Attachment 2 RES Item 7.4 January 12, 2012 KAWARTHA PINE RIDGE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Pediculosis Procedures & Resources Guidebook (To Support Board Policy No. ES-1.2, Pediculosis in Schools) Head Lice - A Social Nuisance: Not A Health Issue January, 2012
KAWARTHA PINE RIDGE DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD Pediculosis Procedures & Resources Guidebook Table of Contents 1. Procedure Checklist 2. Sample Letters - # First Notice Letter to Parent(s)/Guardian(s) # Pediculosis Treatment Checklist (attach to First Notice Letter) # Second Notice Letter to Parent(s)/Guardian(s) # Notification Letter to Parents/Guardians of Presence of Head Lice in the Classroom 3. KPR Pediculosis Fact Sheet
Detection of Pediculosis The Principal shall: Pediculosis Procedure Checklist identify the person(s) responsible for confirming the presence of head lice on a student; examine students for the purpose of detecting or confirming the presence or absence of head lice; communicate, upon confirming the presence of head lice, with the student(s) parent(s)/guardian(s), in a manner that recognizes the dignity and self-worth of each student and encourages an understanding of pediculosis and its effects; exclude from school, as soon as possible, a student with head lice, for the purpose of receiving a head lice treatment, following notification to the parent(s)/guardian(s); advise in writing to the parent(s)/guardian(s) of a student(s) with head lice, that the student(s) will be excluded from school until the first treatment has been concluded and re-examination shows the student(s) is free of live lice (refer to Sample Letter and Treatment Checklist) ; provide the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student(s) with head lice, with information about the prevention and treatment for head lice (refer to Head Lice Fact Sheet and Treatment Checklist); advise in writing to each parent(s)/guardian(s) that head lice have been detected in his/her child s classroom and that examination of their child is advisable (refer to Sample Letter); re-check the student(s) who had head lice, upon the student(s) return to school, in accordance with the school s pediculosis plan, to ensure that the student(s) is free of live head lice prior to re-admission to class; If live head lice are detected on the re-check, issue second notification (refer to Sample Letter) to parent(s)/guardian(s) that the student(s) will be excluded until all live head lice are removed from the hair and confirmation of a second head lice treatment occurs in 7 to 10 days; ensure affected students are screened again after a second treatment; and communicate with parent(s)/guardian(s) that on-going home checks are recommended.
Sample School Letterhead FIRST NOTICE Date Name & Address Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) It has come to my attention that has developed a case of pediculosis, also known as head lice. Head lice do not carry disease. They are a nuisance but not a health hazard. They do not result from a lack of cleanliness. Anyone can get head lice regardless of their hair length. Head lice do not live on dogs, cats or other animals. They only live on the human head, eyebrows and eyelashes. School children are at a greater risk since they are in groups more often than adults. Parents can get head lice from their children. Board Policy No. ES-1.2, Pediculosis in Schools, requires that students who have been confirmed to have head lice be excluded from school for head lice treatment with the goal that the treatment renders the student free of head lice. This is to ensure that the head lice will not have the opportunity to spread to other students. Before your child returns to school, he/she must be treated for the removal of head lice. This may be done by choosing a product purchased at a pharmacy or by using a non-pharmaceutical (nature products, non-chemicals). Whatever treatment you choose, it must be done along with nit-picking. The treatments alone do not rid the hair of nits. They must be hand picked (or use a special nit comb). This process, unfortunately, is time consuming and laborious, but it must be done to prevent re-infestation. Please refer to the attached Pediculosis (Head Lice) Treatment Checklist. Please accompany your child to school, if possible, on re-entry following head lice treatment. If this is not convenient, please complete the attached form and return with your child. Please advise your child to go to the office for a head check before re-admittance to class. Hair must be completely free of lice if a child is to be re-admitted. You will be contacted should head lice be detected when your child is rechecked. If you have any questions, please call the school. Thank you for your co-operation. Sincerely Principal ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(tear off here) PEDICULOSIS READMITTANCE FORM Please complete this form, along with the attached treatment checklist, and have your child return it to the office before going to class. Thank you. I (Parent/Guardian) confirm that pediculosis treatment has been completed. Date Signature of Parent/Guardian
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Sample School Letterhead PEDICULOSIS (HEAD LICE) TREATMENT CHECKLIST The discovery of head lice can be very upsetting and seem overwhelming to deal with. The following checklist is provided to help you effectively treat head lice. You are encouraged to read the accompanying Fact Sheet for more details. In order for your child to return to school, he/she must be free of live head lice. It is important that each checklist item be completed as quickly as possible. (The form must be signed and returned to the school with your child when he/she is free of live head lice). Consult your pharmacist to discuss an effective treatment method. Determine what head lice treatment you will use - pharmaceutical or nonpharmaceutical. Treat the affected person(s) according to product instructions. Manually remove ALL live head lice from the hair strands. Check the hair of all family members and treat only if necessary. Clean all affected clothing (including hats), bedding and towels in hot water and dry using the hot cycle of dryer. Place items that are not washable in a plastic, airtight bag for at least 10 days, or have them dry cleaned. Clean brushes, combs and hair ornaments. Extra house cleaning is not necessary, but it is wise to vacuum surfaces where heads have rested (i.e. sofas, seats of cars and helmets) as lice can live up to two days away from human contact. Provide a second pharmaceutical/non-pharmaceutical treatment seven (7) to ten (10) days after the first. Recheck affected person(s) hair and others regularly. Caution your child not to share hats, coats and combs. I confirm that I have completed each item listed above. Signature of Parent/Guardian Date Signature of Principal/Designate Date
Sample School Letterhead SECOND NOTICE Name & Address Re: Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) A re-check of your child s hair today revealed live head lice still remaining. It is important to treat and remove head lice to prevent them from spreading to others. Treatment products may kill the lice but not all the nits (eggs). These may hatch and your child will be re-infested. Picking the nits from the hair as well as choosing a chemical or non-chemical treatment is essential. Board Policy No. ES-1.2, Pediculosis in Schools, requires that ALL live head lice be removed from the hair before your child returns to class to ensure that head lice do not have the opportunity to spread from one student to another. We require confirmation that a second head lice treatment has occurred in seven (7) to ten (10) days. Please accompany your child to school, if possible, on re-entry following head lice treatment. If this is not convenient, please complete the attached form and return with your child. Please advise your child to go to the office for a head check before re-admittance to class. Hair must be completely free of lice if a child is to be re-admitted. You will be contacted should head lice be detected when your child is rechecked. If you have any questions, please call the school. Thank you for your co-operation. Sincerely Principal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(tear off here) PEDICULOSIS READMITTANCE FORM Please complete this form and have your child return it to the office before going to class. Thank you. I (Parent/Guardian) confirm that a second (within 7 to 10 days) pediculosis treatment has been completed.
Date Signature of Parent/Guardian Sample School Letterhead Date Name & Address Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Today a case of pediculosis, also known as head lice, was discovered in your child s class. This student is currently being treated. Head lice do not carry disease. They are a nuisance but not a health hazard. They do not result from a lack of cleanliness. Anyone can get head lice regardless of their hair length. Head lice are tiny, flat insects with no wings. They are just 1-2mm long, greyish brown in colour and hard to see. The nits (eggs) are small white oval-shaped deposits that are stuck to the shaft of the hair. These will likely hatch and your child will be infested. Please check your child s head immediately for live lice or nits and then check at least once a week. If you discover head lice or nits, it is important to treat and remove head lice or nits to prevent spreading to others. Treatment products will kill the lice, but not all the nits (eggs). The attached Fact Sheet contains information on treating and removing head lice. Please notify the school if you find that your child has live head lice. Do not treat your child if head lice or nits are not found. Thank you for your co-operation to ensure our students are free of head lice. Sincerely Principal
PEDICULOSIS (HEAD LICE) FACT SHEET Head lice are not a health hazard, but rather a social nuisance. Anyone, regardless of age, gender, race or social class, can get head lice at any time. School age children are especially vulnerable because they are often in head-to-head contact. Information about head lice for parents/guardians and student to help with: # education # prevention # detection, and # treatment What are Head Lice? # Head lice are tiny insects without wings. They cannot fly or jump. They live mostly on the hair and head and are usually behind the ears or the back of the neck. They can also live in eyebrows, eyelashes and beards. # Adult head lice are 1-2 mm long and greyish-brown in colour. They cling to the hair with six hook-like claws and cannot be shaken off. They are very difficult to see. # Nits are the eggs, half the size of a pinhead and oval in shape. They may look like dandruff, but are firmly glued to the hair and cannot be flicked off. New eggs, laid next to the scalp, are off white to brown in colour and are difficult to see. # The first and most common sign of head lice is persistent itching and scratching. Other suspicious signs include scratch marks or rash-like marks on the neck and scalp. Other scalp conditions may cause itching and the only sure way to detect lice is to take a thorough look. Mature head louse grasping crossed hairs.
Page 2 Getting Rid of Head Lice Treatments vary. If you choose to use a head lice shampoo, consult your pharmacist or doctor. You do not need a prescription. (Families on social assistance may, through a doctor s prescription, have a shampoo covered.) Head lice products do not prevent lice. Use them only when nits or lice are present. Costs and risks associated with products vary, so discuss with your pharmacist. Also consult a pharmacist if: # treating children under 4; # treatment provider is pregnant or breastfeeding; # lice/nits are in eyelashes, eyebrows or beards; # scalp is broken or infected; and # the child has a ragweed allergy. Follow product instructions carefully. Many treatments recommend a second application again in 7 to 10 days. After the second treatment, continue to check for nits daily for at least two weeks. Continue to remove nits by hand. Do not treat children who are not infested. How Else Can I Get Rid of Head Lice? Non-Pharmaceutical Options Some people are uncomfortable with the use of a chemical-based treatment. The most critical part of any treatment is the removal of all lice and nits. There are natural treatments available with varying results. Consult your local health food store or natural health practitioner for suggestions. To Remove Nits Head lice products used properly, can often be effective, but nits may still be present. Nits must be removed. If they are not, nits may hatch, resulting in reinfestation. Nits must be removed by hand. # Bright, natural light is important to see nits. Page 3
# Comb the hair to remove tangles. Take hold of a small shaft of hair. Use your thumb nail against your forefinger and squeeze the nit from the hair. Start at the top of the shaft of hair, close to the scalp, and run your thumb and finger to the bottom of the hair strand. Put the nits in a plastic bag. # Special nit combs are also available. However, using only a nit comb may not remove all the nits. It is recommended that a nit comb be used in combination with removing the nits by hand. Place nits in a bag, seal and put in the garbage. # Continue section by section until all the nits are removed. Seal the bag and put it in the garbage. Some people find nits easier to remove if they put petroleum jelly on the hair first or rinse the hair with a solution of one tablespoon of vinegar and one cup of water. Close Contacts If head lice are detected on a member of your family, check the heads of the entire family. Notify others who may have been in contact, such as grandparents, babysitters and friends. Contact your child s school, day care, sports groups or any other groups he/she has had contact with if head lice or nits are detected. Personal Items and Clothing The focus of head lice treatment must be to remove lice and nits from the hair and head. However, lice can get into personal items, articles of clothing and can live off the head for up to 48 hours. # Wash all bedding, clothing and towels in very hot water and dry using the hot cycle of the dryer. The heat will destroy the lice and nits. # Items (i.e. stuffed toys) that cannot be washed should be dry-cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks. # Combs and brushes should be cleaned to remove hair and disinfected by soaking in a head lice shampoo or disinfectant. # Vacuum loose hairs from carpets and upholstery. Discard the vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag. Page 4
Points to Remember 1. Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring children are lice and nit free. 2. Examine your child s head on a regular basis (i.e. weekly, after vacations). If you detect head lice, notify the school or daycare. Take immediate action. 3. Lack of cleanliness does not cause head lice. Head lice prefer clean scalps. 4. Discourage children from sharing hats, combs, brushes and hair accessories. 5. Keeping hair short will not prevent head ice. Children with long hair should have their hair tied back. 6. Head lice do not live on dogs, cats, or other animals, only on humans. For More Information National Pediculosis Association www.headlice.org 1-781-449-NITS Canadian Paediatric Society www.caringforkids.cps.ca Lice Advice Hotline 1-800-783-1919 (Paid for by a manufacturer of a nit removal product) www.eoginesis.com www.neonnits.com The Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board works in partnership with parents/guardians to ensure that students attend school lice free in accordance with Board Policy No. ES-1.2, Pediculosis in Schools.