For Schools and Health Officials

At this time, public health officials do not show that bed bugs spread disease. Students should not be excluded from school due to bed bugs. If a suspected bed bug is found on a student or their belongings, the school nurse or designated trained personnel should discretely respectfully follow these guidelines.

1. Discretely remove the child from the classroom so the school nurse or designated trained contact can perform an inspection of the students clothing and other belongings. These items include but are not limited to (shoes, jackets, hats, books, backpacks, schools supplies, blankets, stuffed animals, and any additional personal items brought into the school by the student).
2. Document areas where the student has recently dwelled or areas the affected belongings have been stored or have sat for extended periods of time.
3. Try to collect a specimen(s) gently using a tissue or piece of gauze. TRY NOT TO CRUSH THE BUGS. Multiple specimens can be helpful for proper identification.

IMPORTANT: If a suspected bed bug has been found on the student or student’s belongings, remove the specimen as instructed above, but do not send the student home. The parents are to be notified by the designated school representative if A-1 Able Pest Doctors have properly identified the insect as a bed bug.

1. Upon confirmation of a positive identification by A-1 Able Pest Doctors, the school should provide a notification letter to the parent or guardian. A-1 Able Pest Doctors will provide the letter. We’ll also provide additional resources of information.
2. Contact the parents or guardian to inform them of the bed bug presence on their child. From there, we’ll provide strategies to prevent the spread of bed bugs in the home and at school. 
3. Maintenance should vacuum areas where the bed bugs were found during normal after-school cleaning. To help prevent the spread of bed bugs from room to room, place about ½ cup of talcum powder or corn starch on floors before vacuuming, so that any bugs that are sucked into the vacuum chamber will suffocate. It is especially important to draw the talcum powder or cornstarch throughout the vacuum cleaner, including any attachments, so the bed bugs that are trapped in it are killed. Remove the vacuum cleaner bags immediately after the cleaning has ended. Place the bags in tightly sealed plastic trash bags and dispose of them properly. Vacuuming alone will not stop an infestation, but it may reduce the severity of the infestation.
4. A-1 Able should be contacted immediately if a suspected bed bug has been obtained. Provide the detailed list of stored items and locations as described in #2.
5. A-1 Able will provide professional treatment if deemed necessary and approved by management. Treatment protocol will be structured around the positive identification and ODA treatment guidelines.