Got Bed Bugs? Bedbugger Forums » Tools/ideas for fighting bed bugs
Terrified of spreading to work
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nycbedbug
junior member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 51
Posted 3 months ago
Sun Aug 23 2009 15:23:58
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Hi all,
I've just had treatment #3 and am in that "wait and see" stage, constantly thinking I have a new itchy spot but then finding either no actual bite or maybe a tiny dot...assuming I do not get any definite new bites (or see any other evidence of bugs, which I never have), the PCO is going to come back in 3 weeks for a canine inspection.
My huge worry is that I'm a teacher, and am about to return to work after a horrible last month of the summer spent in this battle against bedbugs. I am completely terrified of somehow bringing bedbugs to work. Things spread really fast in a school, and I could not possibly deal with my classroom being infested (for the work it would take to pack it up and also for the worry that if I eliminate them at home, I could then bring them back from work).
I am obviously taking every precaution recommended in the FAQ, thus will be waking up super early to engage in the ridiculous morning routine I have adopted: shower, blowdry hair while standing in the bathtub, get dressed in clothes, shoes, and bag that have been sealed up until just before putting on, etc.
I guess what I'm looking for is any additional advice or support others can offer -- I know not everyone is as lucky as me in that I have not had to worry about going between home and work every day as of yet. How do you deal with the constant worry about spreading them?
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truleysincere
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 12
Posted 2 months ago
Mon Aug 24 2009 12:00:02
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omg! I have a similar problem. I also teach and am worried that i will bring them with me to work. At least u have been treated. the exterminator came and didnt find anything therefore didnt' treat which sucks cause i found one but was stupid enough to flush it... I too have not enjoyed my summer and I have a nine month old who I worry about. and its going to be difficult for me to have a routine like yours in the morning cause i have to worry about one getting in her carriage and then in my car..or to her babysitters house... ugh i'm completely depressed. let me know how it goes for you.
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buggyinsocal
oldtimer
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 1,130
Posted 2 months ago
Mon Aug 24 2009 12:21:54
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nycbedbug,
It sounds like you and I are in slightly different circumstances since from your description (your fear of bringing them into your classroom) it sounds like you're a K-12 teacher while I teach at the college level.
I, however, also worried about bringing them in to work. And then once I got over that, I worried about bringing them home from work. After all, a student handing in a paper in a folder that sat in a bedroom could easily have hitch hikers on that folder, right?
So here's what I can tell you:
First up, the things you're doing--isolating work clothes vs. home clothes, only wearing work clothes immediately after showering and to work and removing them immediately upon arriving at home, taking similar caution with your shoes--are all good.
Secondly, I can tell you that I had the bugs from sometime in March 2008 until June 2008 before I realized that my apartment was infested. During that whole time, obviously, I wasn't doing anything to prevent the spread. Despite that, I did not bring the bugs into either of the schools I work at.
Thirdly, I don't know how much grading you do at home, but aside from clothes and bags, the other items you'll need to worry about are books and papers that go back and forth. Once I knew I had the bugs, since I was only at school one day a week, I picked a few work outfits that I decontaminated and wore those for the rest of the summer session. I kept the shoes I knew were safe in a ziplock outside the home and changed into in the home shoes once I got to my front steps. And my bag, once it had been inspected and sprayed with alcohol and dried (this is before Packtite was even available), went into a ziplock immediately upon arrival at home.
(Mind you, since I had thermal, I only had to do that for about two weeks, but still. I was so paranoid I kept doing it for a few weeks after, even though I now know the thermal got them all in one go.)
But remember, I also took no precautions from whenever they came home with me in March through mid June, and they didn't hitch a ride then.
Hang in there.
If you've worked out a protocol for that, chances are very good that you won't bring them in to school.
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truleysincere
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 12
Posted 2 months ago
Mon Aug 24 2009 16:51:49
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You are correct. I teach grades 2/3 self contained. So I do bring a lot of papers home: lesson plans, IEP's, tests (3rd grade is a testing grade). I can't imagine how I will manage all of it without worrying about bed bugs. I am also going back to school in Sept. for my masters, and its the final class (thesis and all) which means, lots and lots of paper work.... how scary is that?
I am definitely going to have to figure out a routine right away. Alone, no big deal, but with a soon to be 10 month old, huge deal... like I said, her carriage could harbor something, her diaper bag, and even her. It's just such a sad dilemma. I'm just gonna deal with this one day at a time and try to be as careful as can be. I know there are no guarantees :-(
So the thermal treatment worked well? How long have you been bed bug free? -
nycbedbug
junior member
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 51
Posted 2 months ago
Mon Aug 24 2009 18:25:25
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I'm not going to bring any papers or books home, nor will I bring my laptop back and forth...I'll have to do all of my work there and come home only when I'm completely finished and ready for the next day -- a huge change in routine.
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truleysincere
newbite
Joined: Aug '09
Posts: 12
Posted 2 months ago
Mon Aug 24 2009 18:47:02
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I would do that, but I have to rush to get the baby at the sitters house, and I can't take my little one back to work, because there are too many germs and of course that other annoying thing called Swine Flu :-(
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