o THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE IS PREVENTION: WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO TEACH THE CHILDREN THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT SHARING THEIR PERSONAL ITEMS WITH THEIR CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS.
o When children come in close contact with one another it is easy to pass lice along. SHARING OF HATS, HELMETS, CLOTHING, COMBS, BRUSHES, BARRETTES, HAIR TIES, PILLOWS, AND OTHER PERSONAL ARTICLES ARE PERFECT VEHICLES TO TRANSFER LICE FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER. Unlike Fleas, Lice do not jump they are simply transferred by contact just as other insects crawl from one place to another *** THEY CAN EVEN BE TRANSFERRED BY SHOPPING FOR NEW CLOTHES AND FROM THE CHAIRS AT MOVIE THEATERS!!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IF YOU THINK YOUR CHILD HAS HEAD LICE:
o Your child is suddenly complaining of an itchy scalp
o You notice that your child is frequently scratching at their scalp
o HEAD LICE ARE SMALL, ONLY 1/16 INCH LONG
o THEY ARE GREYISH-WHITE WITH DARK EDGES
o THEY CANNOT FLY OR JUMP/ HOWEVER THEY MOVE VERY QUICKLY
(making it difficult to find them in a child’s hair)
o LICE EGGS (called nits) are teardrop shape & only about 1/32 inch long
o They are greyish-white and slightly shiny or translucent
o They are “GLUED” to the hair shaft and cannot be washed or brushed out.
CLUSTERS of nits may be found in any section of the hair, but they are more apt to be behind the ears
and at the nape of the neck.
WHAT TO DO:
o DON’T PANIC
o EXAMINE YOUR CHILD’S HEAD
o CHECK ALL FAMILY MEMBERS
o USE AN EFFECTIVE HEADS LICE TREATMENT (YOUR PHARMACIST, PHYSICIAN CAN RECOMMEND AN EFFECTIVE PEDICULOCIDE)
o **Very important do not treat scalp with pediculocide any sooner than every 10days!
o REMOVE ALL THE NITS (LICE EGGS) – USING A SPECIAL COMB & EGG LOOSENING PRODUCTS (EITHER STORE BOUGHT PRODUCTS LIKE CLEAR EGG REMOVER, OR HOME REMEDIES LIKE MAYONAISE, OLIVE OIL, OR WARM VINEGAR SOLUTION)
o WASH ALL CLOTHES, BEDLINENS, TOWELS, STUFFED ANIMALS IN HOT WATER AND DRY ON HOT FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES (Items that cannot be washed should be dry cleaned or tied up & stored in plastic bags outside in a cool area for at least 2 weeks)
o CLEAN COMBS, BRUSHES AND HAIR SCRUNGIES IN HOT SOAPY WATER (WATER SHOULD BE AT LEAST 130 degrees and SOAK FOR MINUMUM 10 MINUTES
o VACUUM EVERYWHERE; CARPETS, PILLOWS, MATTRESSES, UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE- DISCARD VACCUM BAG IN A PLASTIC GARBAGE BAG PROMTLY
o NOTIFY THE SCHOOL NURSE SO THE OTHER STUDENTS AT SCHOOL CAN BE CHECKED TO AVOID RE-INFESTATION EPISODES
o Mary Dow, RN @ 856-783-6261 x115