SCC takes every precaution to keep our facilities bed-bug free, but we need every resident’s help to
ensure this. Anyone can pick up bed bugs from wherever the bugs are living – homes, hotels, other dorm
rooms, buses, etc. Although bed bugs usually occur near the areas where people sleep, they can infest
anyone, anywhere.
If traveling or staying somewhere else, check the potential hiding places such as mattress seams, wall
trim, under furniture and in any small cracks or creases. They hide during the day. Look for signs of
bed bugs such as eggs, blood stains, droppings, or the bed bugs themselves. Do not leave clothes on the
bed or the floor. Elevate suitcases off of the floor on a luggage stand or countertop. Keep your
suitcase or bag closed/zipped when not in use. When returning from a trip, wash all laundry in hot water
and dry it (recommend even taking it to a laundromat to do this).
What do bed bug bites look like? Bites can vary by individual and can range from absence
of any marks to a small bite mark or a more serious allergic reaction. The bite mark might not show up
right away and can appear similar to the bite of a mosquito – slightly swollen and red and may itch.
What if I suspect my room has bed bugs? First, don’t panic. Bed bug bites do not pose a
serious medical threat. Contact your Residence Life Manager or Assistant Residence Life Manager or
Maintenance as soon as possible. They will hire a licensed exterminator to come to campus. If you can,
capture the bed bug to help the exterminator to identify the bug. The exterminator and Residence Life
staff will help you with the process of sterilizing the room and your belongings. You will be asked to
do the following:
- Do not go to another room. Stay in your room so that we do not spread bed bugs to another room.
- Give a set of clothes to an RA to sterilize in the dryer
- Bag all objects that can be dried in clean trash bags and seal them—shoes, clothes, towels, cushion
covers, wash cloths, bed sheets, gym bags, backpacks, hats, gloves, etc. If it can be put in a
dryer, it gets dried.
- Put on the clothes that the RA sterilized and take all other bags to a designated laundry room.
- To dry items, (1) put the bag in the dryer (2) empty the bag in the dryer (3) spray bag with bed bug
spray that the Residence Life staff will provide (4) put bag into designated second bag provided and
take directly to the dumpster, and (5) dry the items for 20-25 minutes.
- Removed sterilized items from the dryer and place them into a new clean trash bag and take it to
your temporary room. Repeat the drying process as necessary.
- Do not return to your room until given permission following room treatment by the exterminator.
If a resident repeatedly infects housing, they may be prohibited from living on
campus.