Head Lice

Head lice are easily acquired, even on the cleanest of heads, as they spread from person to person by direct contact or on shared objects (combs, hats, towels, headphones, etc.). 

In an effort to control and eliminate the problem, we are asking for your cooperation with the following:

(1)  Please check your child’s hair for lice and their eggs (nits), especially at the nape of the neck, behind the ears and on the crown. Check for nits in bright light and use a magnifying glass if needed.  Look for tiny, oval, white or grayish specks attached to individual hairs.  Unlike dandruff, they will not brush off. Lice are usually tiny, gray/brown insects that move quickly (but they do not jump or fly).

If you find nits or lice, check the hair of all family members and do not send your child to school until he/she is nit free. 

(2)    Use an effective head lice treatment.  Any family member with lice or nits must be treated.  Your doctor or pharmacist can recommend an effective product.  Follow all directions carefully. 

(3)    Remove all nits.  Because no shampoo or other treatment product kills all the nits (and survivors hatch into crawling lice in 7-10 days), it is very important to remove all nits from the hair to prevent reinfestation.  You can use the combs that come with some treatment products, but you may also need to pick the nits off each strand of hair with your fingernails. 

(4)    Machine wash all clothes, bed linens, blankets, towels, etc., in HOT water and dry in a HOT dryer for at least 20 minutes.  If heat will not harm them, non-washables can be put in a hot dryer for 20 minutes.  Items that cannot be safely washed or put in the dryer (such as headphones, helmets or stuffed animals) should be stored in a tightly sealed plastic bag, at room temperature, for at least 14 days).

(5)    Clean all combs, brushes, and hairclips…  Personal combs and brushes should be cleaned by soaking in HOT water (at least 150 degrees) for 10 minutes.  (Note:  Hot water may damage some of these items.)

 (6)    Vacuum everywhere to pick up any live lice or nits attached to fallen hairs.  Thoroughly vacuum carpets, pillows, mattresses, upholstered furniture, car seats, etc., and discard the vacuum bag promptly.

 (7)    Re-check for nits DAILY (for 10 days) following treatment.  (This is the life cycle of the louse.)  If new nits or lice are found, repeat Steps 3 through 6 above.  You may also have to re-treat (Step 2) in 7-10 days.  As lice treatment products can be harmful if used too often, check with your pharmacist of physician before re-using any of them.  The use of LICE SPRAYS is NOT RECOMMENDED, as they may be harmful to people and pets.

 School policy regulates that your child must be free of nits in order to return to school.   Your child should be checked by the school nurse before re-entering school.  (Remember, regardless of precautions taken at home, re-infestation from others can still occur.)

 Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Mickee, our school nurse, (978- 623- 8882).