Code of Conduct – Bed Bugs

In the best interests of our guests and therefore our businesses, our local backpacking community has researched the issue of Bedbugs. The trigger for this research has been the recent upsurge in the number of incidents. This problem is not confined to accommodation houses. The problem has also been identified on charter boats and some reported cases, have almost certainly been contracted within the luggage compartments of transport providers.

This and other service providers have accepted this document as a basis of how to deal with the bedbug problem. This document holds operators liable to ensure that good housekeeping practices are implemented and maintained, in order to minimize the cost, inconvenience and discomfort associated with bedbugs.

Whilst the guest may be guaranteed that operators that accept this code of conduct are responsible to abide strictly by it, the problem (bedbugs) is inherent with the industry and the responsibility must be a shared one – The operator and the customer.

Of course it is not possible to know for sure if a certain person is the carrier. It is more important that both the establishment and the customer are educated in how to resolve the immediate issue.

 It is accepted that the responsibility of reacting to complaints is the responsibility of the operator. This requires an immediate inspection of the alleged infestation. All linen must be removed immediately and laundered separately from other linen. If a linen contractor is used the effected linen must be returned separately with instructions to ‘launder separately’. The person doing the inspection must determine whether the infestation has spread to any other beds in the room, if this has occurred the room must be closed down and a licensed pest controller called in to treat the infestation. If the infestation is confined to one bed it is acceptable to use a recommended spray to isolate the problem immediately – it is possible to action this ‘within house’ by either the cleaning/housekeeping staff or management. There are 2 or 3 products readily available that can be purchased without having to use a licensed operator.   If it is deemed necessary under these guidelines to call in a licensed pest controller, the attached sheet must be filled in and signed by the pest controller – this sheet may be inspected  by guests or the local authority at any time.

 It is expected that the guest ( possibly but not certainly the carrier) is responsible to

• Ensure they report the infestation immediately.

• Seek advice from the nearest pharmacy to confirm the bites are from bedbugs. (It is the responsibility of the guest to get advice/medication  directly form the pharmacist – this advice/medication cannot  be offered by the operator)

In Australia Bedbugs are mostly found in budget accommodation. The reason for this is that this type of accommodation deals in higher turnover of guests. Backpacking establishments are especially vulnerable to Bedbugs – (more beds per room, more travelers)

The facts:

There is no connection between bedbugs and dirty rooms/beds.
•    Bedbugs are not carried on the affected person.
•    Bedbugs are only carried on peoples clothing or luggage.
•    Only some people react to the bedbug bites.
•    The bedbugs feed for only 3 – 5 minutes in the hours prior to dawn and then return to their harborage.
•    Bedbugs are generally found in cracks/seams (furniture, bedding, linen)
•    Bedbugs pass through an egg and 5 nymphal stages to become an adult.
•    Bedbugs do not need to have a blood meal daily, the adults can last up to a year without a blood meal.
•    The picture below shows the lifecycle of a bed bug – The bedbug will measure up to 6mm across when it reaches its adult size.
•    Before the bedbug sucks blood it injects saliva containing an anticoagulant, the irritant is caused by the body’s reaction to the saliva.
•    There are many different strains of bedbugs and no ‘one cure’ is available, in fact, a resistance to chemicals has been known to make the bedbug immune to many insecticides.

How do we all know if we have bed bugs?

The first sign is often dots of blood on the bed linen, bite marks are quick to appear which are often similar to a rash but also have numerous individual bite marks. (Unlike mosquito bites which are generally bigger and spaced further apart.)
  
Commonly asked questions:

What will kill bedbugs?

o    Numerous insecticides have proven to be effective.
o    Sunlight
o    Wrapping fabric items in black plastic and placing in the sunlight.
o    Laundering clothing and linen.


Whose fault is it that bedbugs exist?

Obviously being an insect they are part of nature. They are carried by the traveler and introduced to new surroundings, hence the introduction into areas that have never encountered bedbugs before.

When there is an incident involving a customer receiving bites the responsibly to act and share the costs is a shared one.

IMPORTANT : BOTH BOAT OPERATORS AND HOSTELS MUST INFORM THE OTHER PARTY IF THEY ARE AWARE OF ANY POSSIBILTIY OF A RISK OF NEW INFESTATIONS BY GUESTS TRANSFERRING BETWEEN SERVICES