Lice in Our Classroom
Today I checked all the kids (two were sent home with nits and one was already home with lice) and I thoroughly vacuumed the risers and carpets. Now it is up to you to help out. Below is some helpful information, please read it. PLEASE CHECK YOUR CHILD DAILY FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS as I can't take time each day to do it. TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY. If there is just one child who has lice and isn't properly or fully treated we could get back into a situation where many kids get it. IF your child does have lice OR nits please let me know.
Head lice are extremely contagious. Close contact or sharing personal belongings, such as hats or hairbrushes, puts people at risk. Children ages 3-11 and their families get head lice most often. Personal hygiene has nothing to do with getting head lice. Parents, please express to your child how important it is for your child NOT to share hairbrushes and combs, barrettes and rubber bands as well as hats.
As a school, we cannot stress how important it is to be vigilant in following the proper procedure when dealing with lice &/or nits. The school requires children to be free of lice and nits before returning to the classroom.
Below is information gathered from Medline Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/
Head lice are parasitic wingless insects. They live on people's heads and feed on their blood. An adult is called a louse and is about the size of a sesame seed. The eggs, called nits, are even smaller - almost like a dandruff flake. Lice and nits are easiest to detect at the neckline and behind the ear, but they can really be found anywhere on the head. The students that I sent home today both had nits on the TOP of their head.
Symptoms are
- Tickling feeling in the hair
- Frequent itching
- Sores from scratching
The most important step in treating head lice is to treat the person and other family members with medicine to kill the lice.
How can I treat head lice?
Head lice can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription products. Shampoos and lotions that kill head lice contain pesticides and other chemicals, so it is important to talk to your doctor before using these products, especially if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you have allergies or asthma. It is also not safe to use products with pesticides on or near your eyes. If you find head lice or nits in eyelashes or brows, talk to your doctor.
The products that kill head lice don't usually kill all nits. To reduce the risk of another lice infestation, pick the remaining lice and nits by hand or by using a special comb (one brand name: LiceMeister comb) to remove them. Comb through all of the hair one section at a time every 3 days or more often, for at least 2 weeks or until you stop seeing head lice and nits.
You should also use hot water to wash any bed linens, towels and clothing recently worn by the person who had head lice. Vacuum anything that can't be washed such as the couch, carpets, your child's car seat and any stuffed animals. Because head lice don't live very long away from the scalp, you don't need to use lice spray on these items.
The products that kill head lice don't usually kill all nits. To reduce the risk of another lice infestation, pick the remaining lice and nits by hand or by using a special comb (one brand name: LiceMeister comb) to remove them. Comb through all of the hair one section at a time every 3 days or more often, for at least 2 weeks or until you stop seeing head lice and nits.
You should also use hot water to wash any bed linens, towels and clothing recently worn by the person who had head lice. Vacuum anything that can't be washed such as the couch, carpets, your child's car seat and any stuffed animals. Because head lice don't live very long away from the scalp, you don't need to use lice spray on these items.
Additional information regarding non-toxic methods can be found at http://blogs.webmd.com/
Here are some other tips and suggestions that might be helpful:
Steps to take at home
1. Children WITHOUT lice should lather up their heads with hair gel each morning before school. Lice do not like hair gel. And girls should wear their hair in a braid or pony tail every day.
2. Place your child's hats and coat in a very hot dryer the moment you come home from school.
Preventative Care:
I've read (several places) that head lice are repelled by tea-tree oil & rosemary. You can find all natural shampoo, conditioner & hairspray formulated to repel head lice (supposedly) here: http://www.
Also, I found at New Seasons Giovanni shampoo and conditioner that has tea tree oil & rosemary oil.
Additional tips and suggestions:
LiceGuard Robi Comb (available at drug stores)
Retail Price: $35.00
Web Price: $29.95
International Bestseller
ZAP LICE dead on contact while combing DRY hair.
As the comb slides through the hair, it makes a soft humming sound until it encounters a louse.
The humming sound stops and a small electrical charge passes from the comb's teeth through the louse. Using the small brush included in the package, the user removes the dead louse from the comb's teeth and resumes combing.
The comb can be stored and used repeatedly by the entire family!
Thanks for attention to this matter,Retail Price: $35.00
Web Price: $29.95
International Bestseller
ZAP LICE dead on contact while combing DRY hair.
As the comb slides through the hair, it makes a soft humming sound until it encounters a louse.
The humming sound stops and a small electrical charge passes from the comb's teeth through the louse. Using the small brush included in the package, the user removes the dead louse from the comb's teeth and resumes combing.
The comb can be stored and used repeatedly by the entire family!
posted by Brian Porter at
4:03 PM
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