Hockey and bed bugs don’t go together. Unless you’re busy with a travel team. Then your chance of getting the bugs increases sharply.
Why? You’re playing in different cities, staying in more hotels than the average person. A 2024 survey from Sleep Doctor found
- 1 in 7 U.S. travelers encountered mattresses infested with bed bugs in the past year
- 20% of travelers who spotted bed bugs were in a 5-star hotel
- 32% didn’t notice the bugs until after they had slept in the bed
Canada isn’t immune. Cities like Toronto and Vancouver have their own pages on BedBugRegistry.com, a database of hotels and apartments with bed bug sightings.
Not only do bed bugs cause itchy red welts, but they can hitch a ride on your luggage. Introduced to your home, bed bugs can grow in number and become a costly infestation.
Here are tips from Pest HQ to stay bed-bug free:
- Be aware. Check the hotel registry before making a reservation. Conduct your own inspection before settling into a room. Never put your luggage on the hotel bed.
- Look closely. Before bringing luggage, gear and belongings back into your home, inspect items thoroughly. If you’re worried about bed bugs, run clothing, cloth bags and gear through a hot dryer cycle. This will kill hitchhikers. Never put your luggage on your bed.
- Take action. If you find evidence of bed bugs in your home, follow Pest HQ’s proven DIY steps to get rid of them.
Questions? Get help from the professionals: Contact Pest HQ.
Read more:
How do you get rid of bed bugs?
