Part 2 of Sleep tight don't let the bed bugs bite

Increase in Nasty Bed Bugs Seen

Updated: Tuesday, 31 Aug 2010, 9:24 AM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 31 Aug 2010, 6:56 AM EDT
Mark
Hayes
By MYFOXATLANTA STAFF/myfoxatlanta

ATLANTA - They are nasty little critters and they only come out at night but bed bugs are showing up in almost epidemic proportions and they aren't just showing up in beds -- they seem to be almost everywhere.

But you can protect yourself if you take the necessary precautions and you know what to look for.

Jason Stepowski, his son and his pregnant wife have all been viciously attacked by the critters. Experts say they don't carry disease but the numerous bites can be very painful.

And they are just in your bed anymore. From movie theatres like one in Times Square, the bed bugs are traveling at an alarming rate - even in high end stores and hotels. The nasty little critters prefer to catch a ride by jumping on you.

But you can protect yourself and it starts when you get off the plane...

"When you get back to your car you want to take your suitcase and wrap it in a thick heavy plastic bag," says Chuck Tindol.

Chuck Tindol is a pest control specialist with Allgood Pest Solutions . He says there are ways to protect yourself and keep the nasty bugs out of your bed and out of your home and it starts when you pull your bag out of your car and then head to the wash.

"You don't want to empty it inside your house because if you have bed bugs you are going bring them in your house," said Tindol.

Tindol says the next step is separating your clothes and heading to the laundry room.

"What will kill bed bugs is heat, so use the hot cycle," said Tindol.

And then we head to the bed room, so when traveling on business or pleasure learn how to check your beds. Dead bed bugs look no bigger than an apple seed but you can find them if you look carefully.

Tindol also says that next step is to encase your mattress in a protective covering that can be purchased where bedding is sold or from pest control specialists.

Tindol also adds that if you notice the bedbugs you need to call an expert immediately to eradicate the problem or they will continue to infest that area.