Letter to families regarding Lice
Central Greene School District
Dear Parent or Guardian:
For the protection and welfare of the school child(ren), certain procedures can be carried out to maintain a healthy environment for your child. An inspection of the hair and scalp is one of these measures, which can be completed weekly at home or when washing your child's hair. Should your child be found with evidence of head lice and you have questions, please ask your school nurse, family physician or local pharmacist.
Anyone - adult – child – any person can get head lice. It has nothing to do with cleanliness and does not reflect poorly on you as a parent. The problem is easily managed. Just follow the instructions in this letter. Head lice are passed from person to person by direct contact or shared objects (combs, towels, headphones, etc.…), so check every member of the family.
Look for tiny white eggs (nits) on hair shafts, near the scalp, especially at the nape of the neck and behind the ears. Head lice themselves are small grayish-tan insects without wings. The most common symptom of infestation is intense itching on the back of the head and/or neck. Any family member with signs or symptoms should be treated immediately. Several products are available without a prescription from your local drugstore.
Whatever treatment you choose, follow the instructions carefully. Treatment with a nonprescription medication followed by careful cleaning of the house can usually solve the problem.
After treatment, take these steps to keep your family members and home environment lice-free:
1. Soak all combs, brushes, etc.…, in hot water (over 130 degrees F.) for ten minutes.
2. Wash all exposed clothing, bed linens, and towels in hot water and dry in a dryer on hot cycle for at least twenty minutes. (Items not machine washable must be dry cleaned or stored at room temperature in a tightly sealed plastic for at least two weeks. Items such as headphones and helmets should be similarly bagged and stored.)
3. Vacuum mattresses, upholstered furniture, pillows, carpets, and car seats. Head lice cannot survive without a human host. They cannot survive on family pets. Choose effective treatment, use as directed, and perform the steps listed above to eliminate head lice from your home and to prevent their spread in the community.
Additional information on head lice infestation and its treatment is available from the school nurse, your child's physician or from your local pharmacist. Please do not hesitate to ask.
Sincerely, CGSD School Nurse