There was an unsubstantiated claim recently of bed bugs at the Harrison Center in Port Huron. Keely Baribeau, Director of Community Relations and Marketing for Port Huron Schools, released a statement saying, “The original claim at Harrison Center was found to be falsified after further investigation that included a certified pest control company inspecting the entire building.”
Baribeau also said that, “Although bed bugs are an occasional occurrence as they are in any district, similar to head lice, [the district] has a set procedure that [they] follow. Once something of this nature is confirmed, [they] communicate with families, either to a classroom, or the entire school if it is a building-wide issue. [They] then follow the St. Clair County Health Department’s procedures and use pest cleaning services as needed.”
The National Pest Management Association offers some tips on keeping bed bugs away including knowing the signs of an infestation- which look like pepper-like spots on bedding. Inspecting hotel rooms and suitcases, examining used furniture and washing new clothes when bringing them home for the first time are all good ways to protect yourself.
Reporting for WGRT, Karly Hurley.
