Is Bed Bug K9 Training Documentation Important?

We have all heard the terms "Bed bug K9 inspections are a scam" and know this couldn't be further from the truth! Bed bug dogs are being used all over the world and have proven to be a very effective tool in bed bug detection. Bed bug dogs are being used by pest control firms, and many have found this as an opportunity to start their own business. 

Bed bug K9's are recognized by the U.S. 9th Circuit court of Appeals as a "scientific instrument" if they are properly trained and certified. Many buy K9 detection dogs from reputable firms and get them ready to sniff bed bugs as being properly trained, certified, and licensed. One such company is the WDDO (World Detector Dog Organization) and there mission simply states: 

     "To improve the accuracy, dependability and performance of detector dog teams and to improve legal defensibility of detector dog team performance. We will achieve  these goals through quality training, education and focused evaluation of detector dog teams and trainers. It is further our mission to help member owners and handlers be the best in the industry. In addition, we are a resource center, bringing inspector K9 teams together for the purpose of better networking and communication."

Many companies go beyond the initial certification and keep good clean records of daily, weekly, and monthly training sessions. This is as critical as the initial training and certification. If good records are kept, and ongoing training is the standard, then a call to court will be a breeze. The judge is going to want to see these records and will most certainly ask for them! 

     

Some things to consider are:

• Where and when is the training taking place?
• What is the accuracy of the K9?
• Are live/dead bed bugs being used?
• What are the conditions (temperature, hide types, etc..)?
• Is one or more trainers being used?
• In addition: are the actual inspections for customers documented and available?
• And much more...! Documentation is critical.

CimTrax has developed a platform to handle all of these needs and offers a free trial with no obligation to see for yourself if it is a program that will work for you. Learn more at CimTrax.Com.

Bed Bugs; Homeowner DIY or Hire Pest Management Professional??

Bed bugs in your home? Not good, but you have options! 

What should you do? Get rid of them yourself, or call a professional pest control company? 

Homeowner Do It Yourself (DIY):

• Clean, clean, clean! A clean environment does not get rid of bed bugs, but it will give them less places to hide, and make detecting them easier. 
• Talk to a local bug mart or business that sells pest control chemicals to the public, and gain the knowledge it will take to tackle the task yourself. Be careful of buying just anything off the Internet as there are a lot of "miracle cures" that simply do not work!
• Do as much research as you can to make sure you are using the right products, and have a clear understanding of what it will take to get rid of the bed bugs.
• Do NOT use any products that require a professional license to apply, and only use approved products for homeowner use with full knowledge of how, where, and when to use the product.
• Tackling a bed bug problem yourself can get costly, and may even be more time consuming and expensive than hiring a pest management professional!

Hire a Pest Management Professional:

• Be picky on who you choose! Ask for bed bug specific references, and check them.
• A few questions you can ask them:
• Do they specialize in bed bugs?
• Do they offer a warranty? If so, what are the details of it.
• How long have they been doing bed bug cases? This may not be dated back several years, as bed bugs are a newer problem in many parts of the world.
• Do they have a specific plan or protocol for you to follow in preparing for the treatments, and what is your involvement in the process? Be prepared to invest some of your own time in preparation of the bed bug treatment, as it can be labor intensive for you and the pest control technicians.
• What are their inspection methods? K9s, visual, monitors, etc... If K9s are used, are they certified?
• Do they do follow up inspections?
• If you find a reputable company and are willing to work with them, you will have great success in dealing with your bed bug infestation, big or small.
• There is many options available for bed bug treatments, which also means the price range of services available will fluctuate dramatically. 

Our Recommendation:

If in doubt, Hire a Pest Management Professional!

Be sure to get multiple bids, do your research, and make sure you are comfortable with your decision. Try not to make a decision based solely on price... Sometimes you really do get what you pay for! 

Our Advice:

If a pest management professional comes to your home and says they can fix the problem with one simple, super cheap solution..., we worried! Dealing with bed bugs can be a process of multiple treatments, follow up inspections, and labor. There are one time treatments available such as thermal remediation (heat), but may still require multiple inspections, and possible additional residual chemical treatments.

Sounds Daunting!

Rest assured, I have been working with many pest control professionals and if you find a reputable company who specializes in bed bugs, it will make the process more enjoyable and less stressful knowing you are in good hands.

If you are experiencing a bed bug issue, feel free to contact me through our contact form at http://www.cimtrax.com/Contact_Us.html I will be happy to assist any way I can!

Regards,

Ben Forstie

CimTrax Pest & Bed Bug Documentation Software

Bed Bugs in your Apartment? You must know these tips...!

Apartments are seeing growing problems with bed bugs and are becoming more knowledgeable on how to deal with them. Many apartments are being very fair with tenants in dealing with them, but as a tenant there are certain things you must know so you are treated fairly.

Questions you should ask your apartment manager:

• Has this unit ever had a bed bug infestation before?
• if so, when was the last incident? 
• was it the only incident?
• were the adjoining units inspected/treated?
• can I see copies of the inspection/treatment records?
• if not, why?
• Have any other units adjacent to mine in this building been affected by bed bugs?
• same sub-questions as above
• What is your standard protocol in dealing with bed bug infestations?
• how long has this protocol been in place?
• who and how was this protocol made?
• What is the success rate of your bed bug treatments?
• re-infest rates?
• What type of treatments will you do?
• Heat?
• Liquid
• both?
• What type of warranty do you offer?
• (make sure it is at least 30 days, and any bugs found within 30 days you get free treatments until you can go 30 days without seeing any activity..., even if it takes months)

Documents you need from your apartment manager:

• When you first move into an apartment, make sure you get a detailed "pest control records" report on the unit you are renting. These records should show past infestations (if any) and show the 2 main pest problems you should be concerned about; Bed Bugs, and German Roaches.
• If your apartment manager is not willing to show you the historical pest records for the unit you are renting you should be concerned as to WHY!
• If you do experience a bed bug issue and the apartment management wants to treat your unit you need the following from them:
• Inspection records from your unit and make sure all adjoining units are inspected (especially if you are responsible for paying for treatment) and you want a copy of the inspection reports. 
• If bed bugs are found in adjoining units, you need ongoing inspection and treatment records along with the ones for your unit.

*Bed bugs are typically brought in by a tenant, but can come from adjoining units. If they come from an adjoining unit, it will do no good to treat only YOUR unit! Make sure you are very firm on adjoining units getting inspected at a minimum, and treated if needed. 

You NEED documentation for everything. Be educated, be firm, and you will take care of any bed bug issue you may have. They are not difficult to get rid of as long as you understand what needs to be done.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have a specific question or if you are experiencing a bed bug problem where you live. I will be happy to help!

For more information on bed bug documentation for pest control companies visit CimTrax.com

Sincerely,

Ben at CimTrax

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Bed Bugs in your childs school?

I have google alerts setup to come to my email box every day. The alert is setup for "BED BUG NEWS" and I get a quick glance each day of whats happening out there... It blows me away how many days have schools involved and often many different schools per day. And, this is only what comes through on my google alerts! I am afraid we may see the day that we simply just learn to live with bed bugs and deal with them like they did 75 years ago...

CimTrax

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Bed Bug Feeding Time!!

Bed Bugs Feeding on a Mans Arm

Have you ever wondered how bed bugs grow and multiply so fast? They need warm blood:) Bed bugs cannot survive without blood, and humans are a convenient source of food for them. I have been in homes where the undersides of beds, and other areas have looked like this. I had to post this video of Lou Sorkin feeding his bed bug populations (or his kids as he calls them)! 

Warning: do not watch if you have a weak stomach!

               
                                         Thanks to Lou Sorkin for feeding these hungry bed bugs!

Sleep tight! Don't let the bed....

CimTrax

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Dormitory Bed Bug Cases Growing

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln was in the news a couple weeks back when a student stated the school had asked her to keep quiet about a bed bug problem she had reported. They hired a bed bug exterminator to come and do a thorough bed bug inspection in there dorm rooms. Since then they have discovered bed bugs in 54 rooms according to 6News @Wowt.com. 

This is a great example of what the problem is with keeping an issue like this quiet... The more they try to hide it or let it go, the more severe the infestation gets, and very quickly. Bed bugs will not just "go away" and need to be tackled head on if found. The need for proactive bed bug inspections is more important now than ever. Nip them in the butt the second they are found before they spread. Having bed bug protocols in place will help in preventing future infestations, and minimize the effects of them if they do happen!

Have a great day!

CimTrax

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