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Control and Prevention of Head Lice

It's happened, your child comes home with head lice or you hear of another student with head lice...

 This is not cause for panic.

It is cause for action to be taken to prevent head lice.

Treat/remove any head lice or nits found on your child’s head.

 The best way to prevent transmission:

  • Teach children not to share combs, brushes, hair ornaments, hats, caps, scarves,   headsets, or any other personal headgear.
  • Do not try on other people’s hats (even in department stores).
  • Teach children to hang coats separately - placing hats and scarves inside coat/jacket sleeves.
  • Clean or disinfect shared headgear (i.e., helmets) with Lysol® or rubbing alcohol before being used by others.
  • Conduct regular head checks of your child.

 If head lice are found on your child:

  • Check others in the household for signs of head lice or nits. If found, complete remaining steps on all infested individuals.
  • Remove nits from the head by combing. This is the most important lice control measure. Complete nit removal is time-consuming but is critical for successful treatment.
  • Use an effective head lice treatment.
  • Remove all of the lice and nits from the environment by washing or vacuuming. There is no need to spray pesticides at home.
  • Perform daily head checks and remove nits for 3 weeks until head lice are gone. Continue to check your child weekly to detect reinfestation.

 If you have difficulties treating the head lice on your child, please contact the school, local health department, or your child’s physician.

 


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