Recap on the 2009 Bed Bug Symposium

Yesterday's Bed Bug Symposium in Newark, NJ, hosted by the NPMA, presented a full, informative day of bed bug history, habits, trends, facts, myths (de-bunked), and left off with the current state of the industry.





The day began with an introduction from Greg Baumann, VP of Technical Services for the NPMA, to the symposium's first speaker, University of Kentucky's Dr. Michael Potter. Dr. Potter, who began with a metaphor of bed bugs to "the perfect storm," went on to discuss the importance of educating the public on all facets of how to deal with bed bug problems, most importantly, advising people in positions of power in hotel and property management to take preventative measures,

"If you run a property management facility and you're waiting for tenants to start complaining...it's just a ticking time bomb...

"Periodic inspection of occupied rooms. You can't just rely on the tenants to complain."

Advice on how to choose a credible pest control company,

"This role of the educator and adviser. You've got companies who can give you advice on what is supposed to be discarded...Most pest control companies, the good ones, know what to look for."

Realities moving and delivery truck drivers must face,

"Moving and delivery trucks. You got a brand new mattress. Where did the old one go? Usually in the same delivery truck."

Solutions that work,

"If you've got one tool for bed bugs its that they can't take elevated temperatures...so a clothes dryer is your best friend...you can wash the stuff in warm or hot water if you want, but a clothes dryer is going to kill everything."

And left us all with a sobering reality,

"A silver bullet is not waiting in the wings...These bed bug incidents are inevitable. You cannot keep them out of your building."

We heard from many more professionals in the afternoon, each sharing their own expertise on different niches within the industry.



Scot Haislip represented the National Apartment Association, Liza Fleeson spoke on behalf of the Association of Structural Pest Control Regulatory Officials, and Kevin Maher represented the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Lou Sorkin was also an active member of the audience and was periodically called upon by the presenters to share his bed bug wisdom and advice.