When the Bed Bugs Bite

Date: October 14, 2010

Following extensive media coverage, most of our Flight Attendant population has now heard of the alarming increase in bed bug sightings. MSNBC reports bed bug populations in the U.S. have increased by 500 percent in the past few years. 

Considering the number of hotel rooms we utilize over the course of our careers, it bears noting some important Do’s and Don’ts when encountering or suspecting bed bug infestations at any of our layover hotels. 

There are several different scenarios one may encounter and the list of action items for all is similar and different in some aspects:

If you find bed bugs during your initial room inspection:

  1. Do try to capture or kill the bug.  Don’t give the bug to the hotel. (Put it in a sealed plastic baggie, if available) If they insist, take pictures with your cell phone. 
  2. Do call hotel management immediately and ask for a new room.  Do make them send the hotel engineer and/or head housekeeper up to inspect the infected room.  Do get names of all hotel personnel who deal with the incident.
  3. Upon home arrival, do inspect luggage before bringing it into your house. Vacuum thoroughly, just to be sure.
  4. Do fill out a TVLLOG report and include your room number.  This bit of information is very important for thorough follow up.  Do send the specimen to AFA for bug verification or keep it until it’s no longer necessary for follow up.
  5. Don’t think that it cannot happen if you are in 5-Star property.  Rooms may be cleaned quickly by housekeeping with little time to notice bug infestations. Often, hotels become aware of problems just by guest reporting, as deep cleaning happens as little as once a year. 
  6. Don’t accept a new room unless it is thoroughly inspected, preferably in conjunction with hotel employees. 

If you discover bug bites while on your layover:

  1. Realize not all bites are from bed bugs.  There may be detergents that cause rashes or markings that look like bites. Different bugs may be present (ants, roaches, spiders). Bed bugs will most likely bite uncovered areas of the body.  If in doubt, seek qualified medical care.  While on layover, refer to page 13.60.1 of your FAOM for how to report an injury/illness and seek medical attention.
  2. Do look for the bugs in your bed. See “How to Check Your Hotel Room for Bed Bugs” on our website. Take pictures of the bites and/or the bugs, if found.
  3. Remember bed bugs hide during the day and feed at night. Look carefully in mattress crevices, on head boards and night tables, on wooden luggage holders (metal holders are ideal), on curtains, rugs, lamps, picture frames, floor cracks, wall outlets – any small space.
  4. Don’t delay in calling hotel management to be moved out of the infested room, regardless of time of day.  Inspect, along with hotel personnel, the new room for bugs.  Get names of all hotel personnel that deal with problem.
  5. Do arrange cleaning reimbursement through hotel for all clothing in suitcase of infected room.  If there are confirmed bed bugs, hotel should assume all costs of making sure bugs do not hitchhike home with you.  Or, do wash all clothing in hot water and clean all other items that were in an infected room.  Thoroughly vacuum suitcases and other items after inspection. Vacuum bags should be immediately disposed in sealed plastic bags.
  6. Do seek medical care immediately if needed.  If on International layover, call SOS Medaire, who can recommend a treatment medical facility such as a Concentra center if treatment is needed immediately.  They should arrange for payment of any medical expenses incurred.  Call the Flight Attendant Service Team to report the incident and place yourself on sick leave, if necessary.
  7. The company currently requires reporting Occupational injuries/illnesses within 24 hours, however AFA has argued reporting may not be possible within that time frame.  Don’t delay reporting the bites to United.  You can find the latest Immediate Actions Checklist for Occupational injury/illness claims on the AFA MEC website as well.
  8. After arriving home, do fill out a TVLLOG and include the number of the infested room.  This is very important for follow up and documentation.  Note that while a single bed bug report may not necessarily cause AFA to disapprove a hotel, multiple reports indicate a hotel is not doing due diligence in addressing bug reports and will cause an AFA disapproval.

If you discover bed bugs or bug bites after your layover stay:

  1. Realize it can take up to a week before an allergic reaction to bed bug bites appear. Reactions can escalate later.
  2. Upon discovery of bites, do call Concentra or SOS Medaire for post layover bite care instructions.  Again, they should cover expenses incurred.  Do file Occupational reports keeping in mind the Company’s imposed guidelines for reporting.  Expeditious reporting after occurrences is of utmost importance.
  3. Look for the bugs.  Don’t assume they are gone.  Do inspect suitcases, purses, backpacks, and computer bags with a bright flashlight for signs of bugs.  Using a hot hair dryer may flush them out of hiding places and cracks. It is most important to keep any found bugs for occupational verification.  For a nominal fee, some bed bug experts can provide identification of mailed specimens or images. 
  4. Do wash all clothing in hot water and clean all other items that were in an infected room.  Thoroughly vacuum suitcases and other items after inspection. Vacuum bags should be immediately disposed in sealed plastic bags.
  5. Don’t forget to file a TVLLOG, including the room number.  The TVLLOG data base is an invaluable tool in trending these occurrences and AFA will act accordingly when evaluating all reports of bug infestations.

Post hotel incident follow up:

  1. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) bed bugs don’t spread disease.  The bigger factor associated with bed bugs may be the mental aspect associated with bug bites in your hotel room.  If you have concerns realize that AFA’s EAP is versed in dealing with very real worries and “fear factors.”  If you are struggling with emotional issues in the aftermath of an encounter with bed bugs, don’t hesitate to contact them. 
  2. Don’t fall for high priced fake bed bug treatments, which are expanding with the growing number of bed bug infestations.  The AARP states it’s best to ignore ionic, ultrasonic or electromagnetic contraptions advertised on TV or the Internet.  Also, stay away from buying aerosol “bug bombs” or other off-the-shelf products which have insecticides that may cause more harm than good. 
  3. Do find reputable pest control specialists who can show you government-issued licenses and proven experience and make sure to get referrals. The National Pest Management Association offers a zip code search for local pros with NPMA certification.
  4. Do get written estimates of work to be done keeping in mind it may take several treatments, but be wary of companies that state they must come back every month. Professional inspection and treatment can costly, depending on the type of dwelling, location and extent of infestation. 
  5. Use of canines are the latest growing trend of bed bug detectors.  If you use a canine detection service, ask for the dog’s National Entomology Scent Detection Association certificate. 

The worst case scenario for Flight Attendants would be involuntarily bringing bedbugs into your home, therefore, it is imperative we remain situationally aware of our surroundings while on layover.  Being cautious in looking for and avoiding these tiny pests can alleviate much future anguish.  Again, reporting remains the key: make sure the AFA MEC Hotel and Transportation Committee is copied in on reports by filing a TVLLOG. 

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