Hello Families, We are trying to recruit a couple of parent volunteers to help out with doing Lice checks in classrooms.
In the meantime please read the following information put together by our school nurse, Sandra.
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If your child has lice, please notify your teacher and the school nurse, Sandra at sandra@bns146.org or 718-923-4750, x 2091.
Head Lice - Facts
- Lice are small parasites that live on the head. The adult louse lives for up to 30 days and can lay up to 10 eggs / nits per day. They lay the eggs on individual hair strands very close to the scalp with a sticky glue substance (think crazy glue).
- These eggs take about a week to hatch. Once hatched, they go through 3 nymph stages and take about a week to become an adult. The nymphs and adults need our human blood to survive.
- Lice do not have wings so they cannot fly, jump or hop from one head to another. They are very small and very fast. The adult louse is about the size of a grain of rice or a sesame seed.
- Lice and eggs / nits are visible, with the eggs / nits being easier to spot.
- If a louse falls off the head they do not live for long. Off the head, they can live up to 2 days. The nymphs live for several hours and the nits under certain circumstances can hatch but will need a human host to survive.
- Everyone gets lice. Lice do not discriminate.
- Head Lice - INDICATORS
- Your child tells you that their head is itchy.
- Itchy, scratchy head / scalp, especially behind the ears and nape of the neck.
- It is normal to itch, but if you notice your child scratching their head more than once within a small time frame, this could be a sign.
- Rash or bumps at the nape of the neck and behind the ears.
- In some cases, swollen lymph nodes.
- Please note that there are some people who report no symptoms at all.
Resources
HOW DOES HEAD LICE SPREAD?
The most common way to contract head lice is through head to head contact. You can contract head lice through the sharing of brushes, combs, hats, and pretty much anything that comes in contact with the head.
DETECTION
If you suspect head lice on your child’s head, have your child sit under a bright light or even go outdoors, (do not attempt to check under poor lighting). You want to check in small sections throughout your child’s head. Don’t forget to check the nape of the neck.
When checking your child’s head, you want to identify the egg / nit. They are easier to see because the lice are very good at blending in with your child’s head, plus they hide away from light. A simple Google Image search will show you what they look like.
Eggs / nits resemble dandruff. Except dandruff is very white and it is flaky and flakes away. The nits do not move, they are stuck on the individual hair strand. They are white with a yellowish tint. If you find something that looks like a nit and it doesn’t move and the only way to remove it is to take your nails and drag it out then that is a pretty good indication that it is a nit.
TIPS
If you do find lice / eggs: DON’T PANIC, lice is more common than you think.
Every member in your household should be checked -- parents, do not forget to have someone check you.
Decide on a plan of action: How do you plan to eliminate head lice?
If you plan on using the over the counter medicine please note: They do not work 100%. Invest in a really good metal lice comb.
Take all the necessary measures in your home. Concentrate on all things that come in contact with the head. Wash and dry those items on a hot hot hot setting.
One thing to note is that they are not everywhere in your house. They are called head lice because they live on the head, washing and drying items are precautions that should be taken to ensure that you don’t get them back.
Strong Suggestion: Please tell your child’s teacher and tell your family and friends who have come in recent contact with your child / family.
If your family gets head lice, it becomes your problem and you should take responsibility and inform people not only because it is the right thing to do but to ensure that lice don’t come back.
Lice are contracted from your close contacts, and if your child has head lice then there is a good chance that their friends have it too.
Last note to keep in mind is lice can happen to anybody regardless of hair color and hair type, they prefer clean hair but doesn’t necessarily mean that they will stay out of dirty hair.
TREATMENT
- Buy a lice comb and white conditioner (like Pantene), or a lice treatment spray. You’ll also need some paper towels. A magnifying glass is helpful.
- Sit your child under a strong light. Brush out any knots with a comb, and apply conditioner or spray all over their head, beginning at the scalp and all the way through the ends.
- Using the lice comb, comb out small sections of hair at a time, checking for nits and lice. Go through their entire head of hair, beginning at the scalp through the ends. Wipe the comb on a paper towel after pass.
- If you find many nits, you can cover your child’s scalp and hair with conditioner and wrap their hair in a plastic bag. The conditioner will kill the nits overnight. Next day, comb out the nits.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
- Wash your child’s hair once a week or less: lice like clean hair.
- Oil up your children’s hair and neck: lice do not like oil.
- Check your child’s hair often. Check once a week if they haven’t had lice.
If someone in their class has it, check every day!
- If your child has lice, comb them out every day for a week with the lice comb, then every few days, then every week as things calm down.
- Some families like to use daily lice prevention sprays.