The acronym “SLEEP” has been designated for travelers as part of a public awareness campaign for
bed bugs. As travelers are moving between cities, states, and countries, the risk of a
bed bug encounter is lurking around every corner. SLEEP is just a friendly reminder that bed bugs are problematic for temporary rental management firms, college dorms, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and inns.
‘Survey’ – Take The Time To Inspect
Survey is a gentle reminder to inspect your motel room before bringing in your luggage.
Bed bugs have a tendency to target temporary rental facilities like
motels,
hotels,
inns,
hostels, and
bed & breakfasts. Protecting your personal assets from a bed bug encounter should always be in the back of your mind.
Lift And Look – What Is Lurking Below
Lift/look is a special way to encourage hotel guests to inspect their rooms carefully. If necessary, you can utilize a flashlight and a magnifying glass to inspect mattresses and box springs, looking for signs of
bed bugs. You should not stop here, move on the carpet, drapery, upholstery furniture, bed frame, and baseboards. Whenever possible lift and look underneath mattresses, box springs, and pillows.
Elevate – Inspect At Eye Level
Lift items up to eye level and inspect them carefully.
Bed bugs are tiny insects that will crawl inside the tiniest crevice to avoid human detection. Carefully inspect the hotel-provided luggage rack and never sit your suitcases or overnight bags on the floor.
Examine – Get Up Close And Personal
Do not be afraid to take the SLEEP campaign to the next level by getting up close and personal with the examination. This is where your flashlight and magnifying glass will come into play. You can utilize these items to get a better view of baseboards, floorboards, loose wallpaper, and bed linen.
Place – Take Advantage Of Hotel Amenities
Most hotels have a guest laundry facility, which you should definitely take advantage of for this specific purpose. Transport your clean and dirty clothes to the guest laundry before permanently checking out of the
hotel. Do not just wash your clothes, instead sterilize them while eradicating any potential living bed bugs with the help of 100+-degrees of hot water and heat.\
Afterword
SLEEP has proven to be extremely handy for travelers visiting
bed bug-infested locations. At first, it will appear more like a chore than a helpful bed bug deterrence tool. But, after a few tests runs, it will start to feel like second-nature. Protecting your home starts with a full-blown inspection of your home-away-from-home.
