Rule 10: Avoid the bugs

Like germs, insects can spread from one home to another.

No Judgement: It’s not about judgment but about the family trusting you to share and working together to find solutions.

All kinds of bugs can spread from a home visit to your home. If someone in the home has something contagious, you should consider rescheduling the home visit. Depending on your agency, some insects might be considered contagious. Find out your agency’s policies.

You don’t know who has what when you go in. Make it a habit to follow standard precautions everywhere you go.

Not all roaches are the same. The small ones are German and more likely to tag along with you.

German Cockroach

“This is the roach most dreaded and abhorred by homeowners and apartment dwellers alike. German cockroach, Blatella germanica, is the species most commonly involved in chronic indoor infestations. They occur worldwide and thrive indoors where they have ready access to food and water. German cockroaches are especially common and problematic in multifamily housing, as well as restaurants and other commercial facilities. They can also infest single-family homes. This is the species that is most often associated with cockroach-induced allergies in children and adults. It is also one of the most difficult roaches to control because it develops resistance to insecticides and “aversion” to baits.”

Taken from “Control Cockroaches In and Around Your Home,” a publication from MS State Extension at https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/control-cockroaches-and-around-your-home

“Inspect Your Belongings. Carefully examine your clothing, bags, and personal items that you took with you to the infested house. Roaches can hide in small spaces, so look for any signs of the pests or their eggs.

Change Clothes and Shoes. Consider changing your clothes and shoes outside your home, if possible. This reduces the chance of roaches or their eggs entering your living space.

Isolate Items. If you suspect that any items you brought back might be infested, isolate them in a sealed plastic bag until you can take proper action.

Vacuum and Clean. Thoroughly vacuum your clothing, bags, and any items you suspect might be contaminated. Empty the vacuum bag or canister outside your home to prevent any potential roaches from re-entering.

Launder Items. Wash the clothing you wore during the visit in hot water, if possible. High temperatures can help eliminate any roaches or eggs that might be present.

Taken from “Visiting a House with Roaches,” on April 9, 2024 at The Cockroach Fact https://thecockroachfact.com/visiting-a-house-with-roaches

If your home visit had bed bugs, do this…

After a visit to a client’s home, return home directly.

Take precaution by removing clothes and shoes and
placing them in the dryer on high heat for 30 minutes. Heat kills bed bugs in all life stages.

The following additional practices may help avoid transporting bed bugs from a client’s home:

• Keep the car clear of clutter; inspect it frequently; vacuum weekly.
• Keep a pair of shoes and a jacket for use only in clients’ homes in a sealed container in the car.

Taken from “Visiting Client Home Fact Sheet,” at Cuyahogabedbugs.org retrieved April 9, 2024.

Read this to learn how to prevent the spread of lice to your home.

The following are steps that can be taken to help prevent and control the spread of head lice:

• Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact during play and other activities at home, school, and elsewhere (sports activities, playground, slumber parties, camp).
• Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
• Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfest combs and brushes used by an infested person by soaking them in hot water (at least 130°F) for 5–10 minutes.
• Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infested person.
• Machine wash and dry clothing, bed linens, and other items that an infested person wore or used during the 2 days before treatment using the hot water (130°F) laundry cycle and the high heat drying cycle. Clothing and items that are not washable can be dry-cleaned OR sealed in a plastic bag and stored for 2 weeks.
• Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay. However, spending much time and money on housecleaning activities is not necessary to avoid reinfestation by lice or nits that may have fallen off the head or crawled onto furniture or clothing.
• Do not use fumigant sprays or fogs; they are not necessary to control head lice and can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin

Taken from Center for Disease Control April 9, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/index.html

You don’t know who has what when you go in. Make it a habit to follow standard precautions everywhere you go.

Here are some strategies I’ve found helpful as standard practice for home visits.

• Hair up This might mean a simple ponytail or a braid.
• Do not bring bags. Avoid bringing anything with you except a plastic clipboard for paperwork. If you have an evaluation kit that goes from home to home, keep it sanitized and inspected for bugs between visits.
• Have your Pest control guy on standby. I had an open conversation with my pest control company, explaining what I do for a living and my concerns about bedbugs. He and I made a plan to make me feel better and answer all my what-ifs.

We’re All in This Together

Remember, a little planning and open communication go a long way in building trust and providing the best possible care for the families we serve.

So, what are your best practices for navigating these delicate situations? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below!