As kids head back to school, it’s no surprise that September is recognized as Head Lice Prevention Month.
Young kids who still lay on the floor for naps or story time are especially susceptible, but the selfie is responsible for ensuring older kids are equally at risk. Sure enough, that “first day of school group selfie” can create a highway to half a dozen new heads for the parasites.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides these additional tips for preventing the spread of head lice:
- Avoid head-to-head (hair-to-hair) contact at home, school and elsewhere (i.e. during sports activities, on the playground, at slumber parties, etc.).
- Do not share clothing such as hats, scarves, coats, sports uniforms, hair ribbons, or barrettes.
- Do not share combs, brushes, or towels. Disinfest combs and brushes used by someone who has/had head lice by soaking them in hot water (at least 130 ° F) for 5-10 minutes.
- Do not lie on beds, couches, pillows, carpets, or stuffed animals that have recently been in contact with an infested person.
Lice may still find their way into the homes of even the most cautious, however. If this happens to you and/or your children, you’ll want to watch the video below, featuring advice from Dr. Aleah Gibson, a family physician at the St. Elizabeth Physicians Aurora, Ind. office. Gibson explains how to treat head lice and prevent a reinfestation.
