“Pest” Control, Bed Bugs and Residual Insecticide Powders

 I see that someone is illegally claiming ownership  of the above PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGE of; Bedbugs seen in a container from the lab at the National Pest Management Association, during the National Bed Bug Summit in Washington--photo produded as part of the- normal and expected-Job Description -of a Government official or employee.
No problem to Read more: http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/bedbugs-among-homeless-carry-superbugs-study-1.642757#ixzz3FZwXqacN
“If possible, purchase high quality mattress encasements (fabric only). These are available directly through the exterminators, and can be fitted onto the mattress by your technician. Plastic covers nearly always rip, and actually make things worse, because a torn cover creates more harbourage area for the bugs, and also significantly hinders treatment. If the mattress already has a plastic cover on it, it should be removed and discarded before we arrive for treatment. If fabric encasements cannot be purchased, the mattress will instead be treated with a product that is safe to use on mattresses.”

Of course, the writer is overlooking; fails to care; OR AT LEAST COMPREHEND; that those on fixed income, people with addictions, disabilities, seniors (labelled by our governments as permanent welfare cases) THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE FORCED TO SUBSIST –OR AT LEAST ATTEMPT TO SURVIVE ON LESS THAN $1500.00 A MONTH; FAR, FAR, BELOW THE ESTABLISHED POVERTY LEVEL; the most vulnerable people in our Canadian society; MUST SET PRIORITIES. Is a “high quality” mattress cover (of course, pillow covers must also be purchased) more important than adequate clothing, communication (telephone or medical alert), dental care, exercise, food, health care, housing, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION; yes, include entertainment, relaxation and unexpected emergency expenses. Obviously, Old age SECURITY??? will not cover all.

Quite some time ago now, I purchased a new futon mattress  (which is still on the futon) and "QUALITY" fabric mattress cover from a major department store. The first thing I discovered, when attempting to put the new cover over my new mattress, was that while labeled as being the correct size; it was much too large for a correct fit. The second thing that I discovered was that the "quality" "bug proof" fabric had several manufacturing flaws--holes large enough for an insect as large as a cockroach--needn't worry about bed bugs--to crawl through.

“If you do not have a bedframe, we highly recommend obtaining one. The main need is to get the bed off the ground. Anything will do-bricks, milk crates, etc. You can also purchase simple metal bed frames directly through-x-terminators. Treatment is significantly more effective when the sleeping surface is raised off the ground so that the legs can be coated with a residual pesticide.This way, the sleeping area is fully protected. Avoid using bed skirts and keep the bed slightly away from the wall for at least 2 weeks following the final treatment. Clear away all items and clutter underneath the bed, and around the bed area.”

Again, the writer overlooks a few very important facts: the use of milk crates amounts to theft and although not often enforced is punishable by law (fines; even jail).Bricks,or wooden blocks, provide additional (create more) harbourage area for the bugs; harbourage areas that are not going to be reached by any form of pesticide; and/or heat treatment-bricks also being a form of insulation . Any PURCHASE costs money; that includes simple bed frames-remember the “fixed” incomes of most seniors. 

What kind of RESIDUE insecticide product?What, exactly; does"is safe to use on mattress" mean-that it is safe for the mattress fabric? If inhaled, as it would be; how will this "safe on mattresses" product affect some one that is already suffering from COPD or another respiratory disease? If is now recognised tha the improper use of "Baby Powder" can not cause childhood asthma and be a possible contributing factor in "crib deaths; but is a cause of ovarian cancer among women.

I have never used or allowed Diatomaceous Earth powder to be used in my apartment but a few years ago a neighbour did-very excessively. To this day every time I vacuum MY rugs the vacuum becomes clogged with insecticide dust. Yes, Diatomaceous Earth, CHRYSANTHEMUM based insecticides, even ordinary Talcum Powder will eventually kill the insects. But, they might eventually kill you as well and they just might kill you first. All of these powders “hook” on to an insect in a manner similar to the way that ASBESTOS, coal, fibre glass or grain dust hooks into the skin or lungs.

Talcum powder: linked to ovarian cancer in women; is still, commonly, used on babies (Baby Powder) yet it is now known that the inhalation of this powder can cause chronic asthma and could possibly be a contributing factor in some crib deaths. Chrysanthemum based powers are already known to cause contact dermatitis and other allergic reactions. 

FIFTY YEARS AFTER BEING EXPOSED to the "Wonder Product of all Wonder Products", kids used the stuff for play dough,(they would also play with mercury, coating one cent pieces with the liquid metal; the coins were carried around in the child's pockets) the victims are still being newly diagnosed with Mesothelioma.

Study Links Pesticide Exposure in Pregnancy to Autism (Reuters Health)

“We already knew from animal studies as well as from epidemiologic studies of women and children that prenatal exposure (to pesticides) is associated with lower IQ,” Landrigan told Reuters Health. “This study builds on that, uses the population of a whole state, looks at multiple different pesticides and finds a pattern of wide association between pesticide exposure and developmental disability.”

“One lesson or message for parents is to minimize or eliminate use of pesticides in their own homes,” Landrigan said.

Although I have already been deprived of any choice; I did not wish to be breathing or in any way touching any of these products. You would, UNDOUBTEDLY, do well to avoid them as well. 

If; the crawling up bed, chair or sofa legs from the floor represented the main problem to be solved concerning bed bugs, even if; it were a major part of the main problem; control, and eventual eradication, would be amazingly easy, and inexpensive, involving nothing more than a couple of the large size glue pads (advertised for mice or rats), a good pair of scissors, a roll of tape, and a few minutes of time-less than it would take to spray a smelly, toxic chemical around. Simply form the card or pad into a box or tube shape (Catch Master are pre creased) cut away enough of the tube so that it will fit UNDER and around the bed leg (like a coaster) without the top part of the tube touching any part of the leg.

There are also added bonuses in that the glue cards or strips are long lasting, odourless, and non-toxic, cannot create respiratory problems, are impossible for the bed bug to bypass and by using the method that I do; there is absolutely no mess. There are some furniture legs on which the glue strip may be a little more difficult to apply; in this case, while a little more messy,  a wrap of duct tape, to which a coating ring of Vaseline has been applies  will work sufficiently well.
Bed bugs are most often spread by would be exterminators, due to inadequate preparation and treatment plans. They are also spread by human carriers (anyone entering the apartment, building, or office); residents, or visitors moving from, say, a bed, to a chair, to a sofa, and back again.

Complete eradication is also comparatively easy; except that it is inconvenient and involves a considerable amount of time—up to six months.

Because like all living things, bedbugs must feed and because bedbugs feed only on blood; the wearing of protective bite proof clothing; clothing which covers the entire head and face. Like clothing worn in an isolation or operating room said clothing must be put on (in an isolated area) immediately before entering the apartment or room proper and must be taken off and decontaminated (in the same isolated area) immediately before leaving. The bed bugs must either move on or starve to death. If the apartment or room has first been properly prepared; making migration at least difficult; if not impossible; They Will, All Starve To Death.   

I just now noticed an ad that has been placed on my Your Health-Psychology, the Girvan's Way website. The ad includes an image of a victim of bed bugs. He is shown, wearing street clothing, with bites on the back of the neck. Most people, perhaps including those who placed the photo, will miss the true significance of this photo. While it is true that after biting a bedbug will always return to a place of safety, or sanctuary; that place does not have to be in an apartment, bed, furniture, or even in a building. Yes, they are susceptible to rapid temperature change; but bed bugs are still hitchhikers. The significance of this: 

• You might have made, and carried through with all the necessary  preparations and recommendations asked for, or suggested by an exterminator.
• The exterminator has made several return calls (a minimum of three, at about $500.00 each) and may (which is highly improbable, considering that he or she has still failed to reach-probably 40%-of the bugs; those hidden behind and under baseboards, heating systems, along the edge and between the fibres of carpets, in window frames, venetian blinds, in bricks, milk crates, or wooden blocks used as bed supports, etch-all of which provide an additional, undefendable ladder to the bed and mattress) have eliminated ALL of the bed bugs IN your apartment, building, room, etc--and yet you still have them.
• That's the catch. Unlike fleas, or lice, bed bugs do not live on the body; but, they do live in clothing. You and your clothing may be their place of sanctuary. The   exterminator arrives, you leave; the exterminator leaves; you return; and so do the bed bugs.
• Of course, bed bugs are quite capable of climbing from the floor and up the bricks, milk crates, wooden blocks, legs of beds, chairs, or other furniture to do their feeding; but that is NOT how they are most often spread. Instead, it is, usually, the person them selves that carries, and spreads, the bugs; from one location to another, in their clothing.
• The INSIDE leg seam of blue jeans is a favourite place for any kind of bug to hide. If you then use only the warm, or permanent press, cycle of your washer and dryer (as is recommended by clothing manufactures) any bugs hidden between the folds; can, and often do, survive.  
• THERE IS PRESENTLY ONLY ONE POSSIBLE WAY OF GETTING RID OF ALL THE BED BUGS AND THAT TOO IS DOUBTFUL. "TRUE" FUMIGATION (read more about it, in linked posting) MUST BE USED, ALL SHOES, BOOTS, BELTS MUST BE TREATED OR LAUNDERED CLOTHING, WHETHER HANGING IN CLOSETS, STORED IN DRAWERS-EVERYTHING. THEN ALL CLOTHING AND OTHER ITEMS THE PERSON MAY BE WEARING MUST ALSO BE TREATED IN SOME WAY; BEFORE THE PERSON RETURNS--AN  EXPENSIVE ORDEAL- ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS. 

The long and the short of all this: the above described, and prescribed, treatment plan represents not only a major expense (necessity of obtaining food and undoubtedly for many mobility challenged seniors; lodging --a place to sleep--on at least three separate occasions). It is a source of excessive stress (additional health risk); and for the only reasons; outlined in this and the linked posts will not only prove useless in counteracting this ever growing, on-going problem (six years--over). I have been in my apartment for close to thirteen and have had to rely on my own resources in attempting to combat this; well known, and often complained about problem for almost all of this period.

I truly believe that this should have been plenty long enough to develop a sustainable; and most of all workable; solution--working in conjunction with individual tenants--that is conducive to both the RIGHTS and to the OBLIGATIONS of all. This “BAND-AID” not so quick “FIX” will only continue to spread it. You simply cannot provide any useful, worthwhile treatment, to two entire floors; of even bachelor apartments, in less than one day. Each apartment should probably take that long—just for the initial inspection and to find the majority of the hiding places and infested areas.

Well, the exterminators came people had to leave their apartments-immediately. The exterminators did their thing; they sprayed. Not in my  apartment, I didn't allow them entry; but because none of the other apartments were properly prepared before hand It has already become apparent that about all they succeeded in doing was to cause cockroaches to migrate. Most of the bedbugs will undoubtedly have migrated as well but, of course, that is much harder to prove.

©Al (Alex-Alexander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.