News Release

Head Lice an Evil Foe to the Attendance Issue!

Head lice, the number one reason for absenteeism in schools across the country; but it need not be! Simple safety precautions could have prevented countless cases of head lice each year. So why then do so many schools allow head lice to reach epidemic proportions before they are willing to confront the problem? This is a question being asked all too often as parents strive to end the head lice crisis in their homes.

While head lice are not life threatening, they are most definitely an unwelcome houseguest, as they strip their victims of their piece of mind and, in many cases, their dignity. Undetected head lice multiply quickly as they lay 4 to 5 nits at a time, doing so twice a day. Add to that the fact that lice rarely travel alone, enabling them to accelerate their reproduction at a speed well beyond any reasonable comprehension.

In an attempt to contain this ever growing problem, schools across the country joined forces to establish what we now know as the “No Nit Policy”. A much needed awareness, which unfortunately created an entirely new set of problems. Problems that many consider are far worse than head lice itself.

How is it that a little bug can generate such paranoia and mass hysteria? To understand this, one must first consider the domino effect created as a result of having head lice. Unfortunately, to truly appreciate it, you must first live through it!

Head lice affect not only the child's immediate needs, but their education as well- as they are forced to miss school while parents desperately work to rid these pesky critters from their homes. The child's overall health is also at risk, as they lack a good night's sleep- thanks to this nocturnal insect. Naturally, a sleepy child is an unproductive child, even if they were allowed to stay in school. Parents not only waste countless dollars on products that that are not only dangerous, but many do not work- causing the parent to treat over and over again. It's important to note that many of these re-treatments are also a direct result of the child, once again, having been sent home from school. The cost continues, as many parents are forced to miss work while they tend to this unwanted houseguest. Missed work in most cases means missed wages. This obviously has an impact on the employers as well, as they struggle to cover the work load of these missing employees. Many such employees have gone on to lose their jobs due to the overwhelming amount of days absent from work. Certainly, if these absences create a hardship at work, we can only imagine the impact they have on our child's education. Schools likewise lose revenue with each day's absence, as most school systems are funded on a per head per day basis. To further complicate the mix is the mounting tension between parents and school administration, as schools diligently try to enforce the no nit policy. Worst of all is the damage it does to the child's self esteem, as they quietly pray to get past this embarrassing and painful situation.

As you can see- head lice really does go well beyond a simple bug on the head. And it's not just their problem – it's everyone's problem, as no one is safe from possible infestation.

So what's the answer to this obvious dilemma? Do we throw in the towel and reverse the “No Nit Policies” as many school systems have proposed? Or do we look for alternative ways to fix the hole created by this worthwhile policy? Here at Lice Solutions we choose the later. We recognize that while there is no perfect fix, changes needed to be made. Therefore we went to great lengths to devise a program that would address these needs in a timely and safe manner. One that also enables all children to receive the assistance they need, regardless of their family's income.

It is for that reason that Lice Solutions Resource Network, Inc. was formed. A non profit head lice awareness and control center dedicated to fighting head lice and the negative stigma associated with having head lice. With the help of trained technicians, we work with all families, to educate, to treat, and above all to emphasize preventive steps; in an attempt to reduce the spread and reoccurring number of cases seen each year. While we are not miracle workers, we believe we are making a difference.

Using safe non toxic products, our technicians go through the hair literally strand by strand. As part of the treatment process, we check all family members to help minimize the chances of re-infestation. While we can't stay with the child every minute of the day, we can help rule out possible causes of re-exposure by helping to consider other sources of contact. The average treatment takes approximately two hours; therefore we utilize this time to help educate not only the parent, but the child as well. With the use of analogies we are able to explain head lice on a level that families not only understand, but more importantly with information they actually retain. Part of our treatment process requires them to return to our office in seven days to allow us a chance to recheck the child's head. Should we find anything at that time we will remove it, apply a new spray of shampoo and finish with a quick and final comb through. But it doesn't stop there. We like to say that we hold their hands till we know they are safely past it. We continue to stay with the family, as long as necessary, by way of follow-up rechecks - continuing to check the hair on each subsequent visit and if necessary- picking, spraying and combing.

Why do we, at Lice Solutions, take head lice so seriously? The reason is simple. Like most of the problems we face each day, ignoring the situation won't make it go away. The fact is - it usually makes things worse. So why then are children constantly put through this needless cycle when preventive steps could have been taken?

We as parents need to train our children in “Head Lice Responsibility” at an early age. We need to instruct them, not only on the dangers of sharing items such as combs, hats, headphones, etc., but more importantly the daily habits necessary to develop good steps towards head lice prevention. These simple tools should include (if possible) keeping the child's hair pulled back. Longer hair should go a step farther to include braiding or the use of a bun to provide extra protection. Daily shampooing with preferably a good mint based shampoo. A secondary shampoo option would be a citrus, fruity or other strong fragrance. We need to establish a routine of regular comb outs with a good lice comb. Preferably this would become a daily habit and should be tended to while the hair is still wet. At the very least it should be done at least once or twice a week. Regular comb outs should not require more than a couple minutes of your time. However, in doing so you could catch a potential problem early on saving yourself countless hours, as well as dollars, in the long run. The key to keeping head lice from taking over our lives is to first recognize the problem, then admit the problem and in the end deal with the problem!

Finally how do we as community leaders and school administrators get a handle on this dilemma, before it consumes our student body? For one, we establish a regular routine for checking heads- one that is not disruptive to our normal school activities, yet helps control the needless spread of countless cases. At Lice Solutions we assist in this by providing free head checks throughout the year, as they correspond with specific activities or events. An excellent example of this is “Head Check Awareness Week”. During the first week of August we offer free head checks to every child that enters our facility. Just imagine how many cases could be avoided, if every child's head was checked prior to the start of school! We need to encourage all children to act responsibly where head lice are concerned. We need to also recognize the fact that lice happens to everyone. By doing so, we can help put an end to the negative stigma associated with having head lice. Furthermore if we find a child to have lice, we should not panic or overreact - working together is the only true way to eliminate any chance of this reaching epidemic proportions. Finally, we need to become an active participant in the fight against head lice. The war can't be won alone- it should not be dumped solely in the laps of parents or become the school's responsibility. Communities need more non profit treatment facilities like the one in West Palm Beach , Fl - ultimately that is our goal. We need to all accept that Head Lice is not Their Problem~ It's Everyone's Problem. By doing so we can make a difference and in the end help reduce the number of days absent as a result of a needless case of head lice!