce potential hazards associated with total release foggers. Total release foggers, also known as “bug bombs,” are pesticide products containing aerosol propellants that release their contents at once to fumigate an area. These products are often used around the home to kill cockroaches, fleas, and other pests. Because the aerosol propellants in these foggers typically are flammable, improper use may cause a fire or explosion. In addition to this hazard, failure to vacate premises during fogging or reentering without airing out may result in illness.

There are several video’s that outline the proper use of these tools for pest control (vacate residence, do not use more than on label and ignition sources)  and with all the stories over the last few years its probably time for a detailed guideline on usage. I will add one more item, there is a place for this type of tool within pest control but bear in mind that improper use may make the bug go deeper into the walls or hiding place. This may actually make the situation worse and more difficult if you then must hire a Pest Management Professional.

Stops the Sting!

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Stops the Sting!

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olPKnxut7ys]

 

ProBest Pest Management carries this great tool, I think every parent should carry this in their car, purse and have it in case of a sting or bite.

Friday 13th – Beware the bugs, really!

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Friday 13th – Beware the bugs, really!

 

Don’t panic bed bugs have nothing to do with Friday the 13th but it got me to thinking. So do work around furniture, clothing or anywhere where people meet. I’d probably say most of us fall into that category. But it got me to thinking about some things, the other day a few Fire Fighters came in and we got into discussing Bed Bugs. They told me that a fire station in Phoenix got them and that it freaked them out, so I thought I would put together a list of potential places where Bed Bugs might latch onto a unsuspecting host. Remember Bed Bugs are not like lice and that normally they don’t travel on people but consider that they are experts on hitchhiking.

  1. Garbage or refuse haulers, do you pick up garbage and transport it to another dump site?
  2. Self employed haulers.
  3. Not for profit agencies that pick up clothes, or those box collection sites.
  4. Moving van companies and employees.
  5. Fire Fighters, Police, Medical Personnel, EMT’s & Paramedic’s or people that come into contact with people each day.
  6. Clothing store employees.

So take care to do some random checking as you arrive back home or to your station. If you spot something crawling immediately go outside and get that thing off of you. Consider changing clothes in the garage and washing all clothes on hot and dry on hot for an hour – the book says 30-40 minutes but just a precaution, it takes 113° to kill adults and eggs. Don’t panic just use your common sense and you will be fine.

Dark Shadows (1966 versus 2012)

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Dark Shadows (1966 versus 2012) My tribute to blood suckers not much different than Bed Bugs!

I’m really not a fan of movie remakes, they just don’t seem to be of the same caliber as the originals – here are just a few before I get to Dark Shadows.

The Day the Earth Stood Still – (1951) still my all time favorite movie and the version by Keano Reeves (2008) was OK,  just not as good as the original from my point of view. Black and white, Michael Rennie (Klaatu) was just cool and the robot (Gort) – terrifying, yes the 2008 version special effects were great but it just lacked the charisma of the original.

I am Legend a novel – I read it on a plane in 1971 on the way to the 13th World Scout Jamboree in Tokyo, Japan. This novel was later made into a movie “I Am Legend” (2007) with Will Smith – not technically a remake so nothing to relate it to except it didn’t follow the novel as well – I think they call that poetic license.

    OK – I was a huge, we are talking HUGE Dark Shadows fan,  Barnabus Collins – the vampire played by Jonathan Frid died April 13-14, 2012. I would race home from school and watch this show and it scared the absolute out of me, but I had to watch it. With all the talk these days about blood sucking Bed Bugs and the creepy bats to those places where spiders and evil lurk. So I’ll probably see the movie but I’m concerned this will more funny than a serious vampire movie – watch the preview. The movie is set to release May 11, 2012 and I’ll see you there

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isjg9O7ifwM]

Bed Bugs and other issues…

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Bed Bugs and other issues…

 

This article “Landlord Liability for Bed Bugs and Bed Bug Bacteria” appeared in the “NOLO Law for All” site and whether or not there is or is not a connection with MRSA, I think we should all be more vigilant in our encounters with Bed Bugs. So here are some of my concerns, as I see them. By the way I’m not an attorney or a medical doctor but I do report myself to be “Dr. Bug” but anyway back to what I consider the issues.

After having dealt with this issue for the last 3 years, I empathize for landlords because ultimately it comes down to the fact that no matter who brought them in, you are responsible. At the end of the day it’s your building and these littler buggers could move to another unit and the issues just start compounding. I will add my biggest recommendation – document, document and document. Keep excellent records and keep them in one place, handy to get to and again document everything.

Here is an excerpt from the article  – please follow the link above to read the entire article, its well worth your time.

What This Means for Landlord and Tenants

The implications of this study for landlords and tenants are significant. A widespread bedbug infestation has always qualified as a habitability problem, which, if not addressed, enables tenants in all states except for Arkansas to break their leases and leave, without liability for future rent. Tenants in some states can withhold rent until the habitability problem is fixed or can take steps to deal with the problem themselves and deduct costs from the rent. Typically, however, landlords have a reasonable time to fix a habitability problem before tenants can utilize their remedies.

But, if bedbugs are proven to be vectors for staph infections on the order of MRSA, the stakes have been raised dramatically. A “reasonable time” may be much faster than previously thought. And if tenants contract an MRSA infection as the result of the landlords’ inattention to the problem, the tenant’s measure of damages goes way beyond what it would be if the bedbugs’ bites were merely annoying.

Here is the link to House Bill 2210

Could your neighbors give you the bugs?

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Could your neighbors give you the bugs?

What do you know about your neighbors? Do they visit you, do their children come and play at your house? Do you exchange things, do you borrow luggage? Do their children bring toys over, including stuffed bears or animals? Do their animals visit your home? Are you expecting guest who may spend a few days at your home?

All these questions seem somewhat benign but are they really? ProBest has seen some really bizarre ways that Bed Bugs are traveling these days. Spring break may be the perfect chance for these little blood suckers to get their travelin on. By the way it’s not just Bed Bugs but fleas, ticks, parasites of all sorts. No sense panicking but we just want you to be prepared and contemplate the options and consequence of a visit.

Read this survey – Bugs without Borders conducted by National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and University of Kentucky – Where are Bed Bugs found these days?

As if the Bed Bugs weren’t bad enough!!!!

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As if the Bed Bugs weren’t bad enough!!!!

“Women torches bedbug – infested mattress while angry at husband.” Tampa Bay, Florida http://www.wtsp.com

This all happened the day before Valentine’s Day, the husband didn’t react fast enough so she lit the mattress on fire. I love what the Pest Management Professional Greg Rice of Hulett Environmental Services said

As for the infestation, Rice says if there were bedbugs in the apartment, it’s doubtful they all died in the fire.

“I don’t know if she killed the bedbugs, but she certainly killed that mattress.”

Bed Bug Basics: 10 Tips to Protect Yourself

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Bed Bug Basics: 10 Tips to Protect Yourself

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJgbzczdDY]

Produced by the (NPMA) National Pest Management Association

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