If lice can't jump or fly

Cattz, ADN · Sep 27, 2017

Oh, no! If your entire class is passing around head lice perhaps we should look at what you're doing wrong in your classroom that allows for this to happen. The CDC and APA agree that, under normal classroom circumstances, head lice unlikely to be spread. Maybe I should come observe you in your classroom to suggest areas of improvement.

If AN had a "LOVE" button! I would be clickin on it!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Farawyn · Sep 27, 2017

I dealt with it the first month I was here. My principals wanted the whole school screened, only 85 students then, but what a hassle. Most of the victims were staff kids.

Who went to PUBLIC SCHOOL! :woot:

GetBackToClassRN · Sep 27, 2017

CDC - Lice - Head Lice - Prevention & Control

Head to head contact is by far the MOST likely means of spreading lice. It is still a small possibility to spread through shared items though. Even if it's a small possibility it still makes me say "Ugh!" to all of the close contact (backpack & jacket piles, bean bags, etc.). I just wish the teachers would find "cleaner" solutions for the students personal items and seating.

I am all for preventing hysteria, but we still need to encourage common sense to limit any exposure in the classrooms. I am sure we are all familiar with the parent(s) that wants to blame the school for her child getting lice. It's hard to confidently tell parents that a newly found student with lice could not have gotten it at school, when I know their is a possibility even if it is small.

Cattz, ADN · Sep 27, 2017

Just a reminder...lice transmission from person to person is unlikely by any method other than direct head to head contact; not backpacks, jackets, headphone, helmets, movie seats, etc. A louse is not going to choose to crawl from a blood source to an inanimate object. If a louse falls off a head it is in a death spiral.
And I would tell the teacher to get over it. Be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem; educate and follow up with the students instead of fanning the flames of hysteria.

Amen! I am buying a round of coffee for everyone in honor of the Lice-Wisdom-Of-OldDude. :nurse: But I am at the uncool table today, so come join me there if you want coffee!

Cattz, ADN · Sep 27, 2017

CDC - Lice - Head Lice - Prevention & Control
Head to head contact is by far the MOST likely means of spreading lice. It is still a small possibility to spread through shared items though. Even if it's a small possibility it still makes me say "Ugh!" to all of the close contact (backpack & jacket piles, bean bags, etc.). I just wish the teachers would find "cleaner" solutions for the students personal items and seating.
I am all for preventing hysteria, but we still need to encourage common sense to limit any exposure in the classrooms. I am sure we are all familiar with the parent(s) that wants to blame the school for her child getting lice. It's hard to confidently tell parents that a newly found student with lice could not have gotten it at school, when I know their is a possibility even if it is small.

Koala- It is hard to be confident. Yes I agree, and any one of us who have been in the business for any length of time, understand what you are saying. From my perspective, I HAD to make sure that I had educated myself frontwards and backwards on lice. Now that I have done that, and make sure that I continue to do that...I have found that being confident in what I know and can answer questions quickly and confidently is 99% of the battle. In other words (I have learned to "sell" it.) Hang in there. It is not an easy battle. But, I promise, it is worth the end result of being absolutely able to make a difference in reducing the misinformation and the hysteria for ALL stakeholders. So glad we are all here together in this.

BeckyESRN · Sep 27, 2017

CDC - Lice - Head Lice - Prevention & Control
Head to head contact is by far the MOST likely means of spreading lice. It is still a small possibility to spread through shared items though. Even if it's a small possibility it still makes me say "Ugh!" to all of the close contact (backpack & jacket piles, bean bags, etc.). I just wish the teachers would find "cleaner" solutions for the students personal items and seating.
I am all for preventing hysteria, but we still need to encourage common sense to limit any exposure in the classrooms. I am sure we are all familiar with the parent(s) that wants to blame the school for her child getting lice. It's hard to confidently tell parents that a newly found student with lice could not have gotten it at school, when I know their is a possibility even if it is small.

I agree that teachers should not be storing coats and backpack in piles, have "buddy reading" with students sharing bean bags, ect. Not because I believe that lice will be transmitted this way, but because it helps to tell parents that these things are not done in the classrooms and helps put the responsibility on them to tell their child to keep their head off of everyone else's head!

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Sep 27, 2017

Amen! I am buying a round of coffee for everyone in honor of the Lice-Wisdom-Of-OldDude. But I am at the uncool table today, so come join me there if you want coffee!

See ya there...wearing yellow and khaki...

allnurses Guide · Sep 27, 2017

then why is my entire class getting lice?
This is what a teacher asked me yesterday. Last week, two of her students had lice. Yesterday she brought me three more to "check their heads". I calmly explained to her that the CDC and the AAP do not recommend excluding for lice and I cannot call the families to have the kids picked up. I DO call all the families to inform them and go over treatment and the importance of daily combing for 14 days. So yesterday when she brought me the three students and asked me that question in a huff, I didn't know what to tell her. What would you have said?

The CDC has a very good downloadable public information sheet on head lice. You might download it and make copies for your teachers. Also students should be told not to share combs or brushed with each other as that is the most likely way they move from head to head.

Hppy

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Sep 27, 2017

Who went to PUBLIC SCHOOL!

WineRN · Sep 27, 2017

We have a "Swap hat day" in the winter which i think is silly in general, but last year i had a girl come down with live lice that morning who I specifically told NOT to participate.

The teacher let her participate because she didn't want her to feel left out....

Guess who was bullied into a full class check the next day?

MrNurse(x2), ADN · Sep 27, 2017

We have a "Swap hat day" in the winter which i think is silly in general, but last year i had a girl come down with live lice that morning who I specifically told NOT to participate.
The teacher let her participate because she didn't want her to feel left out....
Guess who was bullied into a full class check the next day?

That would definitely be a reason for WineRN to whine. Justified.

BeckyESRN · Sep 27, 2017

We have a "Swap hat day" in the winter which i think is silly in general, but last year i had a girl come down with live lice that morning who I specifically told NOT to participate.
The teacher let her participate because she didn't want her to feel left out....
Guess who was bullied into a full class check the next day?

WHY? WHY? WHY? and NO!