Lice in the Classroom
Teachers, I know your head is starting to itch just thinking about head lice! But hold that scratch… we can help! Lice Clinics of America is the largest, lice network in the world and we use science to solve lice removal!
First the tough news. 1 in 20 children have head lice at all times; 6 to 12 million children per year in the United States. Lice are stronger than ever before, so typical, over-the-counter treatments are now less than 25% effective. Hence, Super Lice, and an increasing number of children, teenagers and adults affected.
Now the great news! Lice are not an environmental disease! Unlike fleas or bedbugs, lice do not burrow or infiltrate your home or classroom; they can’t fly or jump either- but they are fantastic climbers! They typically cannot survive off the human head for more than 12 hours and they cannot reproduce off the human head. Studies have shown that even in schools with a large number of children infested with lice zero lice have been found on the floors.
Best practices to stop the spread of lice:
- Lice are spread primarily head to head. Selfies, sports, hugs and horseplay are some ideal times for lice to transfer to a new head. And lice prefer clean hair!
- If someone in your class has lice, there is no need to bag up classroom cushions and pillows for weeks; lice can never, ever survive more than a day or two off the human head. (If you leave your classroom on Friday afternoon and return on Monday morning- it is guaranteed that you do not have a living louse or lice eggs in your class!)
- Lice can survive washing machines- so if you do have pillows, stuffed animals, dress-up clothes or other soft items with which children were in contact, run them through the dryer for 40 minutes on high, or simply take them away for 48 hours.
- If you have concern about other items they can be placed in the freezer overnight.
- The risks are very small of contracting lice from physical surfaces but if you have soft couches or chairs, you can run a lint roller or vacuum cleaner over them. Lice do not burrow into the fabric.
- During lice outbreaks, women and girls are safest with hair pulled back in a bun, braid or at least a ponytail.
- Consider a preventive spray for hair and soft surfaces in the classroom. (We sell a great one!)
- Animals do not get head lice, so your class pets are safe!
If you have any questions or need help dealing with lice, we are here for you!
