WHEN A CHILD IS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING HEAD LICE, THE FOLLOWING WILL OCCUR:
- The parents or guardian of the infected child will be notified.
- The child will be sent home. He/she will not be returned to the classroom.
- The other children in the classroom will be inspected for infection.
- The infected student may return to school only after treatment with a head lice shampoo and only when he/she is nit free.
- The child must be brought to school by a parent/guardian and seen by the school nurse for an inspection and re-admittance approval. The school nurse will also inspect the child for the next 10 consecutive days.
IF YOU FIND HEAD LICE:
- Contact the school nurses so that she can check the other children.
- Contact your physician and follow his instructions, or buy an “over the counter” lice shampoo and use according to the directions.
- Do not assume the lice will go away. They will spread unless treatment is given.
- Inspect everyone in the household for head lice.
TO PREVENT HEAD LICE:
- Instruct your child not to wear another’s hat or clothing and not to use another’s comb or brush.
- Inspect the hair of all members of the household if a case of head lice is found in your home, and treat the person if lice or nits are found.
- Wash all bed linens, pillowcases, blankets, and lice exposed items on the hot cycle of the washing machine. Dry-clean those items that cannot be washed or put them in an airtight plastic bag for 14 days.
- Soak combs and brushes in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
- Vacuum carpets, upholstery, pillows, and mattresses.
The school takes precautions when a case is reported. We clean and disinfect the room, blankets, lockers, and areas involved. We do our best to keep it from spreading. Without your cooperation, even one case can restart the cycle of head lice in school.
Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Health Office at 638-6318, ext. 2404.