Alpha Urgent Care

Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite! 

As the busy holiday travel season approaches, many families will be staying in hotels or short-term rentals. Unfortunately, this increases your chance of encountering bed bugs. Bringing these pests back home can cause significant stress and discomfort. 

Here is Alpha Urgent Care's guide to identifying, preventing, and managing bed bugs during your travels this season.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed on blood, primarily at night while you're asleep.

• Health Impact: Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases.
• Physical Symptoms: Bites typically cause localized itchiness, redness, or a rash. It may take several days for symptoms to appear after being bitten. Some people also report fatigue or a low-grade fever. 
• When to See a Provider: If you develop persistent, severe itching, an allergic reaction, or if skin symptoms progress beyond simple irritation, please visit a provider near you for assessment and treatment - Alpha Urgent Care can help too!

Why Are They so Hard to Control?

Bed bugs are masters of stealth and survival. They love to hide in dark, hidden areas like mattress seams, box springs, and headboards. They are also incredibly resilient, able to survive for long periods without feeding. Due to their small size, they also easily attach to clothing or hide inside luggage, hitching a ride directly into your home.

Effective Prevention: A 5-Step Plan

Your best defense against bed bugs is a proactive inspection immediately upon entering your hotel room or rental:

1. Inspect The Room

Look closely at mattress seams, behind headboards, and under the box spring for small spots of blood, dark fecal stains, or the bugs themselves. 

2. Isolate Your Luggage

Do not place your luggage on the floor, bed, or carpet. Place your bags on a hard surface, such as the bathroom floor or a luggage rack. Hard, cold surfaces give bed bugs nowhere to hide.

3. Avoid Dressers and Drawers

Skip using the dresser drawers. Leave your clothes in your suitcase. Drawers are the perfect hiding spot for bed bugs as they usually remain undisturbed.

4. Seal Clothing in Use

Keep any clothing you'll be using sealed in zip-top plastic bags to prevent contamination during your stay. 

5. Be Aware of Textiles

Avoid placing your clothing directly on upholstered furniture or decorative items that cannot easily be washed. 

What to Do if You Find Evidence

In A Hotel: Immediately contact the front desk and request a room change. If the second room also shows signs of an infestation, consider checking out of that hotel entirely, as this usually indicates a deeper issue within the property.

In a Rental (like Airbnb or VRBO): Document your findings by taking photos and contact the host or property manager. Most rental hosting sites will issue a refund and/or assist you in finding other accommodations. Additionally, the property manager will be required to arrange professional extermination before they can rent the property again. 

After Returning Home

Bed bugs are killed by extreme heat. If possible, don't bring your luggage into the main living area of your home. 

1. Heat Treatment: Immediately wash all clothes with HOT water and dry them on the highest heat setting. This high heat is proven to destroy the bugs and their eggs.

2. Vacuum & Dispose: Thoroughly vacuum all empty luggage immediately. If your vacuum uses a disposable bag, seal the bag in a plastic trash bag and throw it away outdoors. If your vacuum uses a bagless canister, empty the contents into a zip-top plastic bag, seal it tightly, and dispose of it outdoors. Also be sure to thoroughly wash the canister with hot water afterward. 

A Note on Long-Term Health & Care

Alpha Urgent Care is happy to help you assess and treat the symptoms of bites and skin irritation, but managing long-term health is the role of your primary care provider.

However, Alpha now also offers Primary Care Services! Establishing a regular PCP through Alpha will help you ensure seamless care for all your general and urgent health needs, including diagnosing persistent rashes or skin conditions. Give us a call for more information!