Say Good Riddance to Bed Bugs!

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bed bugs are back and prevalent in some of the nation's largest cities. In fact, according to the National Pest Management Association's (NPMA) "Bed Bugs In America" survey, one in five respondents report they have had a bed bug infestation or know someone who has encountered bed bugs at home or in a hotel. The survey was released by the NPMA, a trade organization committed to the protection of public health, food and property.

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But, there's good news for those looking to get rid of bed bugs. RID Home Lice, Bed Bug & Dust Mite Spray is manufactured and marketed by Bayer HealthCare and can be found in the first aid aisle in most drug stores. RID Home Lice, Bed Bug & Dust Mite Spray can be used on mattresses, baseboards and moldings as a first step to help eliminate bed bugs.  For more information, visit www.ridbedbugs.com or www.youtube.com/user/ridbedbugs to learn how to use RID through educational videos.  

"RID is a household name for moms and healthcare professionals, who have dealt with lice, but the same active ingredient that can kill lice and their eggs can now be used for bed bugs," said Barton Warner, Vice President, U.S. Marketing & New Business Development Bayer HealthCare.

Despite some common misconceptions, bed bug infestations have nothing to do with the cleanliness of a space. The tiny pests actually come from another infested source and can get into a space through a variety of avenues such as clinging to clothing, luggage, pets or used furniture; through a clear route such as ductwork; wild animals such as bats or birds; or houseguests visiting from a source of infestation.  

Evidence of Bed Bugs:

Bed bugs are tiny and nocturnal, so spotting them may not be easy. Here are some tips that can help:

• Bed bugs are:
  • Reddish brown in color and are relatively flat and wingless
  • 4-5 mm in length and 1.5-3 mm wide
  • Covered in small hairs making their bodies appear to be striped
• Bites are usually flat welts or raised, red bumps that are rather itchy. However, only 30 percent of people who are bitten have a reaction to the bite.
• Keep an eye out for tiny black spots that are smaller than a poppy seed. If it sticks to the surface and smears when wiped with a wet towel, it could be bed bug droppings. Small blood stains on sheets may also indicate bed bugs.
• Bed bugs can smell like raspberries. However, others have described their odor smelling like raw beef or moldy shoes in places that are infested.
• Bed bugs can lay up to 500 eggs in their lifetime. These eggs are pearly white, 1 mm in length, and are very difficult to spot with the human eye.

Directions for Treating and Spraying Your Mattress For Bed Bug Protection*:

• Read and follow directions and warnings before use.
• Remove protective cap and hold container with nozzle away from you.
• Spray mattresses, particularly around tufts and seams 8-10 inches away.
• Take beds apart and spray into all joints.
• Treat baseboards, moldings and floors 12-15 inches away.
• Spray to the point of dampness but not run-off. Remember that RID should not stain surfaces or fabrics where water alone causes no damage.
• After mattress is dry, cover with mattress cover and sheet.
• Do not use mattress without cover.
• Retreat if reinfestation occurs, but not more than once every two weeks.

Once the mattress has been sprayed with RID Home Lice, Bed Bug & Dust Mite Spray, make sure to check and vacuum around the areas where bed bugs like to hide, giving cracks and crevices added attention. If bed bugs are still in or on your belongings, there are several popular methods to kill them, while still preserving the item:

• Hot Water. Wash infested clothes and other items in water at a temperature of at least 120 degrees F.
• Clothes Dryer. Place items in a clothes dryer for 20 minutes at medium to high heat.
• Freezing. Bag up infested items and place them in a freezer for several days.

Visit www.ridbedbugs.com for more information on bed bug prevention and treatment or check out www.youtube.com/user/ridbedbugs to learn how to use RID correctly.  Plus, there's a $2.00 coupon available here to try RID Home Lice, Bed Bug & Dust Mite Spray.

About RID Home Lice, Bed Bug & Dust Mite Spray

For more than a decade, RID has been America's leading lice brand and partner to moms, caretakers and healthcare professionals in dealing with lice issues. With the three step lice eliminating system and the 24-hour hotline, RID has become a standard for safe and efficient home lice treatment.

RID Home Lice Control Spray has always contained the same active ingredient to kill lice and their eggs on bedding, furniture, car interiors and other non-washable items and is now indicated to kill bed bugs and dust mites. That is why RID Home Lice Control Spray has been renamed and is now called RID Home Lice, Bed Bug & Dust Mite Spray.  For more information, visit www.ridbedbugs.com.

*Use as directed.

About Bayer HealthCare

The Bayer Group is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of healthcare, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer HealthCare, a subgroup of Bayer AG with annual sales of EUR 16.913 billion (2010), is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Medical Care and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. Bayer HealthCare has a global workforce of 55,700 employees (Dec 31, 2010) and is represented in more than 100 countries. Find more information at www.bayerhealthcare.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

SOURCE RID