Hey all-
After bed bug exposure at a hotel, I've become quite paranoid, as many people on here have. I spent too much time educating myself and now I have what someone here called "head bugs." I see the potential for bugs EVERYWHERE. For the experts and those of you who have gone through this and consider yourself in a better headspace, I'd like to know what you do in your day-to-day normal life and some advice for mine. I have found some answers in old threads, but I'd like to revive this topic if that's ok...
What would you do...
1. After riding public transportation, if you visually checked the area- this could be subways, trains, buses, etc.- whatever applies to you
2. After going somewhere seemingly innocuous, like a doctor's office, if you've visually checked the area
3. After going clothing shopping or receiving clothes in the mail
4. After receiving other packages in the mail
5. After visiting (spending time, not staying over) others' homes who you have no reason to believe have been exposed to bed bugs, but who you do not believe are educated/vigiliant
6. After a trip- a. Staying with a friend b. Staying at a hotel (if you've done visual examinations of both)
7. After going to the movies or a theater where it's too dark to do a good visual check
8. This one is more personal to me- I'm an physical therapist in a major bed bug city. I work in a school that's fairly decently maintained, but still has pests, as most do. I know that a teacher in the school had bed bugs in December, that she caught early after her boyfriend's trip and she was careful during this time. There have been no bed bug sightings at this school in 4 years. Would you just hang your stuff up in a closed closet and let that be it? Would you bag your bags, shoes, and jacket upon entering and have work shoes? Would you dry your clothes every day when you come home? I come in close physical proximity with kids as an physical therapist and am on the floor with them all day. I want to do something that makes sense and is maintainable, but will protect me, too.
Thanks so much for your input----> you guys are a great support system and sounding board!