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FACTS CONCERNING HEAD LICE
FACTS CONCERNING HEAD LICE
1. The incidence of head lice has nothing to do with hygiene or cleanliness. Actually, the bugs can swing around better in less oily hair.

2. Lice are species specific. Dogs and cats get them, but they can only survive on them.

3. Most cases do not occur from direct contact.

4. Head lice can only live three (3) days without a host.

5. Head lice do not jump.

6. Head lice swing from hair shaft to hair shaft.

7.They do not like kinky hair as they cannot swing.

8. They prefer children's hair because it is thin and they can swing better.

9. They suck blood from the scalp and move down only about one (1) inch to lay their eggs.

10. The eggs are approximately half the size of a poppy seed.

11. Head lice are chameleon in nature. They will take on the same color as the hair.

12. Head lice are very tactile and like to be warm.

13. Head lice will hang on fabric or upholstery for three (3) days waiting for a head to live in.

14. The areas that head lice like to lay their eggs are the bangs, around the ears and lower back of the hair line.





HOME TREATMENT FOR HEAD LICE
HOME TREATMENT FOR HEAD LICE
1. When removing nits (eggs) or shampooing, have your child wear a button-down shirt. This will limit the possibility of reintroducing nits or lice by pulling a shirt over your child's head.

2. After treating your furniture and carpeting, place a sheet over your child's favorite spot to watch TV, etc. At the end of the day fold it carefully and wash it daily. This will eliminate the possibility of the nits or lice finding their way back in your carpeting or furniture.

3. Never remove nits over carpeting or while your child is sitting on upholstered furniture. Head lice will latch onto fabric or carpeting and wait for another head to live in.

4. Always check your child's head daily for at least two weeks and then every other day for two more weeks. If your child happens to get a reoccurrence due to one missed nit or a re-exposure, you will catch it early.

5. Nits should be removed as soon as possible. The house treatment should also start immediately. The final total house treatment should be done again when your child is totally nit free.

6. Do not allow other children in your home or allow your child in anyone else's home until your child is nit free.

7. Use bright sunlight or a bright light while removing nits. Some hardware or office supply stores carry magnified lights for approximately $25.

8. The person removing the child's nits should always wash their hands with a brush. Nits could be hidden under nails.

9. All bed linens should be washed daily until nit free.

10. Put all stuffed animals, beanie babies and dry cleaning items in a sealed trash bag for at least 10 days. A cool or cold place is the best as the bugs and nits cannot survive in the cold.

11. Make sure all pillows, throws and blankets are washed and dried. If items are dry clean only, either put them in a sealed trash bag for at least 10 days or put in a dryer on high for thirty minutes.

12. Use nit/lice spray for carpeting and upholstered furniture. Also, use on upholstered car seats.

13. Don't allow any sharing of hair items (brushes, combs, barrettes or scrunchies).

14. Wash all outer wear immediately and also when totally nit free.

15. Dispose of vacuum cleaner bag after vacuuming.

16. If your child has long hair, it is best to wear hair in pony tail or pulled back.

17. Make sure bed pillows are treated. If possible, place them in the dryer for thirty minutes on high.





CLASSROOM STRATEGIES IN PREVENTING THE OCCURRENCE OR SPREAD OF HEAD LICE
CLASSROOM STRATEGIES IN PREVENTING THE OCCURRENCE OR SPREAD OF HEAD LICE

1. When a student is sent home with head lice, have the student report to the Health Room (Nurse's Office) prior to hanging his/her coat up, etc. on their first day back.

2. Please send the child to the Health room every other morning for three (3) weeks after being permitted back in school. If they get re-infested due to improper treatement of their home or have contact with the original source (example: Day Care, Sunday School, gym, step parent's house, etc.) it will be caught early and this will prevent other children from being infested.

3. Never touch a child's hair or hood of a coat. An egg can hide under your fingernails.

4. Send a student to the nurse if you note scratching of the scalp.

5. Do not allow the students' coats or hats to touch one another.

6. Discourage the students from putting their heads on the back of the cushioned (fabric) chairs or on reading rugs.

7. Reinforce to your students that they should not share combs, brushes, hats or touch each other's hair.

8. Do not permit stacking up of students during transitioning - be sure they are about an arm's length from one another. This especially applies to coming in or going outdoors. The students will be removing hats, coats, calming static hair, etc.

9. Always have students put accessories (hats, scarves, thermal headbands, etc.) in coat pockets or coat sleeves - never allow these items to touch on racks or put in close proximity to one another.

10. Limit all activities that involve the making or bringing in of hats, or items that touch students' heads. Examples are: "Hat Day", "Read-in" (with pillows), the construction of paper hats, etc.

11. For teachers who can't resist the comfortable upholstered furniture, always remind students not to put their heads or hats against the backs. You could also reduce the incidence of perpetuating lice by not using the furniture on Fridays. The bugs will be dead by Monday.

12. If for some reason you have students' coats touching while hanging on hooks, an alternative would be for the lower grades to have each of them bring in a marked (their name on it) shopping bag to keep their coats, hats, gloves, etc. For the upper grades, a 13 gallon Hefty Cinch Sak works well. The bag could hang from the hooks. The bag is white so each child's name could be written on it.

13. If you do keep all of the students' art smocks together, keep them in a cool spot in your room. This makes it impossible for the eggs to be incubated. The normal incubation period for eggs is 7-10 days. The eggs require the heat from the head to survive.