Headlice

Unfortunately headlice seem to be doing the rounds once again! 

Please could you all check your child’s hair on a daily basis and take the appropriate action if any lice or eggs are found.  Also, please remind your child to keep his/her hair away from other children’s as this is how they are passed from person to person and it is advisable that girl’s hair should please be worn up in a bobble.

Detailed below are two methods which can be used to treat headlice effectively.  If any of you would like more details or further advice please do not hesitate to contact us here at school.

“Wet combing method”

Head lice may be cleared over a two week period by the following method:

• Wash the hair in the normal way with an ordinary shampoo.
• Using lots of hair conditioner (any sort will do) and while to hair is very wet, comb through the hair from the roots with a ‘head lice comb’.  Make sure the teeth of the comb slot into the hair at the roots with every stroke, and do this over a pale surface, such as a paper towel or the bath.
• Clear the comb of lice between each stroke, by washing/wiping with a paper towel.
• Wet lice find it difficult to escape, and hair which is slippery from conditioner makes it hard for them to keep a grip – so removal with the comb is easier.
• If you find any lice, then repeat this routine every 3-4 days for 2 weeks, so that any lice emerging from the eggs are removed before they can spread.

“Using lotions”

Your health visitor or local pharmacist will be able to recommend lotions and rinses which are specially made to kill lice and their eggs quickly and safely.  The particular treatment changes from time to time, as lice become resistant to one particular product.

The best way to check for lice is as described in the “wet combing method”.