COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Columbus firefighters say they've seen bedbugs in emergency medic vehicles and are working on a strategy to better protect employees and the public from the bugs.

The head of a local firefighters' union tells WBNS-TV ( http://bit.ly/y9sYmD ) they're worried about the bedbugs being transferred to patients. He says there's also concern about transferring the bedbugs when firefighters walk into fire stations, their own homes or businesses that they visit.

The Columbus Division of Fire uses high heat to dry uniforms of firefighters who believe they've been exposed to bedbugs. Chief Kevin Reardon says the division is developing a better protection plan, but it takes time to outline a policy that's workable.

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Information from: WBNS-TV, http://www.10tv.com/