INSTRUCTIONS on how to behave when bed bugs appear in the room

Until 24. 9. 2023, only regime B is valid, i.e. chemical intervention if infection is suspected.

If the occurrence is suspected:

• REPORT SUSPICION IMMEDIATELY TO THE DORMITORY MATRON or service to the acting porter in case of her absence;
• PROHIBITION to receive visitors in the room and to visit other rooms in person;
• do not move furniture out of the room;
• do not take any belongings (not even personal) from the room to another room or outside the dormitory site (only after a thorough check);
• DO NOT USE OVER-THE-COUNTER PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET – the effectiveness on bedbugs is minimal, on the contrary, it can partially make them migrate to the adjoining rooms;
• Before the room inspection by a specialist:
  • there is no need to prepare the room in any way for the room inspection – leave everything in its place;
  • the specialist will determine the next procedure based on the result of the inspection.

A) OCCURRENCE HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED

In this case, bedbug monitors will be installed on the underside of the beds and only the so-called barrier treatment will be carried out to prevent possible spread to neighboring rooms.

Room preparation BEFORE MONITORING:

• clear out the storage compartment of the bed and inspect things thoroughly (under no circumstances take anything out of the room);
• move the beds and the furniture approx. 10 cm from the wall (they must remain like that for about 7 days, when the monitoring strip will be evaluated);
• clean the room thoroughly:
  • wipe the dust;
  • sweep and wipe the floor, including the space behind the bed (powder will be applied here and if it is not cleaned consistently, its effectiveness will be significantly reduced).

After the intervention:

• you can continue to use the room immediately and without restrictions (incl. returning things to the shelves and storage space);
• leave the beds moved away from the wall (approx. 10 cm) throughout monitoring;
• after about 7 days from the placement of the monitors, the specialist evaluates the occurrence and agrees on the next procedure.

B) OCCURRENCE IS CONFIRMED = chemical intervention

In this case, intervention with a chemical agent is required, which requires good preparation on your part.

Room preparation BEFORE the intervention:

• place personal belongings in plastic bags, leave them tied on the table in the room – thoroughly empty the cabinets, bedside table, desk, bed storage, shelves, drawers;
• keep things needed for staying outside the room to a minimum and take them out only after a thorough inspection;
• cover computers, printers, documents, etc. thoroughly;
• any terrariums, aquariums, etc., which cannot be moved, must be well covered – the products used are highly toxic to cold-blooded animals;
• remove bed linen, store in plastic bags in the room and tie it tightly. 1 bag = 1 set of bed linen; If possible, wash the contents of the bag with bedding stored in this way on at least
  60 °C (in case of bedbugs you are entitled to 5 free washes), or hand over to the laundry store;
• remove the headboard of the beds (unscrew the wooden ones, possibly tear the carpets off the wall, remove posters, mirrors, shelves, etc.) and leave in the room for treatment – this can be done in cooperation with the technical management of the accommodation facility;
• move all things away from the walls, including furniture – about 10 cm;
• carry out a thorough cleaning of the room:
  • wipe the dust;
  • sweep and mop the floor, including the space behind the bed (if it is not cleaned thoroughly, its effectiveness is significantly reduced).

Treatment of affected objects from the room:

• clothes = wash min. at 60 ° C (if it cannot be washed at 60 ° C, then freeze it);
• shoes, handbags, suitcases, books = freezer;
• do not take any belongings (not even personal) from the room to another room or outside the dormitory area (only after a thorough check);
• electrical appliances = visual inspection of infestation, wiping with a cloth.

After the intervention:

• The DDD technician leaves the window open for thorough ventilation, the door to the corridor must remain closed;
• you can enter the room only after about 2 hours, respectively, after complete drying (chemicals for killing bedbugs are not dangerous for people after drying);
• personal belongings must be thoroughly inspected and those attacked must be treated in one of the above ways;
• clean the bed;
• for the next 2 weeks, clean the floor only "dry way" (i.e. sweeping), do not vacuum upholstered furniture;
• wipe only surfaces that could come into contact with food (warm water with detergent);
• do not handle the furniture in the room and do not bring new furniture;
• store things treated with temperature treatment after the first intervention at a sufficient distance from the infected bed/furniture;
• wash bed linen 1× per week (min. at 60 °C);
• DO NOT USE STEAM CLEANER ON TREATED AREAS – it destroys the active substance!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can bedbugs harm me? Are they dangerous to humans?
Bedbugs do not transmit any diseases. They can cause itchy bites and an allergic reaction in sensitive people.

I continue to see bedbugs, is it possible that the intervention was ineffective?
The occurrence of bedbugs after the intervention is quite common – insecticides may not immediately hit all bedbugs, the bedbugs come into contact with it only in the following days, when they come out of hiding. No insecticide kills eggs, but it destroys individuals that hatch from them, so it is necessary that the surface remains treated as long as possible.

Can I move to another room?
That is not appropriate!. If the room is empty, the bedbug remains in the shelter and does not climb over the treated areas, adult bedbugs can hibernate for several months and eggs for a year.

Can insecticides hurt me if I go back to my room?
No, after thorough ventilation and drying, the products are safe for people – the deadline for returning to the room must be respected.

Can I sleep in the bed?
Yes, make the bed with clean bed linen. Do not sleep in unmade bedding.

Can a technician leave bedbug monitors in my room? Will it hurt me in any way?
Monitors are a practical tool for monitoring the occurrence of bedbugs – they are completely harmless to the human body.
Please do not remove monitors and follow the instructions of the DDD technician, the specialist or dormitory matron.

GENERAL

• in case of any doubts, check with the disinsectists or the dormitory matron;
• follow the instructions of the staff and the dormitory matron;
• killing these unpleasant insects is a long-term matter and its extermination can only succeed with your cooperation and discipline, when you follow the above rules and instructions.

TRAVEL PREVENTION

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF IN A HOTEL ROOM WHEN TRAVELING

1. PROCEDURE FOR ARRIVAL IN THE ROOM
   • Room inspection, focusing on mattresses, sheets and furniture.
   • How to check? Lift the mattress, pull out the drawers, look under the sheet, check the corners of the bedside table.
   • What to look for? Small black dots (droppings) and small white dots (eggs) stuck to mattresses, sheets, furniture, ochre transparent parts of bodies ( undressing of bedbugs), live or dead bedbugs.
2. DO NOT PLACE YOUR LUGGAGE ON THE GROUND – keep your luggage away from your bed for the duration of your stay, preferably on a chair.
3. EFFECTIVE PROTECTION – application of repellent to the suitcase or to the legs of the bed or on the mattress.
4. CHECK THE ROOM EVEN DURING YOUR STAY – bites may not appear on the body immediately, it is advisable to check yourself.

WHAT TO DO AFTER RETURNING HOME / TO THE DORMITORY

• Put your luggage in the bathtub or on the terrace. Take things out in these places.
• After removing the things, it is recommended to wash them immediately at a minimum of 60 °C (all stages of bedbugs are killed by a temperature of 45 °C).
• Freeze the luggage itself (all stages are killed by a temperature of -18 ° C for one hour) or wash.
• Everything that can not be washed (cosmetic bag, shoes, pillow put in the freezer as long as you can, the longer the better, but 1 day is enough.
• Do not forget that bedbugs can crawl into the electronics, they are attracted by heat, in this case it is recommended to inspect the electronics, clean it out and in case of any sign of the presence of bedbugs, thoroughly vacuum and the contents of the vacuum cleaner bag then freeze or throw away.