Lodging
The Lewis County Health Department inspects all Bed & Breakfasts, Hotels/Motels, etc in Lewis County for the following:
- Approved water and sewage disposal
- Ensure all systems are in good repair
- Fire hazards and other safety issues are not present
- Mold growth
- If pets are allowed; a record check for vaccinations
- That bed bugs and other insects are not present and that a pest management system is in place
- Proper solid waste disposal
- General cleanliness
When staying at a hotel/motel be aware and look for some common sanitary violations.
Beware of Bed-bugs
Adult bed bugs are brown, flat and about 1/4 inch long, with a soft, rounded look. After a blood meal they are dark red, rounded, and about 3/8 inch long.
Bed bugs have been known to live as long as 18 months. Bed bugs may be found almost anywhere — in the seams of mattresses, in bed springs, in cracks of floorboards, behind peeled wallpaper, in picture frames, in couches, stuffed chairs, etc. Bed bugs inject a fluid into their host to help them get their blood meal. This fluid makes some people sensitive to bites, causing irritation, itching and inflammation.
Bed Bug Management
A good vacuum cleaning job may remove particles from cracks and crevices to encourage greater insecticide penetration. Discard vacuum cleaner bag in a sealed plastic bag when finished. Use a space spray to penetrate an infested area. Close all outside doors, windows, etc. as tightly as possible. Inside, open or spread everything to allow fumes to penetrate. After this has been done, one-time-release aerosol insecticide bombs can be used for fumigants. After space spraying, use a light application of an approved aerosol spray on mattresses, stuffed chairs, clothes, etc. to kill surviving bed bugs. Do not sleep directly on treated mattresses. Make sure the mattress has been dried, aired out and a sheet put on it before use. Apply residual insecticides to cracks and crevices.