permethrin

[johnnyman]

People talk about using treated sleeping bags and such. Does one simply buy a bottle of this stuff and spray down the sleeping bag or whatever, or is it advisable to buy some sort of pre-treated gear?

 

[chrisinvermont]

This link might help. Chris
http://bit.ly/fxm3hH

 

[Portia1]

You will need to do this outside on a calm day. Lay everything out and spray it until damp. Let it dry and then spray the other side.

I sprayed my tyvek "sleeping liner" and after it was dry, folded it up and put it into a ziploc bag in my pack. Figured the rest of my stuff did not need to be in such close contact and I only planned to get it out when I heard there might be a problem. When I was hiking the AT, I also sprayed socks, gaiters, and pants legs because of ticks, etc. It lasts through maybe 10 washings.

 

[renegadepilgrim]

I used the Sawyer's stuff, but I just sprayed my sleepsack liner, not my sleeping bag. If you are doing the Camino in the shoulder season or off season (September thru March), I don't think you will have to worry about bedbugs, later spring and summer then you may have some concern. Since it's only good for about 10 washings, it seemed pointless to do my clothes, though I did spray some of them with the leftover I had. I did the Camino April/May last year and had no issues with bedbugs.

 

[Portia1]

I walked in September into October and there were bedbugs--in fact, probably more than in the spring or early summer because they had had time to get it togther, if you know what I mean. Several people were bitten all over their bodies and the results were terrible.

 

[annakappa]

We were hospitaleros at Refugio Guacelmo in Rabanal for the last 2 weeks of September last year. We were instructed to pay special attention to all who wanted to stay. Before registering we showed them a "fact sheet" including an enlarged photo of a bed bug and photo of typical bites on a person. In the 18 days that we were there, we treated 12 people for bed bug bites. This included washing all their clothes, plus their sleeping bag at 60 degrees, putting all unwashable items - including backpack, boots, etc - into a large plastic bag, spraying with a special bed bug killer and leaving the bag in the sun for the rest of the day. The "victims" were lent freshly washed discarded clothes (thanks to all the Pilgrims who want to ditch some weight), they used a separate shower and slept in a separate small dormitory. I can assure you that we were very careful indeed. It was hard work, because while treating these people, we were also checking in and attending to all the other Pilgrims. It was also stressed that backpacks should NEVER be placed on the beds. Anne

 

[Bridget and Peter]

What sort of reactions did you get from the pilgrims you treated, Annakappa?

No axe being ground, just wondered?

 

[annakappa]

What sort of reactions did you get from the pilgrims you treated, Annakappa?

Only one person wasn't happy to have her pack treated with the "bug spray". Basically everyone was only too happy to be treated. Most knew already that they had been bitten, but nothing had been done or suggested to them. One lady was full of bites on the upper arms and shoulders and we only noticed after she had checked in and was laundering her clothes in a sleeveless shirt at the washing area. We then went through the full proceedure with her, changed the sheet on the bunk she had chosen and gave her accommodation in our "spare room". Anne

 

[sillydoll]

A South African company markets a spray in pump bottles and aerosol called Vital Protection which contains Permethrin. They claim that "Vital Protection is highly effective in repelling most biting insects including bed bugs. The active ingredient, Permethrin is proven to effectively repel and prevent bed bugs from attacking and biting humans" You can check it out here.
http://www.vitalprotection.co.za.