Health and Counseling Services

Health Services: Bed Bugs

The United States is seeing a growing number of bed bug cases in all types of areas such as department stores, theaters, offices, hotels, homes and college residence halls.

Important facts to remember about bed bugs:

• Bed bugs are not known to transmit disease.
• Bed bugs are treatable, but require assistance from a pest control company as well as cooperation from the residents.
• It is not possible to identify a bed bug infestation by simply looking at a bite.
• It is very helpful to obtain a sample of the insect to confirm presence of bed bugs.
• If you have a rash/bites, there may be other possible causes such as dry skin or other insect bite.

If you suspect you may have bed bugs you should report it to your hall office or Resident/Community Assistant immediately. If possible obtain a sample and bring it to the Facilities office. Please do not stay in a friend’s room or host guests until the situation is investigated. While it may be tempting, it will potentially spread the problem.

What will happen once I report possible bed bugs?

Residence Life will contact the Facilities department to inform them of location. Facilities will then contact the exterminator to perform an assessment of your room/suite/apartment. The exterminator should arrive to assess within 24-36 hours.

Questions that you may be asked:

• Why do you suspect that you have bed bugs?
• How long have you suspected this problem?
• Have you seen any bugs?
• Have you been bitten? If so, where?
• Does your roommate(s) have any bites or irritation?
• Do you know anyone who has bed bugs?
• Have you had any guests recently? Do you know where they were before they visited you?
• Have you recently brought anything new into your room?  Where did you get it?
• Do you have any guests who are scheduled to visit your room?

If bed bugs are confirmed then the following steps will need to be taken:

Once it has been determined that bed bugs are present, each resident should launder enough clothes for three days. They should be laundered in hot water and dried at the hottest dryer setting. After a student launders their clothes they should remove the clothes they were wearing and launder them as well. Any remaining clothing that can be laundered should be bagged up in thick plastic bags (available in hall office) and labeled.  These bags will be picked up by an outside contractor (laundry or dry cleaning service) and sent to the contracted facility.  The laundry should be sent as early in the day as possible to minimize turnaround time.

Students will be provided with a bed bug treatment preparation check list.  Residents will need to vacate their room on the day of treatment for several hours. Each resident needs to confirm that their living unit is ready for treatment via e-mail to the GRD/AD/RD. They will have 24 hours from the confirmation of bed bugs to prepare their apartments for the exterminator. As part of the treatment, encasements will be put on each mattress.

Follow up treatments will be conducted as necessary.

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Emergencies

In the event of an medical emergency, please call

9-911(on-campus) or
911 (off campus)

You can also contact Ramapo College Security at X 6666 (on-campus) or (201) 684-6666 (off campus). This will activate the Ramapo College Emergency Response System.

Health Services is NOT an Emergency Department and cannot provide the level of care that Emergency Department does.

Appointments

Please call
(201) 684-7536
(off campus) or X 7536 (on campus) to schedule your appointment.

All patients are seen on an appointment basis. Emergencies are seen immediately. Due to the limited number of appointments available, patients are asked to call and cancel an appointment if you are unable to keep it. Also, if you are 10 or more minutes late for an appointment, your appointment is canceled. You will be rescheduled for the next available appointment.

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