Can You Go to School With Bed Bugs?
WouterA student with bed bugs may wonder, “Can I go to school with bed bugs?” The answer to this question depends on how much the infestation is affecting the child. The Environmental Protection Agency and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that students not be excluded from school. The best thing to do is notify the school and request that it treat the affected areas. This will prevent the spread of the bugs to other students.
In addition to being a risk to students, bedbugs can infect teachers and staff. It’s important to note that bedbugs are not typically found on humans, but on fabrics. They’re more likely to be found on a student’s clothes and backpack, which makes them an easy target for transmission to other students. Teachers can help prevent the spread of the infestation by requiring students to keep their coats and backpacks in trash bags.
While bed bug infestations are extremely uncommon, they do occur. Most schools have policies in place to prevent them and conduct regular inspections to ensure that they’re free of bed bugs. Teachers and staff must be knowledgeable about the prevention of bed bug infestations in schools. They should also thoroughly inspect every item they bring into the building to ensure that nothing is left behind.
A student with bed bugs should not be excluded from school. If you notice a bedbug infestation in a student, the School Nurse should be notified immediately. The School Nurse should remove the student’s clothes and place them in the dryer for 20 minutes. This will kill the bed bugs on the clothing. If the child is still wearing the infected clothing, a change of clothes should be provided by a family member or by the school.
