26-10

Question 1

Bed Bugs - When attending medical calls

Answer 1

• At med calls, personnel should refrain from placing medical equipment on a patient’s be, furniture or close to the walls. If a medical bag/equipment cannot be placed on a hard surface, then preferably place garbage bag under the equipment
• Personnel should stand rathe than sit, when dealing with patients and refrain from leaning on walls, beds or other furniture
• After leaving a call, inspect the equipment and all fire-fighter gear and clothing for bed bug contamination.

Question 2

Notification if bed bugs are detected or suspected in a fire station or on clothing.

Answer 2

• The on-duty DC and/or PC
• The DivC of A&M
• A member of the H&S committee

Question 3

If bed bugs are detected or suspected on clothing or linens.

Answer 3

• Double bag all suspected clothing or lines for laundering. Ensure that the laundry tag notes the suspected infestation. Ensure that persons who will handle the clothing or linens are made aware of the suspected infestation
• DivC of A&M will take the appropriate action with clothing upon consultation with a knowledgable agency.

Question 4

If bed bugs are detected or suspected in a fire station

Answer 4

Inspect all areas of the fire station to determine the extent of any possible infestation
–seams, crease, tufts, and folds of mattress and box springs
-Under chairs, couches, and dust covers again thoroughly inspecting all creases and crevices
-folds of curtains
-Behind baseboards
behind electrical plates and in cracked, peeling paint or plaster
-Within telephones, radios and clocks
All areas must be vacuumed thoroughly. Vacuum contents must be emptied into garbage then sealed immediately

Question 5

Steps to avoid infestation

Answer 5

• Clean up clutter
• Vacuum regularly, especially baseboards and other areas that have cracks for bugs to hide and live in.
• Do not bring used furniture into the fire station without authorization
• Regularly launder bedding.