Lice Procedures

ADDISON LICE CHECK AND NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES

We have had more cases of lice, new and recurring, than in past years. The cadre of parent volunteers have done a great job of trying to stay on top of this situation. But as we’ve worked with you and with the volunteers, we’ve noted confusion in some of our information and procedures. Consequently,after many conferences with responsible parties,this is our attempt to ensure that we’ve addressed the confusion and that all of you have the same baseline data from which to work.

Key messages we’d like you to hear:

• The no-nit policy enforced at Addison, is a district policy and is based upon the recommendation of the Santa Clara Department of Public Health and the Pediculosis Association of America.

• This policy is the result of being unable to determine conclusively whether a nit is dead or alive

• Lice are the animals, nits are the laid eggs.

• Lice live only on humans, and can survive no more than 24 hours when removed from a hair shaft.

• Lice can be transmitted only by direct contact, they do not jump from scalp to scalp.

• Infestations are NOT the result of personal hygiene or poor housekeeping.

• Combing and nit picking nits off the hair shaft are the only way to ensure that all nits are dead and have been removed.

• Once removed from the hair shaft, the nits cannot be reattached.

• Nits cannot transfer themselves.

When the volunteers check students for lice at school:

• Parent volunteers have all been trained in appropriate techniques and interactions

• Suspected cases are confirmed by another volunteer checker

• The child is sent to the office where a family member is called and arrangements are made for the child to be picked up and taken home.

• An exposure notice is sent home with all classroom students and is provided to AKC within 24 hours.

• Pediculosis literature and training is provided by the office staff and/or lice checkers.

• Upon return to school, the student has to be rechecked by a parent volunteer.

• This student should be checked by his/her parents daily for an additional 10 days, for any further infestation.

When you receive an exposure notice:

• as your child’s parent(s), you should check for lice immediately

• monitor/check your child’s scalp several times for 10-14 days.

If you find lice at home:

• treat your child following the directions found on the wrapping of the pediculosis shampoo.

• notify the school office of the infestation.

• when the child returns to school, he/she must go to the office for a lice check.

For recurring cases:

• parents are retrained in proper use of the shampoo, and in effective combing and nit-picking procedures

• referrals are made to the district nurse, the Public Health nurse, and to CPS if necessary/appropriate.

• exposure notices will be sent home with each new infestation

• the school administration continues to monitor and to work privately with the family to clear up the infestation(s).

• a log of checks and rechecks are recorded on a form kept in the school office.

• classroom checks may occur/be scheduled more frequently if ‘home’ to a student with a recurring infestation.