School Nurse Head Lice Info
School nurses across the nation know how dreaded a word it is: lice. Now it's happened. You've discovered head lice on the heads of some of your students at school. Now what? Both Parents & Staff alike tend to panic when they hear there is a head lice outbreak. No one can blame them. Head lice are an inconvenience for all who come in contact with the blood-sucking parasitic little insects.
As the School Nurse, a lot of responsibility is put on your shoulders to keep the children at your school healthy, happy - and lice free. Healthy and happy children make better students, and certainly give some relief for parents and teachers. Now it's your job to eliminate head lice from your school as quickly as possible.
Don't Let Your School Become a Head Lice Outbreak Statistic
Lice are highly contagious and can spread quickly from person to person, especially in group settings (schools, child-care centers, slumber parties, sports activities, camps, and even playgrounds).
Unfortunately, head lice outbreaks are gaining prevalence in the USA due in part to inadequate control of these parasitic pests. Infestation levels have been known to be as high as 25% in some elementary schools. The good news is that it is possible to manage a lice outbreak of any size with a good plan of attack. Our "Plan of Attack" checklist below is a good start.
Head Lice Elimination Plan of Attack for Schools
- Order the "Nix Comb Sample Kit" today
Now available for a limited time only! This comprehensive kit provides the tools you need to eradicate head lice from your school. This includes a free metal delousing comb, educational brochures with a $3.00 mail-in rebate and a copy of a letter to distribute to parents should your school experience a lice outbreak. - Check every head for live lice and nits
Every child's head should be checked for lice. See the "Lice Detection" page for more information on identifying lice and nits. - Notify Parents of the Outbreak, Provide information and support
Schools and child care centers should let families know when there is a case of head lice, and provide information about diagnosis and treatment. Download and print off a copy of our free head lice notification letter to send out to parents. - Every Child with Lice must be treated with an effective anti-lice product.
- Educate Children on "How Not to Get Lice"
School Nurses and Teachers could collaborate to create a special lesson plan to educate children so they know how to avoid getting lice. Teach them no sharing hats, scarves, brushes, combs, etc. and to avoid head-to-head contact with other children until the lice are gone.
If your students are saying "How can I sit still when my head is itching so bad?" then it is time to Nix head Lice for good!
It's no joke that most children can not sit still long enough to pay attention in class when they've got annoying louse critters running amok on their heads. And it is no wonder these children very often get irritable. Who wants little bugs crawling on and biting their head? And who wants an irritable child fussing in class? For all concerned - parents, teachers and the nurse at school - A lice outbreak is best sent packing as soon as it is discovered.