lice awareness

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Protocol

The Oak Grove Lice Awareness protocol focuses on education and prevention. All teachers are sensitive to Lice case situations in their classrooms and educated on prevention measures. We have adopted a "no nit" policy. This means that if a louse or nit is found in a child's hair, they are asked to leave school and seek treatment options before returning to school.

Treatment includes both a chemical and manual procedure in most cases. The infected child's parents are provided detailed information, data and resources to successfully treat at home. Before returning to the classroom, the child is inspected by the School Nurse or Office Personnel. The child is then rechecked at school on a weekly basis thereafter, for three weeks.

When a case is identified in a classroom, we immediately notify, via written letter, all parents of children in the class. This letter is provided to classmate's parents in order to remind parents that regular lice checking at home is an effective and valuable means of prevention. Keeping a closer eye on itching behavior and periodic home checks, especially after sleepovers, back to school months and after breaks, are proven to be the most effective means of prevention.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the American Pediatrics Association do not recommend that 'whole class checks' be implemented in a school setting. They are proven ineffective. Thus, we have chosen to invest our resources in the suggested child, teacher and parent education arena.

Ways to Help Prevent Lice Infestations

• Book bags hanging far apart.

• Thoroughly vacuum carpets.

• No hugging. Air hugs and fist bumps are acceptable greetings.

• No secret telling (hair contact) allowed.

• Remind students not to share clothing or hair items.

• Protect hair with product (gel, mouse, hairspray, tea tree oil, natural oils).

• Regular checking of the hair at home.

• No lying on the ground or sharing spaces where other heads have been placed.

• Encourage students to wear hair tied back, up or braided (less surface area exposed).

• No sharing of headphones.

• Send itchy kids to the clinic for a thorough check.