The time has finally come! COVID-19 is almost in our rearview mirror, which means nearly all businesses are fully open and ready to welcome customers. This is especially true of the travel industry, which took a massive hit during the pandemic. But now, that summer is behind us, many people are shifting gears to holiday vacations, and airlines and hotels are more than happy to encourage them.
As more and more Americans receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, hotel reservations and flight bookings are soaring. With increased travel, however, comes the possibility of a different type of itching–the type caused by bed bug bites.
No Pandemic for Bed Bugs
While all of us humans were quarantined for the bulk of 2020 and socially distanced and masked for about 15 months, there was no such suffering for bed bugs. In fact, they stayed as healthy as could be in empty hotel rooms while the rest of us remained at home. After all, there was no real need to clean a hotel room if no one had used it.
Yes, the reduced travel probably helped curb the spread of bed bugs, as the absence of travelers minimizes the threat of sharing the critters with others. But they’re still around, waiting to feast on the next unsuspecting traveler. If you’re planning on traveling this summer, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to bed bugs.
What to Do If You’re Bitten By Bed Bugs
If you find yourself with bed bug bites from staying in a hotel or motel room, there are some important things you must do:
- Capture the evidence! This doesn’t mean you need to trap and keep a bed bug as a pet or as a physical piece of evidence, but you should absolutely take plenty of pictures and video of the bugs themselves, the area in the room where you found them, and also of the bites on your skin if they’re visible. Make sure the hotel space is easily identifiable, perhaps with stationery that bares the hotel name in the photos you snap.
- Contact the hotel/house manager. If bed bugs have bitten you in a hotel, resort, or rental home, you’re obviously not going to be pleased with the situation. Bring this to the manager’s attention as soon as possible, and document the conversation for later.
- Seek medical attention. While not necessarily a dire emergency, it’s best to get yourself checked by a dermatologist (not an urgent care medical professional) in a reasonable amount of time if you’ve been bitten by bed bugs. Before you do so, compare your bites to pictures of similar bites online to see if you’re able to identify the mark as a bed bug bite. Then get yourself to a dermatologist or a medical doctor at a hospital, especially if the bites are itchy. Scratching the bites can result in permanent scarring, and you definitely do not want to deal with that.
A dermatologist is your best bet, as they’re experts on the subject. Believe it or not, many physicians and emergency room doctors have trouble identifying bed bug bites; you will not have that problem with a dermatologist. If you’re unable to secure a timely appointment with a dermatologist, however, head to your personal doctor or the ER. Make sure you get a copy of your diagnosis and any prescription medication you’re given by the doctor.
- Call Michael Lapidus at The Lapidus Law Firm. If you’ve been bitten by bed bugs, there’s one person you want in your corner–Michael Lapidus from The Lapidus Law Firm. He has years of experience representing clients who have experienced bed bug bites in hotels and motels and knows exactly how to increase the chances of getting you a fair, reasonable settlement.
Hotel Bookings Boost Could Mean Bed Bug Boost Too!
We don’t want to discourage you from taking a vacation–especially now that the pandemic is (hopefully) winding down. Staying in a hotel room certainly doesn’t guarantee you’ll encounter bed bugs either–but in the event that you do, call Michael Lapidus at The Lapidus Law Firm. Set up your free, no-obligation consultation today by calling (202) 785-5111 or (301) 852-7500.
Written by Larry Lapidus