Yahoo posted a pretty good PR article recently by Bell Environmental Services about how to protect your home from bed bugs your kids might pick up at school.

In New York City, bed bug incidents in public schools rose to 3,590 last year, more than triple the 2009-2010 school year.

That’s a pretty significant number.

The article suggests ways of handling your child’s backpack to reduce the chance of bringing bed bugs home from school. Worth a read so go check it out.

And yet another good PR piece, this time by Raveable.com via Marketwatch.com.

In the wake of the 2010 Bedbug Epidemic the number of bedbug reports for 2011 (January 1–September 1) shattered 2010 totals by more than 660%.

If you’re interested, go see the cities with the largest number of bed bug reports. Here’s a hint. You’ve heard the saying “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Apparently not so for bed bug bites and bed bugs. I gave you a few ideas for avoiding bed bug hotels. It looks like you can add raveable.com to the list of places you can research a hotel before you travel.

Since hotels are the number one source of bed bug infestation, research before choosing where to stay on your next vacation or business trip. Specifically, check out customer ratings. If a hotel has bed bug problems people will most likely mention it online.

Yep. I don’t know how people can neglect this simple step in this age of technology. You check the weather to see if you should bring an umbrella but you don’t check a hotel to see if it has bed bugs? Come on now. If you read this site you have no excuses!

The article also makes points about how to check your room and also what to do with your luggage:

To avoid transporting bed bugs back home or to another location, never set luggage on the floor, bed or any upholstered surface. Put luggage on the luggage rack, but keep it away from the walls. Avoid unpacking into drawers and always keep suitcases closed.

Great advice. I used to travel every few weeks for work and I would always put my clothing in the drawers. Now I don’t, although I do hang things in the closet. I figure I know how to check a hotel room for bed bugs well enough to reduce my risks. But checking dressers is kind of tricky. I’m too lazy to flip the thing over and look into every nook and cranny so I prefer to simply not use them.

If bed bugs are discovered at home, immediately remove the mattress and vacuum the entire area. Consider purchasing a mattress protector and or a pillow protector.

The article also gives steps for handling your clothing and luggage when you get home. If you’ve been reading articles on this site than this press release isn’t going to teach you anything you don’t already know. But still—it’s good to see a well written piece like this used as a press release. Bravo to The Healthy Back Store.

How bad was it?

One sister was bitten 86 times. The other, 52 times. It took them about four months to recover.

Do you think it’s important to do a little research

A quick check at TripAdvisor would've shown the hotel rated at 707 out of 1062 in the area. On top of that, a reviewer even warns people not to stay "unless you want bedbugs to eat you alive!!!".

One of the most important ways you can help protect yourself from bed bugs while you travel is to avoid hotels (and hostels) that are known to have bed bug problems. You don't want to end up like the two sisters in the story about. Spend 10 minutes on the internet and save yourself from being a bed bug buffet. Read How to Avoid Bed Bugs Hotels.

45 percent of singles polled said they would cancel a date if someone admitted to a bedbug infestation.

Also:

I consider bedbugs to be in the same category as murderers or drug addicts

Wow. Guess you really, really want to make sure you protect yourself. Luckily you are in the right place to learn.

From The Body Odd at MSN.

It’s a comic-style public service announcement for bed bugs. Well written and drawn. You’ll be disgusted, entertained and made to laugh out loud all at once. Check it out: A Quick PSA From Liza.

Then along comes The Ethicist at the New York Times.

Somebody asks The Ethicist:

We had our co-op apartment treated for bedbugs. When we informed the co-op board, they said it was up to us whether to alert our neighbors. The management company advised us not to, for fear of spreading panic. I want to give our neighbors a chance to be on the lookout, but I don’t want to scare them unnecessarily or alienate them with bad news. Should I tell?

The Ethicist has a nice response. It basically boils down to:

If you know that people face a genuine, albeit insect-size, peril, you have a duty to let them know so they can protect themselves.

You can read the rest here: The Ethicist – Bedbug Disclosure – Question – NYTimes.com.

It’s not just about the ethics though. Ignoring the problem only makes the situation worse. Communication and cooperation make a positive difference.

Spring Break is in full swing in the Bay Area.  Last week, several Florida Colleges and Universities were out, and local beaches were packed. This morning a warning for those Spring Breakers, don’t bring home unwanted guests. We’re talking about Bed Bugs. The nocturnal, blood-sucking pests that can settle in places where humans sleep, including in hotel rooms, resorts and cruise ships.

The article also lists a couple of good tips to make sure you don’t bring bed bugs home with you.

Read more at Unwanted guests warning for Spring Break 2010.

How to Build Your Own Bedbug Detector
TIME – Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey have created a homemade
bedbug trap using a plastic cat-food dish, an insulated jug and some dry-ice pellets …
Read more »

Doggie Sniffs Out Bed Bugs
MyFox Phoenix – The blood eating pests, bed bugs, are found everywhere from movie theaters to mattresses. Now a local pest control company has a dog to help sniff
them out… Read more »

Don’t let the bed bugs bite
Grand Junction Free Press – BY SHARON SULLIVAN Cathy Palmer breeds and raises Beagles in Cedaredge and more recently has gone into the bed bug detection business as well… Read more »

Bed Bugs 101 Provides a Free Information Resource on Bed Bugs
PR Web (press release) – Bed Bug Central Entomologists have Created New Content to Make Bed Bugs 101 Among the Most Comprehensive Information Resources on the Web About Bed Bugs… Read more »

Bed Bugs Beware: There is a New Sheriff in Town!
Send2Press (press release) – CT Bed Bug Dogs (www.ctbedbugdogs.com) announces
this week the launch of a new business serving Connecticut residents and…
Read more »

Family shares bedbug horror
Regina Leader-Post – Now they get at least six bedbug calls per day and thousands of bedbug calls across the province each year. Gage believes increased travel and second-hand … Read more »

Bedtime comes early in the day for racers
Kenosha News.com – The Bed Bugs’ bed also featured a bathtub-sized inflatable bug surrounded by pink and yellow balloons. “It was Adeline’s dream,” explained Debbie
Hawes of … Read more »

Quigley Begbug Bill to be Considered by Assembly Panel Monday
The Jersey City Independent – “Renters should not have to live silently with bedbug infestations,” Quigley says in a statement. “Tenants who want to live in a clean and
safe environment … Read more »

It just might be the solution to the bed bug infestation that’s exploded in the city the last couple years. And what’s more, you can do it yourself. And the cost? Less than 20 bucks.

So what is this solution? It is similar to the NightWatch Bed Bug Monitor Trap. Scroll half-way down How to trap bed bugs for more information on the NightWatch. Essentially, it uses carbon dioxide to entice bed bugs into a contraption they can’t escape from. It is smart, cheap and easy enough for anybody to make.

But is it a solution to a bed bug infestation? That’s a little hopeful since traps like this have been around and in use for a while. They are thought of more as ways to detect infestations and possibly gauge how severe they are — not as a complete solution.

Dr. Wang believes this system, which works principally as a monitor to detect bed bug activity, can eventually get rid of 80% of bed bugs. He cautions it works best with smaller populations. But, when confronted with large infestations, it may have to be combined with a professional pest control service to wipe out the problem completely.

Still, it is something to consider. The short video is worth watching as you can see how the trap is made.

http://realestateqa.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/16/dealing-with-bedbugs-in-a-rented-condo/

The bottom line is that the condo’s owner and even the managing agent have some responsibility to address the problem:

The respective responsibilities between the owner and the board are governed by the condo’s bylaws. But if the building has three or more residential units, the registered managing agent may have some responsibility as well, she said.

So get them involved. Read the rest of the article for suggestions on how to proceed.