My first bedbug hysteria

[guest464345]

A special moment for every newish school nurse....my first bedbug hysteria!

A student told me a couple days ago that their home was being treated for bedbugs, and complained about itchy bites. Student is over 18 and their own guardian, not living with parents but rather in a home owned by a friend's parents. Student reports that a professional exterminator has been out for two visits. I didn't actually see bites, but student reports pruritis and skin is reddened from scratching. I didn't see insects on the student. I haven't seen insects in the school, and there have been no other bedbug reports. Kids at our school aren't allowed to bring in backpacks or anything from home, other than a phone and headphones, so I'm not worried about backpacks/lockers/etc.

I reviewed materials from public health with student about how to prevent "hitchhikers", steps to follow at home, etc. As the student reports keeping clean clothes bagged up & away from beds/upholstered furniture, I am not requiring them to change clothes at school or anything like that. I asked my Lead Nurse about district policy, since I couldn't find one, and was told that of course we don't exclude the student, but I had to inform my administrator. Which I did. In his wisdom he decided to announce this at an all-staff meeting (surprise!) and leave me to answer the panicked questions, including repeated demands to reveal the identity of the student (I did not).

Now all hell has broken loose. I have the information sheets from CDC and the EPA, but factual information is not turning out to be particularly useful. What do you do in this situation?

I sure don't want bedbugs either. But mostly what I want to do is yell, "You do realize that there are almost certainly kids in our building every day of the school year who have bedbugs at home? Do you stay in hotels? Do you visit movie theaters? Then calm down." Don't think that'd help either.....

[RNTadaaaa]

La flaca wow. Your administrator deserves the strongest side eye I can muster for making that announcement in front of the staff.

Unfortunately I am sorry I do not have much experience in the bed bug matter at my school but I'd be doing exactly what you're doing by sending out those fact sheets. Maybe (if you have time) also send or distribute a fact sheet with most frequently asked questions regarding bed bugs, prevention, etc..

Like you said, they'd be so surprised how often they've already come across bed bugs without even knowing!