HEAD LICE 
Each year cases of head lice are found in schools. The following is for your information:
CRCCS maintains a NO NIT policy.
Students will be checked for head lice periodically throughout the school year, especially after vacations and long weekends. Infected students will be sent home.
- Parents should treat the hair directly with head-lice shampoo. NITS AND EGGS MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE HAIR.
- Child’s clothing, linen, and stuffed animals should be disinfected and carpets should be vacuumed. It may be wise to treat other children in the house too.
- Upon returning to school, each student will be checked in the office before being sent back to class.
- Students may receive up to two days of excused absences while lice are being removed.
What to Look For & How to Treat Your Child
Lice infestation (pediculosis) is common in school-aged children. Infestation, contrary to what many believe, has nothing to do with personal hygiene. The head louse (singular form of “lice”) is the size of a sesame seed, is grayish white, or, after feeding, reddish-brown. Its six legs are perfectly adapted for clinging on to human hair. The female louse lays yellow-white, oval eggs (nits), which she attaches to the hair shaft with a glue-like substance. The eggs hatch in 7 to 10 days. Unable to jump or fly, lice move from one person to another by crawling. Not only do lice use head to head contact to move from person to person, but sharing hats, combs, and other personal objects can lead to infestation. Children aged 6 to 11 are most likely to get them because they often hang their hats and coats together, and while playing, put their heads together. Symptoms to look for: itching, swollen glands in the back of the neck, and scratch marks along the hairline and neck. The most harmful effects of head lice have been caused by misguided attempts to get rid of them, involving substances like animal shampoos, toxic pesticides, chlorine, gasoline, and other flammable gases. Using these products will lead to poisoning or burning the child.
Several brands of lice shampoos are now on the market (Nix, Rid, and other generic brands). Do not use animal shampoos. Animal shampoos are pesticides, not hair care products. It is very important that the instructions for the lice shampoo are read and followed carefully. Nit removal is a critical element because 30% of the nits survive lice-killing shampoo treatments. Nits are sometimes difficult to remove because they are practically “cemented” to the hair shaft. Ensuring that all nits are removed, may take hours of searching for and pulling out individual nits. Re-application of the lice shampoo and removal of all remaining nits is required within 7 days.
Steps to follow in the care of head lice:
- Check your child to see if she/he has lice or nits.
- Shampoo thoroughly with a good lice shampoo. (You might want to blow-dry your child’s hair because this sometimes loosens the nits from the hair shaft.)
- Comb out the nits with a fine tooth comb (plastic or metal).
- In good lighting, section hair into small parts and remove all attached nits with tweezers or fingernails.
- Wash all bedding, recently used towels and worn clothes in hot water and dry in a hot dryer.
- Soak all combs and brushes in hot water for 10-20 minutes.
- Hair should be checked daily to make sure all nits and lice are gone. If you see more nits, it may mean that there are still lice in the hair or that your child has been re-infested.
- Check everyone in the household because lice are very contagious.
- Avoid sharing hats, helmets, combs, brushes, and clothing with anyone who has lice. If you have lice, do not allow anyone else to use your personal items.
- Treat eyelashes and eyebrows with a thick layer of petroleum jelly. Apply twice a day for 8 days.
- Vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, car, and seats, then dispose of the vacuum bag.
- Children should be kept home from school/daycare if they have an active infestation.
- Avoid spraying the house or car with insecticides. This is not necessary.
- Stuffed animals and other items that cannot be washed should be placed in a plastic bag and isolated for 10 days.
If you have any other questions regarding lice and how to treat your child, please call your child’s physician or the Health Department.