Are you an expatriate, residing in an area that is not your original home? You may be temporarily or permanently living in surroundings that are different from your hometown, or you may travel a good portion of the year due to job requirements, residing in various locations. If this is the case, you might wonder about bed bug bites and how you can avoid them. Read on to learn some very helpful tips.

There are certain public areas where bed bugs can be more prevalent. You should be careful of the following locations:

1. Hotel and motel rooms – Because bed bugs come out to feed at night, beds and bedding in hotels and motels are a prime place to be bitten.

2. Public transportation, such as buses, trains, planes and subways – With people traveling all over the place in close proximity to each other, it’s relatively easy for bed bugs to hitch a ride on your bags or clothing when you’re using public transport.

3. Laundromats – If you use shared laundry facilities, take care to keep your clothing separate from other peoples, where bed bugs might be hiding. As a precaution, wash and dry your clothes on a high heat setting, as bed bugs are killed by extreme heat.

4. Retail stores – In a recent high profile case, stores in Manhattan were closed for fumigation because of bed bugs. Clothing and soft furnishing stores are particular hot spots.

5. Thrift stores and yard sales – Be wary of buying secondhand furniture that might harbour bed bugs, and avoid buying used mattresses at all costs.

6. Office buildings – Carpets and upholstered furniture, combined with visiting clients and workers coming and going, make offices a good breeding ground for bed bugs.

7. Movie theaters – Bed bugs can thrive in the soft upholstered seats, feeding on the many human bodies that visit theaters.

8. Public libraries – Bed bugs have been found in the pages and spines of library books.

9. Hospitals – Infestations of bed bugs have occurred in hospitals in recent years. You’re unlikely to be checking for them if you get sick, but although their bites are unpleasant, they do not spread diseases.

10. Restaurants – There have even been reports of bed bugs in restaurants. Try to avoid putting your bags on the floor or hanging your coat up next to those belonging to other diners.

As this top ten shows, bed bugs can be found in pretty much any public place. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize your chances of becoming a victim of their nasty bites when traveling:

• Before traveling to a new destination, check it out beforehand by doing research online. Check bed bug hotel registries to ascertain which areas at your destination are having problems. By researching the hotel where you intend to stay, you will learn if there have been any recent outbreaks and if they have been resolved satisfactorily. Southeast Asia, Africa and South America have all had problems with bed bugs, with London and Australia also experiencing outbreaks. For that matter, locations right in the United States have been plagued by these creatures in recent years. Even a five star hotel can be afflicted with bed bugs. When traveling, do your research beforehand.

• On arrival at your accommodation, you will need to carefully go over your room. Look for bed bugs themselves and also for signs that they have been or presently are in the room. Bed bugs are reddish-brown with six legs and are approximately the size of an apple seed. They are oval in shape and flat, plumping up when they have eaten. When you check your room, look for black flakes, which will be fecal matter. You will also need to look for shed skin, red or brown stains and eggshells.

• Inspect the bedding, bed frame and mattress and other areas of the room. Check behind the headboard and items hanging on the walls. Inspect folds and seams of upholstered furniture. Use a flashlight and magnifying glass when you do your search. Keep your suitcases on a table or luggage rack, never on the bed or floor. Protect your packed clothing by storing items in plastic bags within your luggage. You may even want to bring your own bedding with you rather than using what the hotel provides. If you do notice signs of bed bugs, request another room in a different location within the hotel, or demand a refund and check in to another hotel.

• Always wash your clothing items in the hottest water possible upon return, just in case any bugs are hiding there.

If you keep a watchful eye for bed bugs and exercise caution, you will protect yourself from these nasty nuisances.

About the Author:

Karen Barnes currently writes for a bedbug website that has lots of practical advice on dealing with these pests, including tips on using bedbug traps and other means to get rid of them.

Tags: expats

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