Who's At Risk of Getting Bed Bugs in Memphis TN Metro Area?
Bed bugs experienced a major resurgence in the 1990s, and it hasn’t dissipated since. Anyone is at risk of bringing home bed bugs since they can be picked up in areas such as office buildings, hotels, movie theaters, schools, dorms, and more.
Certain demographics experience higher levels of risk, including:
- Recent travelers
- College students
- Used furniture buyers
- Anyone who has visited an infested area
The Risk of Bed Bugs in Hotels
As global travel has increased, so have bed bug infestations. With the countless number of people coming in and out, hotels are a prime location for bed bugs to infest. This is because bed bugs will constantly have an opportunity for a meal. Even if a single room is vacant, the bugs can easily move to another room. One room in a hotel with bed bugs can and will quickly turn into an infested hotel.
When traveling, you can limit your likelihood of picking up bed bugs by reading reviews of where you plan to stay. Upon arriving, inspect your furniture and mattress in the room for signs of bed bugs. When staying in the room, keep your suitcase away from where bed bugs might be, including above ground or in the bathtub.
Do You Have a Bed Bug Problem? We Can Help.
Click the button below to leave your information & we'll be in touch in an hour or less.
Bed Bug Problems in Universities
Another major target for bed bug infestations includes student housing. Universities house people from around the world who travel nationally and internationally. At universities, bed bug infestations are common and can occur at any point of the year. Ways to monitor for bed bugs in dorms include looking carefully at baseboards, dressers, chairs, couches, beds, and clothing. Further, a lot of dorm room furniture is second-hand, which is another common location for bed bug infestations to begin. When your child returns home from college, always look carefully through luggage items to ensure that bed bugs don’t come home with your child.
How to Avoid Bed Bugs in College
Teach your college student ways to be proactive about bed bugs, including learning the signs of the insect and how to communicate suspicion of an infestation. With such close living quarters, bed bugs can and will spread from one dorm room to another. Any sign of an infestation should be addressed as quickly as possible. Further, your child should be encouraged to keep a clean room, cover his or her mattress, and be mindful while traveling.
Can College Students Bring Bed Bugs Home?
Yes! A common reason for infestations is due to college students arriving home for holidays or summer breaks. Encourage your college student to be mindful when packing a suitcase and when unpacking once at home. All clothing brought home, including clean clothes, should be washed in hot water. The suitcase can be steam-cleaned as well and stored above the ground.
Why Anyone Can Get Bed Bugs
All bed bugs care about is where they can get their next meal. Unfortunately, bed bugs can survive a whole year without a single blood meal! This makes their presence difficult to detect and stop when you don’t suspect a problem. Even if you don’t perceive a risk in your own life, it is still important to know the signs of an infestation. Should bed bugs become a reality for you or someone you love, reach out to a professional bed bug exterminator as quickly as possible!