KNOCKOUT – Getting a little National Exposure.

October 8, 2010

I was just interviewed on the nationally syndicated radio show of psychologist Dr. Joy Browne the other day, which aired in the NY listening area on WOR 710. I have been interviewed many times before on local TV, but this was live to most of the county, reaching tens of thousands of listeners and I wouldn’t be truthful if I said I wasn’t nervous. But, Dr. Joy Browne was wonderful, and I thank her for her patience and helping the conversation flow. We talked mostly about general bed bug infestation, but I was hoping that the topic’s direction would be more toward the psychological impact that people develop when they have Bed Bugs. Dr. Joy Browne is always so helpful in dealing with coping issues. I’m no psychologist, but the devastation most of my customers who call me about a bed bug problem is NOT the bites from these parasitic insects but emotional stress and…yes…emotional trauma. We’ve treated homes of people who had been sleeping in bathtubs for the fear of these tiny insects. Disgusting to sleep with bugs? Yes. Can someone develop reactions and rashes from Bed Bug bites? If you’re allergic to them, yes. But, it seems to be the emotional toll that has the greatest impact. And unfortunately, some of the fear is hyped by the media, PLUS print ads, several radio & TV commercials that show images of a Bed Bug 100 times magnified and equate bed bugs with vampires. Generating fear in the public arena is never good. That’s a kind of terrorism, especially if you’ve ever had a bed bug problem. Plus it makes telling people that you have a bed bug problem a social taboo. Look, bed bugs are a difficult pest to eradicate, especially in NY apartments, because these insects can hide within walls and can travel from treated to non–treated areas, only to return months later to feed. But they are still just tiny little insects that can be eliminated from a home, or place of business. It just takes 3 things.
ONE – use a professional pest control expert if you have bed bugs – not just a “one pest specialist”, dealing with bed bugs involves understanding the bed bug’s relationship to other pests and having an entire arsenal of pest control products at hand and know how to use them.
TWO – Individuals have to be aware of how to try to be Pro–Active against bed bugs. Check out your surrounding when staying in hotels and in retail store changing rooms. Bed bugs are tiny, but when they are big enough to “hitchhike” on clothes and in handbags, they aren’t invisible. Also, if you want to add a little protection to your bed – put on treated mattress and box spring liners. These treated liners like the ActiveGUARD liners we sell, will kill bed bugs if they try to enter your sleeping space. And if you travel a lot for business, invest in a HOT BAG, we sell an item called PackTITE. This PackTITE product is a box that is large enough to place an entire piece of travel luggage within and it will heat the entire bag – clothes, shoes, purses, everything to a temperature high enough and long enough to kill any bed bugs that hitched a ride with you…but it isn’t hot enough to melt common plastics or do any damage to the contents of the bag. It’s like having a “clean room” for bed bugs.
THREE – Stay calm. And let people know about the problem. It’s okay. There are people out there, like us, who understand what you’re going through. Together we’ll get you through your bed bug problem.
We may not be psychologists, but we try our best to be compassionate and restore your peace–of–mind. So please, if you have a bed bug problem or any pest problem that is invading the sanctity of your living space…call us, we’ll get rid of them. It’s more than a business to us. Public health and public safety has been the corner stone of Knockout since its inception. It’s just what we do.

Comments

COMMENT BY:  Harold Daley – 10/15/2010

I didn’t hear you on the radio, but I came across your website and this blog. Do you sell these hot boxes, or bags, outside the New York area? I live in Stamford Connecticut, and I travel a lot, so I worry a lot about bringing bed bugs back home with me. A product like the one you show on your innovations page would really put my mind at ease. If you do sell outside your service area you should consider having a way to buy it directly on line. Just a suggestion.

COMMENT BY: Maria Gallo – 10/18/2010

Dr. Joy is great, I listen all the time, but I missed you being on her show. I looked where to buy your hot boxes on your website, I guess I have to call?

COMMENT BY: Sal Milo – 10/22/2010

As a frequent business traveler this hot box thing looks great.  Does it really work?  I agree with the comment about making these available directly on your website without having to make a phone call since I’m already on your website.

COMMENT BY: Harold Daly – 10/24/2010

Just came back to see if my comment was posted.  Nice to see fellow business travelers agree with me about being able to order the box directly from you on line.  Anyway I did make the call, was happy to discover that you did send it outside your service area, and I ordered a box.  Can’t wait to get it.  Thanks.

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