Parents of college students have more than just grades and partying to worry about! Unfortunately, the dorm environment is a perfect storm for bed bug infestations.

Even the finest universities face bed bug problems:

• Like hotels, dorm rooms are filled with people and fabric.

• Students come from all over the country and globe, increasing the odds of exposure.

• Cramped spaces and dorm room socializing make it even more likely to spread bed bugs.

Make sure you and your kid know how to spot dorm bed bugs:

• Look for bugs (dead or alive) as well as blood or fecal stains.

• Check baseboards and under beds for exoskeletons or molting.

• Check mattress seams for holes and signs of bed bug activity. Don’t assume plastic-coated mattresses are safe.

If a bed bug scare hits your child’s university, be prepared to protect your home:

• Have your student change clothes upon arrival at home.

• Unpack clothes directly into the washing machine. Wash and dry on hottest settings.

• Items that can’t be machine-washed should be sealed in bags and frozen for 2 weeks, or heated to 120 degrees for 2 hours.

• Still see signs? Call Stern Environmental immediately for pest control.

Talk to the school about their bed bug protocol so you can all be safely prepared. And have your own plan to contact Stern Environmental if your child brings home bed bugs!