The article reported the Ritz Carlton Hotel Central Park South of a case of verified bed bugs – but the interesting part of the article is how the Ritz Carlton handled the outbreak. Not to much surprise for a hotel of this caliber, The Ritz Carlton decided to keep a low profile about the outbreak and just bring in the professionals to handle the situation. The problem was – they didn’t notify their employees, especially those who are servicing guest rooms.

The problem with not immediately telling your employees – especially those who are going to be cleaning that particular hotel room or those adjacent to the infested room, is that you risk the possible spread of infestation. There is a strict protocol that should be followed when servicing a room that has a bed bug infestation, in addition to having a professional come in to remove bed bugs and kill their eggs. In this type of situation, we’d recommend the use of Cryonite to kill bed bugs and their eggs as it is safe on a variety of environments and it is chemical-free.

The good news is that after the story broke and the Ritz was exposed, they did take the appropriate measures to educate and inform employees on how to identify bed bugs and what they should do in case they come across them. They had a training yesterday morning as well as were shown a video that points out what bed bug signs to look for.

If you are in the hotel industry and are looking for a bed bug prevention solution – give us a call toll free at 877-411-0053 or request a quote online for Cryonite Solutions today.

For this reason, it’s important to have a pest control system in place in order to minimize infestations and reduce risk. Now the question is do you have procedures in place to deal with bed bugs?

Rest Assured MC is Canada’s leading provider of commercial non-toxic bed bug product supplier. What we know is that pesticides are not as reliable as you think. According to the Journal of American Medicine*, your bed bug response plan should include an integrated approach and a variety of products to destroy eggs. And, as we wrote about in our post titled, “Bed Bug Pesticides Make Some People Sick” pesticides are also making some people sick – so it’s important to have an alternative solution.

Rest Assured MC supplies the most advanced, non-toxic effective products to detect, manage and treat infestations. Here is what we recommend:

1. Detect infestations quickly – Encasements, a great early detection tool**. While there are a lot of mattress and pillow encasements available, not all are effective. Bugstop mattress covers are 100% lab certified and it’s tight knit fabric and specially designed zipper and patch are guaranteed to keep bed bugs out.
2. Train staff to recognize the signs of bed bugs - We carry detection and prevention tools help you monitor activity 365 days a year.
3. Steam cleaning, Vacuuming - Vapor Dry Steam Cleaning is a safe, non-toxic, chemical free way to  eradicate bed bugs – hot dry steam kills bed bugs and their eggs on contact (and sanitizes the room).
4. Cryonite® freezing - A 100% organic method using carbon dioxide kills bugs dead without leaving residue or require post treatment work.
   

We hope that this post has provided you with some information and action plans on how to prepare your business on how to fight against bed bugs in the hospitality industry. Also, to request a quote for Cryonite – Click here!

* (JAMA 301:13; April 2009)
** (52% of U.S. pest control firms routinely utilize bedding encasements. (Potter, Romero & Haynes, 2008)

• Steam: Steam is a great way to kill bed bugs. Now, just to clarify, we aren’t taking about steam for a shower, but rather the hot steam produced by a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners produce steam that can get to about 210 degrees. This high temperature kills bed bugs and their eggs – instantly! Just apply the steam to mattress covers, pillows, or other potential bed bug hiding places. One of our best selling products is the Vapamore MR100 Primo steam cleaner and we recommend this product for bed bug removal. Click here to purchase:

• Heat: Heat is also a great way to kill bed bugs. There are a few different options here. You can try to use your clothing dryer – but you make make sure that it can get hot enough. Bed bugs and their eggs die when they come in contact with over 110 degree heat. A more recommended solution is to get a PackTite. The PackTite Closet Portable Bed Bug Killing Heater Unit uses patent pending heating technology to safely eliminate all stages of bed bugs by heating contents up to over 120 degrees for a sustained period, ensuring that they kill bed bugs and their eggs. If you are interested in more information, click here.

• Bed Bug Mattress Covers: You can also help avoid infestations with a bed bug mattress cover. Mattress covers are made of Polyester stretch knit with the upper interior lined with a polyurethane membrane. An added feature of a mattress cover is the Bugstop seal, or specialized zipper that doesn’t let bed bugs get in or out. We offer a variety of bed bug mattress covers. Click here to see a list of our products.

• Cryonite: This is one of the best ways to kill bed bugs and their eggs with out the use of chemicals or pesticides. Cryonite is a CO2 “snow” which, when applied to the infested sites, rapidly kills bed bugs and their eggs. Also known as rapid freeze, Cryonite is really a way to kill bed bugs by freezing them. Unlike heat or steam, Cryonite can be used on all types of surfaces, including electrical surfaces. So you don’t have to worry about harming your appliances or gadgets. If you are interested in more information or would like to request a quote, please call us at 1- 877-411-0053 or request a quote here .

I hope you enjoyed this short post on the variety of green options that you can use to get rid of bed bugs! Have a great day.

-The Allergy Guy

If you’re a property manager or a pest control company and your interested in seeing our products in person give us a call and we’ll set something up (877-411-0053).

So people always ask me what are the benefits of using cryonite over insecticides to kill bed bugs. I have written many blog posts on the benefits and why cryonite should be the preferred method,  but today Reuters released an articled titled, “Bed bug pesticides make some people ill,” and it caught my attention. Below please find a short expert of the article that I want to share:

“The Center for Disease Control released a report saying that from 2003 to 2010, 111 people were sickened and one died from bed bug insecticide, the government agency reported in a study that is the first of its kind in the country. Nearly three quarters of the illnesses occurred from 2008 to 2010 as the bed bug population in the United States increased. Pesticide-related illnesses occurred in seven states: California, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Texas and Washington. Some 81 percent of cases were not severe. New York City, where there were increasing reports of bed bug infestations, had the largest number of cases at 58 percent. Nationwide, 93 percent of the cases were in private homes, the study found. Although the CDC said there have not been enough cases of serious illness to suggest a large public health burden, the numbers might continue to increase as bed bugs become more resistant to common pesticides.”

As we have seen in the news, the spread of bed bugs is on the rise and it is important that we are effectively treating outbreaks from a safety standpoint. As reported in the article, there is a rise in pest-related illnesses, which means that there is room in the pest control industry to explore new ways to treat bed bug outbreaks.

For the many other reasons that I have previously blogged about, pest-related illnesses are yet another reason why I recommend that pest control companies use cryonite to treat bed bug outbreaks as it is chemical-free and save to use in all types of environments.

If you need more information, please feel free to give us a call at 1-866-613-9802 or request a quote today!

1. It kills
2. It’s dry
3. It’s swift
4. It’s ergonomic
5. It penetrates
6. It’s poison-free

The cryonite system is for commercial use and can be part of any pest control company’s product mix. It can provide companies with the flexibilities to go after new clients like hoteliers, property management companies, shelters, senior residences, student residences, cruise ships, manufacturing facilities and hospitals because it is most technologically advanced, commercial, non-toxic & green pest products on the market.

Today I want to share some customer reviews and testimonials from clients who have purchased the cryonite system from RestAssuredMC.com and why they love using the cryonite system too.

Braemar Pest Management Services, Canada

“We have recently added Cryonite as a control measure in our bed bug treatment service protocol. Cryonite has proven to be an effective tool in our ever-expanding tool box of bed bug control products. Both our customers and service technicians alike have welcomed the use of this product as an effective, non-chemical means of quickly controlling a bed bug infestation. Cryonite has proven extremely effective in sensitive accounts such as hospitals and nursing homes where chemical treatments are forbidden and bed bugs are a public relations nightmare.”

Brian DiCicco, Owner

Tim’s Pest Control, Norwalk, CT

“Great tool gives a lot of flexibility always apart of my bedbug treatment allows me to treat many sensitive items I wouldn’t normally be able to treat clothing shoes pictures great for cribs have used it for roaches and pantry pests.”

Tim Neff, Owner

For more information on Cryonite or to request a quote click here. Or, if you’d rather call us for more information, our number is 877-411-0053

That is why we recommend freezing with Cryonite as the best option for eliminating bedbugs and their eggs.  Killing bedbugs with cold not only kills the live bedbugs but it also freezes their eggs to death.  This means you do not have to worry about some larvae surviving the treatment inside their eggs.  The eggs too will be dead.

Another advantage of killing bedbugs with cold is that it is a poison free process.  The absence of chemicals makes it much safer to treat homes and facilities that have children and pets.  Non-toxic also means you can treat areas that will have frequent contact with your skin (bathrooms) or even areas that can have contact with food (kitchen).

Also because we are killing bedbugs with cold is we can treat your electronics.  This is one major advantage that killing bedbugs with cold has over killing bedbugs with heat, as are both poison free.  Don’t you dare treat your laptop, or around your cable box, with extreme heat unless you want to potentially fry them into short circuits.

These are just a few reasons to kill bedbugs with cold. For more tips check out the Why Use Cronite for Bedbugs page here or contact us for more information.

Cryonite is a green, eco-people friendly, poison-free solution that uses carbon dioxide to freeze bed bugs to death.

Cryonite is recommended for use in residential facilities, warehouses, food manufacturing plants, hotels, malls, resorts, offices, condominium, food chain establishments, hospitals & schools. As I discussed in my blog post, The Big Question: Why use cryonite?, cryonite is an innovative, non-toxic patented technology used for the elimination of crawling insects in all stages of life. The cryonite system releases CO2 as “snow” which, when applied to the infested sites, rapidly kills bed bugs, cockroaches and flour beetles on contact.

The CO2 used by the cryonite system is non-toxic and is recycled from industrial processes. It does not add additional CO2 into the atmosphere. Cryonite is a truly “green” and eco-friendly system. There are no pesticide smells, messy wet residues, or health implications when cryonite is used. The CO2 used is food grade quality and presents no risk of contamination, even in sensitive industries.

If you are interested in more information or would like to request a quote, please call us at 1- 877-411-0053 or request a quote here.

Many people ask me, why should you use Cryonite to treat bed bugs infestations. Here is my response:

Cryonite is an innovative, non-toxic patented technology used for the elimination of crawling insects in all stages of life. It has been used extensively in Europe, Australia and the United States with proven results. The Cryonite system releases CO2 as “snow” which, when applied to the infested sites, rapidly kills bed bugs, cockroaches and flour beetles on contact.

Cryonite is not a consumer product and is sold exclusively to professional pest control companies, hotels, universities, health care facilities, long-term care facilities, assisted living and shelters and property management companies.

The Cryonite system eliminates insects without leaving a residue or requiring post treatment work. This will minimize down time for hotels, food industry, schools & hospitals, which is crucial for a businesses operational success. In addition, Cryonite can also be used directly on mattresses, electronic equipment & food production without damaging or being harmful to the product.

So, how does Cryonite work?

1. It KILLS: Cryonite kills insects by freezing. The freezing process is rapid and reaches a very low temperature. The speed is essential for effectiveness.  The cooling medium is carbon dioxide snow, which the Cryonite unit sprays from the specially designed and patented nozzle.

2. It’s DRYS: Frozen carbon dioxide is also referred to as “dry ice”, as it sublimates, is converts from ice/snow directly to gas  with no liquid phase in between.  This enables treatment in areas such as electrical sockets, motors, pipes, cabinets and more.  For example, when used in the food processing facility, flour will not turn into gooey dough!

3. It’s SWIFT: Through an optimal combination of snow particle size and speed,  the cooling is quick enough to ensure that  bugs, including eggs and larvae, will not survive.

4. It’s ERGONOMIC: The Cryonite unit is ergonomic in design, with a telescope function for extended reach and easy working posture and a “goose-neck” which can be angled up to 90° or more for optimal spraying angle.

5. It PENETRATES: The Cryonite snow penetrates easily into deep cracks and crevices, complicated machines, and reaches far into long pipes.

6. It’s POISON-FREE: As the method is non-poisonous, there are many advantages

To request a quote or get more information, please click here. Or, feel free to send us an email with any other questions.

Approved for use by PMRA

Insecticide

Liquid CO2 DEVICE

COMMERCIAL USE

WARNING: PRODUCT UNDER PRESSURE

READ THE LABEL AND MANUAL BEFORE USING.

GUARANTEE: Liquid Carbon Dioxide ………… 99.8%

REGISTRATION NO. 29573 PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS ACT

NET CONTENTS: 10 kg

REST ASSURED MC INC.

2-43 Grenfell CR

Ottawa, Ontario K2G 0G3

1-877-411-0053

613-727-0999

PRECAUTIONS

CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. Container may explode if heated.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Contact with solid or liquid carbon dioxide will result in severe burns and frostbite.

DO NOT get in eyes.

DO NOT get on skin.

Avoid contact with clothing.

Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes and socks, chemical-resistant gloves, and a full face shield when applying the product.  When the product is applied in enclosed spaces that can not be appropriately ventilated, also use either a NIOSH/MSHA approved supplied-air respirator, or a NIOSH/MSHA approved self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

Electrical receptacles and other electrical equipment:

Caution should always be used when working in these areas. Electricity must be shut off when working on, in or around electrical apparatus.  Cryonite is in itself dry, but as the surface temperature drops, condensation may form. Only the immediate surface is cooled, the cooling effect doesn’t penetrate into the objects treated. The surfaces will regain ambient temperatures quickly, and any moisture will rapidly evaporate. However, caution should be shown in areas of higher humidity. Do not use directly on sensitive equipment, screens or digital displays.

Exposure may result in suffocation or death. Work spaces adjacent to treatment area should be monitored for carbon dioxide.

After treatment, aerate treated areas until the level of CO2 (as measured by a CSA approved CO2detection device capable of providing accurate measurements from below 5000 ppm to at least

30 000 ppm) is below 5000 ppm.

Re-entry (5000-30 000 ppm CO2): If CO2 levels are between 5000 and 30 000 ppm, workers may re-enter the treated area without respiratory protection for 15 minutes or less. For periods longer than 15 minutes, use either a NIOSH approved supplied-air respirator or a NIOSH/MSHA approved self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with a full face shield.

If CO2 levels are over 30 000 ppm or are unknown, re-entry into the treated area is not permitted.

A self-contained breathing apparatus should always be available for emergency use.

All persons working with this product should be knowledgeable of this chemical’s hazards, in the use of required respirator equipment and detector devices, in emergency procedures and in the use of the product. When used for treatment of enclosed spaces, two persons familiar with the use of this product must be present during introduction of the pesticide, initiation of aeration and after aeration when testing for re-entry. Two persons do not need to be present if monitoring is conducted remotely (outside of area being treated).

Bystanders and companion pets should not be permitted post-application access to treated areas unless the concentration of carbon dioxide is at or below 5000 ppm.

FIRST AID INSTRUCTIONS

IF SWALLOWED: Call a poison control centre or doctor immediately for treatment advice. Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a poison control centre or doctor. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

IF ON SKIN OR CLOTHING: Take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call a poison control centre or doctor for treatment advice.

IF IN EYES: Hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. Call a poison control centre or doctor for treatment advice.

IF INHALED: Move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, preferably by mouth-to-mouth, if possible. Call a poison control centre or doctor for treatment advice.

Take the container label or product name and Pest Control Product Registration Number with you when seeking medical attention.

TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Treat symptomatically.

DISPOSAL

Contents: Bulk CO2 vessels are generally moved empty and depressurized. The usual method to dispose of unused,  unwanted CO2 is to dilute it with air by venting. Care must be exercised to prevent accumulations of high concentration of vented CO2 gas in an enclosed or low lying area. This is usually accomplished by very slow venting of the CO2 to avoid a local asphyxiation hazard.

Container: Bulk CO2 vessels should be removed and disposed of only by qualified CO2 service personnel. Return empty CO2 cylinders for re-use or disposal. When cylinder is empty, close valve, screw safety cap onto valve outlet and replace protection bonnet before returning to shipper. Only the registrant is authorized to refill cylinders. Do not use cylinders for any other purpose. Follow registrant’s instruction for return of empty or partially empty cylinders.

STORAGE

Do not contaminate water, food or feed by storage or disposal. Store in bulk CO2 vessels that are permanent or semi permanent installations or in approved CO2 cylinders. Store cylinders in a dry, cool, well-ventilated area under lock and key. Placard as a pesticide storage area. Store cylinders upright and secured to a rack or wall to prevent tipping. Cylinders should not be subjected to rough handling or mechanical shock such as dropping, bumping, dragging or sliding. Do not use rope slings, hooks, tongs or similar devices to unload cylinders. Transport cylinders using a hand crank or fork truck to which the cylinder can be firmly

secured. Do not remove valve protection bonnet and safety cap until immediately before use. Replace safety cap and valve protection bonnet when cylinder is not in use.

SPILL AND LEAK PROCEDURE

Evacuate the immediate area where the leak has occurred. Use SCBA or combination air supplied/ SCBA respirator for entry into affected area to correct problem. Move leaking or damaged cylinders outdoors to an isolated location, observing strict safety precautions. When completely empty, return to manufacturer if instructed or dispose of leaking or damaged cylinders or containers in accordance with Provincial and Local waste disposal regulations. Do not permit entry into spilled area by unprotected persons until concentration of carbon dioxide is determined to be less than

5000 ppm.

LEAKING BULK CO2 VESSEL OR ITS ATTACHED PIPING

In the event of a leakage from a bulk CO2 vessel or its attached piping, close the upstream valve to isolate the leaking section. Depressurize the affected section and remove or repair the leak. If shutting off the valves at the vessel fail to stop the leakages, contact the local CO2 service personnel to pump out or unload the vessel before proceeding with repairs.

LEAKING OR DAMAGED CYLINDERS

Move leaking or damaged cylinder outdoors or to an isolated location, observing strict safety precautions. When completely empty, return to manufacturer if instructed or dispose of leaking or damaged cylinders or containers in accordance with Provincial and Local waste disposal regulations. Do not permit entry into spill area by unprotected persons until concentration of carbon dioxide is determined to be less than 5000 ppm.

NOTICE TO USER

This pest control product is to be used only in accordance with the directions on the label. It is an offence under the Pest Control Products Act to use this product in a way that is inconsistent with the directions on the label. The user assumes the risk to persons or property that arises from any such use of this product.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:

Indoor Use Only.

Cryonite kills flour beetles, cockroaches and bed bugs in structures such as food manufacturing facilities, factories, health care facilities (e.g., hospitals), educational institutions (e.g., universities, colleges), transport vehicles (e.g., boats, trucks, trains, airplanes), hospitality facilities (e.g,. hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels), commercial buildings (e.g., restaurants, malls, movie theatres, stores, offices) and residential buildings (e.g., homeless shelters, houses, apartments). Cryonite may also be used on furniture, machinery and electrical equipment.

The Cryonite system consists of a trolley, hose, the lance, the jet nozzle, the grounding cable and a CO2 cylinder. Listed insect pests are killed by freezing when they come in contact with the CO2dry ice particles (snow) delivered by the Cryonite system. Larger insect pests may require more freezing power. Freezing power can be adjusted by putting more or less pressure on the trigger mechanism of the device. Cryonite should be directly applied to the listed insect pests. It has no residual activity.

It is important that the snow layer is not too thin or too thick. If the snow is too thin, the temperature is not cold enough to kill. If the snow is too thick, the snow will work as an insulator trapping a layer of gas under the snow. The temperature will not be reduced enough and insects will not be killed. Thick layers also cause unnecessarily deep chilling of materials, possibly causing a moisture or material problem. When applying to cracks and crevices, avoid applying a thick layer because the entrance to the crack or crevice will be filled with snow and it will not allow a second application to be applied. Insects trapped behind the snow will not be killed.

As a guideline, the layer of snow should be gone in 20-30 seconds. It’s better to apply two or three times immediately one after another than apply once in one thick layer. Apply by moving the nozzle back and forth motion, rather than just once slowly. When using the standard nozzle, the ideal spraying distance is usually 10-20 cm from the target site but this can be varied depending on the individual characteristics of the environment being treated.

Target insects located in areas inaccessible to Cryonite will not be killed. Cryonite cannot penetrate through thick layers of dust or previously applied layers of Cryonite snow. It is essential that the area be cleaned prior to treatment. As a result of the high pressure, Cryonite may also contribute to cleaning by blowing dirt out of inaccessible areas.  Cleaning helps against re-infestation by listed pests.

The jet nozzle can be used in confined and hard-to-reach spaces. The jet nozzle can also be used to clean and remove breeding places that are difficult to reach.  Don’t use the jet nozzle if you don’t have to. The snow quality of the standard nozzle is better and the penetration in cracks and crevices is still very good.

Cryonite should be used in conjunction with other pest control practices (e.g., vacuuming, sanitation). It is important to be thorough and systematic. Remember to use good pest control practices including:

1.    Inspect – look for all possible hiding places, or traces of activity.

2.    Clean those areas. Use a vacuum cleaner if appropriate.

3.             Treat insect harborages with Cryonite, for example, cracks, crevices, pallets, under bags etc.

4.    Evaluate the findings and review the frequency of cleaning procedures.

5.   Monitor on a regular basis.

6.    Repeat if pests continue to be a problem.

Insects may be moved by the gas pressure produced by Cryonite. Releasing the amount of pressure being applied to the trigger of the device by half may reduce this problem.

To determine whether it is safe to treat an object, apply Cryonite in a small, inconspicuous area prior to treating the entire surface.

Bed bugs: Bed bugs are difficult to control. Treat the infested area with Cryonite. Wait 20 minutes and re-treat for any additional bed bugs that come out of hiding. A registered pest control product to provide additional control may be necessary.

Cockroaches:

German cockroaches are killed at all stages. It may be more difficult to kill adults of larger cockroach species.