BED BUGS OMG!!!!

Maybe you folks should be more chosy over the boats you ride?
"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
"Cindy C" wrote:

Everyone I know has reacted the same as you. I watch them scratch as I
talk
to them. I feel itchy ALL of the time. I am sure alot of it is all in my
head, but I itch constantly. ;-)

DH is at the laundry-mat now. Washing (hot) drying (hot)and folding. Some
of
our clothes may never fit again (we never usually wash in hot nor do we
heat
dry many of our clothes). Still better than having new housemates.

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
. ..
I'm feeling itchy.


The worst itchy feeling I've ever had was when I was keeping my mom's
dog for her while she had done a transatlantic cruise. And I had to
board the dog to go to my grandfather's funeral. When I got the dog
back she was infested with ticks.

I didn't realize at first, that the blood engorged things I saw on her
were ticks - I'd mostly had experience with the little flat hungry
ones. I was pulling 45-50 ticks off of her in an evening (I flushed
them down the toilet). But in the interval before I recognized them,
some of the ticks dropped off and climbed up the walls and laid eggs,
and the eggs hatched into a mosaic of tiny little ticks.

Then I found a tick on me in my bed. (Fortunately, ticks are really
heavy footed for such little things) I was home by myself (Bob was
out at sea) with a baby of about a year old, and I kept thinking I had
ticks in my ears. Take it from me, there is no way you can look in
your own ears.

So I took the dog to be clipped and dipped, and left her at the vets
until my mom came home, and then I had the house fumigated.

I think ticks, noseeums, chiggers and lice are more of a problem than
bedbugs, although I've not (knock wood) had either lice or bedbugs.

Hasn't anyone here done a Google search on the issue? Bed bugs have
been making a comeback big time in the Hotel industry. It should come as
no big shock to find this includes the cruise ships, too.

... just a couple examples:



http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily...5/d01bu355.htm


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7829176/


http://www.cnn.com/2004/TRAVEL/ADVIS...viser.bedbugs/



Ed

A really good article aimed toward travelers is on MSNBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11877871/

For those who would prefer:
Concerned travelers may want to check their bed for telltale signs of
the bugs, a more common practice years ago. Before jumping into bed,
here are a few spot check tips:

* Peel back the bedsheets and check the mattress, running your
fingers along the upper and lower seams. Make sure to check the
mattress tag, bed bugs often hide there.
* Experts recommend removing and examining the headboard if
possible. Check for tiny black spots (excrement) that are smaller than
poppy seeds. You may also see translucent light brown skins or, in the
case of an infestation— live bugs.
* Check the bedside table. Look for signs of bed bugs in the
drawers and along the wall on the side of the bed that is less likely
to be disturbed by cleaning staff and guests.
* You may want to elevate suitcases and keep them off the floor,
like on a luggage stand.
* If you see powder in the drawers or on the headboard, it is
likely that the room has already been treated for bed bugs by an
exterminator.
* If bed bugs are detected, travelers should request for another
room. Be sure to inform hotel management.
* Just moving to a different room may not be the total answer.
You should repeat the thorough inspection of any new or different room
you are offered.
* When you pack to leave, inspect your luggage carefully first,
and inspect every item as you pack to help detect any bugs or their
signs. Laundering most cloth items with typical hot water and
detergent followed by drying on low heat for at least 20 minutes (or
standard dry cleaning) should kill all bed bugs in or on such items.
Sealing freshly-laundered items inside a plastic bag should help keep
any more bed bugs from getting in those items later to hide (and be
carried back with you).

Bottom Line: The little suckers are going to be a problem until a long
lasting, acceptable pesticide is developed.

Cheers,
John in LALALand

Say hi to Pax River if you go by. Used to work out of there when I was a
flight paramedic with MSP Aviation Division (1989-91) before they moved to
So. Md. Airport. Worked most of the time with a Sgt. Pilot by name of John
Christman (retired in '89) who lives/d near Leonardtown.


"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
"Cindy C" wrote:

Okay, now I feel like I have the modern plague ;-) (just trying to keep a
sense of humor...)

I'm feeling itchy.

Joppatowne, so I am not that far away!

C

I'm in MD too, but way south of you. Leonardtown (southern MD but NOT
on the Eastern Shore).

"Ermalee" wrote in message
m...
Cindy, where are you in Maryland? I hope those pesky bugs don't travel
to
Havre de Grace.

Ermalee

Cindy C wrote:

Shoreguy,

How much for that bridge? We need a new one over the North Cheasapeake
Bay. If it's cheap, I can save MD taxpayers a bundle.

No seriously, believe what you choose. As I have stated before, I have
been seeking advice from others that may have some experience with bed
bugs (or know someone who has). I also want to alert travelers to my
experience in hopes of reducing the opportunity for others to bring
these
bugs home with them. (thia has not been fun) If I have misunderstood
the
group's topic/purpose and the group only wants positive happy posts and
clever banter than I can look elswhere.

I hope you next cruise/vacation is fantastic. That you never need to
know
what one looks like and can post your happy report here with the group.
I
just wasn't so lucky this time.

Cindy


"shoreguy" wrote in message
...

Ok I have read it all - it gets less believable with every post - Buy
this I
got a bridge for you.

If you take your clothes to a laundromat, be certain to ask your
pharmacist if RID is an effective agent against bed bugs. To save
money, some laundromat owners don't make the hot water as hot as it
should be. If you wash at such a laundromat the end result will be to
infest the laundry of anyone who washes after you, and you will not be
rid of the critters. Still, the most effective pesticide is to freeze
the bugs. I suppose an alternative is to pick up some Dry Ice and
enclose a block in each bag (be sure to wear protective gloves) but I've
never done this so I can't say for sure if it works.

I ran into this mostly while a college student traveling and staying in
camp grounds or youth hostels. Mostly it was ticks, sand fleas and also
bed bugs. Back then I used a back pack of which I had a few as one was
always in decontamination. A few nights below 32F will kill just about
anything! If that doesn't work there was this stuff called Kwell Lotion
or RID. Good luck, be sure to tell the dry cleaners the problem so they
can effectively deal with it. If they refuse to take the clothes, just
try another cleaners.

On 10/31/2006 7:05 AM Cindy C plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and
said:
Thank you brian.
We sorted our laundry on the front porch (did not think to take it farther
away) into plastic heavy duty bads and sealed them They are in the back of
our truck. We plan to go a laundry-mat to wash (hot) and dry clean ther
stuff. We live in MD so it may be a while before it stays below freezing.
Not sure if we will toss the luggage or store it in a shed over winter.

My parents (also on the cruise) are doing similar. However they borrowed
luggage from a neighbor and are reluctant to return it without making sure
they do not do so with the bugs.

Thank you again for you advice. I can not get too much at this point. (I'm
not getting much at this point).

Cindy

"Brian K" wrote in message
...

On 10/30/2006 7:22 AM Cindy C plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and
said:
Leave them out in your garage until the weather goes well below freezing
for a few days. Then, launder everything. Use a 2.5 hp or stronger shop
vac on the inside of your luggage. Then take the contents of the shop vac
and dump it somewhere far far away from humans or animals.

--
________
To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951






--
________
To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

On 10/30/2006 5:10 PM RICK DAVIS plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger
and said:
I just spent the weekend at the NY Hilton (6th Ave. & W.53rd). I saw
not 1 bug nor do I have any bites. Never have. If NCL is loaded with
them maybe its the ships coming into NY that bring them to the city.
Sounds like NCL is just putting the blame on NYC instead of accepting
responsibility for its poor house keeping and maintenance. If you can't
tell NCL is at the bottom of my list of favorite Cruise Lines.


About 2 months ago WNBC News, WCBS News and several news outlets in the
New York market did stories on bed bugs. The thrust of the stories was
that this is something that is happening to major hotels. It wasn't
limited to older hotels like Hotel Pierre but some of the newest hotels
as well. It's a major urban problem effecting many cities. One
epidemiologist interviewed said that it is due to that fact that more
Americans are traveling for business or pleasure than before. The bugs
are invisible hitch hikers and travel inside of luggage. Some people
are not allergic to the bed bugs saliva. They never know they've been
bitten. A hotel guest has to be allergic to bed bug's saliva in order to
feel the bite and feel itchy. These guests may not notice the small
bites. They may travel to several places before going home, dropping
off some bugs in each location.

It is possible for a hotel to make preventive actions, which involves
frequent laundering, replacing infested mattresses, and the like. But
sometimes management makes errors in judgment like cutting back on the
hot water use in the sheets laundry. Or not using bleach on bed and bath
linens.

Another interesting point. It was reported that only a year ago, the
NYC Health Dept. inspectors did not inspect for bed bugs unless they had
received several complaints about a hotel.

--
________
To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

Thanks Brian,

"It is possible for a hotel to make preventive actions, which involves
frequent laundering, replacing infested mattresses, and the like. But
sometimes management makes errors in judgment like cutting back on the hot
water use in the sheets laundry. Or not using bleach on bed and bath
linens." illustrates my point that the number of live bugs and evidence
behind the bed and sofa in my stateroom showed a lack of training and
procedure (or possibly concern) by NCL management. That is what angers me.
The rest of this ordeal is just *extremly* upsetting.
Cindy


"Brian K" wrote in About 2 months ago WNBC
News, WCBS News and several news outlets in the
New York market did stories on bed bugs. The thrust of the stories was
that this is something that is happening to major hotels. It wasn't
limited to older hotels like Hotel Pierre but some of the newest hotels as
well. It's a major urban problem effecting many cities. One
epidemiologist interviewed said that it is due to that fact that more
Americans are traveling for business or pleasure than before. The bugs
are invisible hitch hikers and travel inside of luggage. Some people are
not allergic to the bed bugs saliva. They never know they've been bitten.
A hotel guest has to be allergic to bed bug's saliva in order to feel the
bite and feel itchy. These guests may not notice the small bites. They
may travel to several places before going home, dropping off some bugs in
each location.

It is possible for a hotel to make preventive actions, which involves
frequent laundering, replacing infested mattresses, and the like. But
sometimes management makes errors in judgment like cutting back on the hot
water use in the sheets laundry. Or not using bleach on bed and bath
linens.

Another interesting point. It was reported that only a year ago, the NYC
Health Dept. inspectors did not inspect for bed bugs unless they had
received several complaints about a hotel.

--
________
To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

Maybe Cindy would fare better if she bought a big chest freezer, plug it
in in the garage, and dump everything (luggage and all) in there and
leave it for several days! If freezing is a sure thing, it would be
worth it for the peace of mind.

Ermalee

Brian K wrote:

If you take your clothes to a laundromat, be certain to ask your
pharmacist if RID is an effective agent against bed bugs. To save
money, some laundromat owners don't make the hot water as hot as it
should be. If you wash at such a laundromat the end result will be to
infest the laundry of anyone who washes after you, and you will not be
rid of the critters. Still, the most effective pesticide is to freeze
the bugs. I suppose an alternative is to pick up some Dry Ice and
enclose a block in each bag (be sure to wear protective gloves) but I've
never done this so I can't say for sure if it works.

I ran into this mostly while a college student traveling and staying in
camp grounds or youth hostels. Mostly it was ticks, sand fleas and also
bed bugs. Back then I used a back pack of which I had a few as one was
always in decontamination. A few nights below 32F will kill just about
anything! If that doesn't work there was this stuff called Kwell Lotion
or RID. Good luck, be sure to tell the dry cleaners the problem so they
can effectively deal with it. If they refuse to take the clothes, just
try another cleaners.
On 10/31/2006 7:05 AM Cindy C plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger and
said:

Thank you brian.
We sorted our laundry on the front porch (did not think to take it
farther away) into plastic heavy duty bads and sealed them They are in
the back of our truck. We plan to go a laundry-mat to wash (hot) and
dry clean ther stuff. We live in MD so it may be a while before it
stays below freezing. Not sure if we will toss the luggage or store it
in a shed over winter.

My parents (also on the cruise) are doing similar. However they
borrowed luggage from a neighbor and are reluctant to return it
without making sure they do not do so with the bugs.

Thank you again for you advice. I can not get too much at this point.
(I'm not getting much at this point).

Cindy

"Brian K" wrote in message
...


On 10/30/2006 7:22 AM Cindy C plucked Senior Frog's Magic Twanger
and said:
Leave them out in your garage until the weather goes well below
freezing for a few days. Then, launder everything. Use a 2.5 hp or
stronger shop vac on the inside of your luggage. Then take the
contents of the shop vac and dump it somewhere far far away from
humans or animals.

--
________
To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make
once!" View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

Thanks for the idea! It sounds very good except we do not have a garage (It
is on my wish list) and my husband took all clothes to the laundrymat and
washed everything on hot and dried everything on high. So, if clothes fit
before the cruise they sure don't now! But, I can afford to lose weight. I
can not afford endless extermination bills, new carpet, new bedding etc.

I am hoping peace of mind is only a few weeks away.

Cindy

"Ermalee" wrote in message
. ..
Maybe Cindy would fare better if she bought a big chest freezer, plug it
in in the garage, and dump everything (luggage and all) in there and leave
it for several days! If freezing is a sure thing, it would be worth it
for the peace of mind.

Ermalee

FYI After speaking with many residental property managers (my old postion
and my current customers), many are just starting to find these little
suckers invading their apartment communites. One has an apartment sitting
vacant, waiting for the third extermination attempt. She is about to remove
all carpeting and exterminate again. She thinks they came with rental
furniture.

Cindy