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5 Summer Party Safety Tips

killingsworth enviornmental back yard summer party

Tips to be sure your guests party safely this summer!

There are so many reasons to celebrate this summer. Do you know what that means? Cookouts, family reunions, and backyard parties–oh my! If you’re hosting a gathering this summer forget the food and decor, make your guest’s safety a top priority. It’s easy to get caught up having so much fun in the sun and forget about the things that could potentially go wrong and cost your guest their safety. Use these tips to ensure your guests are safe and enjoy themselves while at your summer party.

1. Don’t let things get too hot

Your guests will likely show up to your home hungry and in anticipation of a delicious grilled up meal. Not only are you playing “host”, you’re also the evening’s grill master. You’re prepared with your checklist:

  • Burgers, dogs, shish kabobs, and veggies? Check!
  • Cooking tools? Check!
  • Fire extinguishers? uhh…

To rather be safe than sorry, keep the fire extinguisher close by in case things on the grill get a little too hot (or out of control). Although quite yummy, it’s more important to protect your guests than the food.

2. Keep an eye on your furry friends

Will your adorable pup be making a guest appearance at your backyard bash? Pets certainly have a way of livening-up a summer gathering. They’ll visit each guest and with any luck, snag a bite or two. Sure, your pet’s presence might be welcomed but you’ll want to make sure they aren’t getting into trouble or making your guests uncomfortable. Keep an eye on any pets at your party to make sure they’re not getting into anything that could be harmful (hot grill, bonfire, food, trash, yard waste). If you feel like there is too much going on it might be best to keep them in the house, leashed up, or crated.

3. Prep for pool safety

Having a pool in your backyard inevitably attracts guests in the summer (whether you like it or not). Not only does a pool entertain your guests, it also keeps them cool. Cannonballs and foam noodles make for fun, but accidents–not so much. If you’re a pool owner, you’re no stranger to the serious pool-proofing that must be done before a large gathering. There are so many things that can go wrong in a pool, try to prevent the majority of them with fences, gates, and supervision.

4. Hydrate responsibly

Most adults prefer to celebrate, socialize, and relax with an alcoholic beverage so by all means, serve it up. While you and your guests are having a good ‘ole time, don’t lose sight of the fact that you are still the host. If you’ve noticed a guest has had a little bit too much to drink, offer them a place to stay or arrange for them to get a ride home. With that said, be sure to offer plenty of water! Dehydration is no joke.

5. Uninvite the bugs

Your guest list should always include family members, friends both old and new, and sociable neighbors but it should not include mosquitoes and other pests who will turn your party into a bust. Not only can pests take a pleasant gathering and make it a painful one, they also have to potential to seriously harm your guests with their life-threatening diseases. Keep the bugs out and the laughter, jokes, and play in! We at Killingsworth are happy to make a pre-party appearance. Our mosquito control program works to eliminate breeding habitats and reduce mosquito populations in your yard by setting up an invisible barrier around your property.  We also pride ourselves on our lawn care services. They are truly second to none. Schedule an appointment with us today! Do try your best to keep your guests safe, but remember to enjoy yourself. The summer is a time to sit back, relax, and enjoy good company.  

5 Summer Party Safety Tips

Bedbug inspection

How to Know if Your Hotel Has Bedbugs

Upon entering a hotel room, do you typically reach for the tiny toiletries, take a leap onto the bed, or perhaps start by inspecting for bed bugs? Knowing what to look for is essential. Anticimex Carolinas Service Manager Christian Tweed has shared valuable insights on identifying bed bugs in your hotel room and preventing them from hitching a ride back home with you. And if bed bugs do become an unexpected part of your vacation, remember that Clark’s Pest Control is here to assist!



Q&A with a Pest Professional


How do bed bugs get inside hotels?


Bed bugs are primarily hitchhiking insects as opposed to foraging ones, meaning that they get carried around on people’s clothes and belongings. Someone with an active infestation in their home can easily bring bed bugs to their hotel, but they can also be picked up during travel (airplanes, taxis, and rideshare services) and brought to a hotel room.


What do people misunderstand about bed bugs in hotels?


From a probability standpoint, all hotels will deal with bed bugs at some point in time. If you think about a bed bug’s method of travel, there’s literally nothing a hotel can do to stop them from being carried in. What I have realized is that luxury hotels are more likely to have an aggressive response to dealing with a bed bug case once it’s identified as they tend to have a higher quality of service and a reputation to protect. While this isn’t always the case, it has been my experience more often than not.

Got bedbugs? Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today!

What do you recommend travelers do when they get to their room to check for bed bugs?


Most hotel headboards hang directly on the wall. I start my inspection here before even looking at the bed itself. I have found bed bugs, their exoskeletons, and the telltale black stains they leave behind around the edges of or in the crevices of headboards. If the headboard looks clean, move on to looking over the pillowcases and comforter for any signs or stains. You can dig into the bedding as deep as you want here, but I encourage people to look over the top layer of things at the very least.


What are some lesser-known signs of bed bugs in your hotel room?


The specifics of the black stains they leave behind, which as gross as it sounds, are just digested blood as that’s all that bed bugs feed on. If the stains are on a hard surface, they will be small dots as if left behind by an ink pen and will smear into a brownish gray when moisture is applied. If they’re on fabric, they will usually bleed along the fibers making a small diamond, square or X shape.


If there are bed bugs in your hotel room, can they travel home with you?


They absolutely can, however this is easy to prevent. While staying in a hotel, keep as much of your clothing and luggage off the beds as possible. Storing suitcases in the bathroom might sound odd, but it’s an effective method of prevention.

Don’t tackle bedbugs yourself, call Clark’s at 866-781-4991!

What should you do with your suitcase if you suspect your hotel has bed bugs?


When arriving home from a trip, leave your luggage in the garage or on a porch and bring your clothes in one load of laundry at a time. If the clothes are dirty, wash them like you normally would, if they’re clean then run them through the dryer for at least forty-five minutes. Once your suitcase is empty, vacuum over it meticulously (don’t forget to empty the vacuum when you’re done), or if you’re in the right climate, expose it to heat for a few days by placing it in your vehicle (parked in the sun) or for a few weeks in your attic.


The Clark’s Solution


If you brought bed bugs back to you home, Clark’s is here to help. Our Bedbug Control service is designed to eliminate bedbugs and create a safe, comfortable environment.


A Clark’s Pest Professional will do an inspection and recommend a plan of attack to get rid of bed bugs now and prevent them from hatching in the future. Call Clark’s at 866-781-4991 today for more information.



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