LICE PSA.

Specialties School

Published

Creepy crawly. Very pretty girl with about 12 that I saw. And nits. An infestation.

Teachers are panicking in the streets.

This is the body of the letter I just sent:

"Please be advised that lice cannot be spread from person to person unless their hair comes in CLOSE contact and the louse crawls from one head to another via the hair shaft.

Lice do not fly.

Lice to not hop.

Lice do not wait on desks or chairs to attack the next unsuspecting victim.

That being said, if you see students hanging all over each other, their hair (or anything else) in close contact, please break it up.

If you suspect a child has lice, please send them to me immediately!

Any questions please do not hesitate to call me.

(I know your head is itching now…)

Thanks,

Far"

Specializes in Pediatrics, school nursing.

Ugh. I hate dealing with lice! We have a few teachers who are such alarmists, and can't understand why I can't go and check all of their students, "just in case". I provide them with our district lice policy at the beginning of every school year, as well as a list of things that teachers can do in their classrooms. Thank God my principal was on the committee that wrote the policy, and supports me. In the meantime, I have parents at my daughter's school posting on FB about the lice outbreak they perceive is happening there, and demanding the nurse send a letter home to parents. If I didn't work for the same district, I would speak up and tell them to find a new hobby.

MHDNURSE

701 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics, Community Health, School Health.
Ugh. I hate dealing with lice! We have a few teachers who are such alarmists, and can't understand why I can't go and check all of their students, "just in case". I provide them with our district lice policy at the beginning of every school year, as well as a list of things that teachers can do in their classrooms. Thank God my principal was on the committee that wrote the policy, and supports me. In the meantime, I have parents at my daughter's school posting on FB about the lice outbreak they perceive is happening there, and demanding the nurse send a letter home to parents. If I didn't work for the same district, I would speak up and tell them to find a new hobby.

Happy to know I am not the only one who thinks people blow lice WAY out of proportion. In our state (MA) we aren't allowed to send kids home for lice. I have parents calling me angry that a kid with lice is allowed at school, teachers asking me to check the whole school (imagine THAT), etc. I too send home a letter at the beginning of the year educating everyone but they still panic. I get that lice are a PITA to deal with, but they are not dangerous and people really need to chill.

BeckyESRN

1,263 Posts

I wish parents would care as much as about exclusion when their children are ill as they do when someone else's kid has head lice!

MrNurse(x2), ADN

2,558 Posts

Specializes in IMC, school nursing.
I wish parents would care as much as about exclusion when their children are ill as they do when someone else's kid has head lice!

Priorities. No one knows someone who had Tetorifice, but lice, yeah that's when stuff gets real. You get over a virus, but LICE!

NutmeggeRN, BSN

2 Articles; 4,620 Posts

Specializes in kids.

Wendy Wright an APRN from NH has a FABULOUS video on YOUTUBE

I am a big fan of hers!

OldDude

1 Article; 4,787 Posts

Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

You should evacuate the premises and put the school in a plastic bag for 2 weeks.

allnurses Guide

BostonFNP, APRN

2 Articles; 5,581 Posts

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Lice are gross.

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

Lice are gross.

Good lord, Boston, keep Grumpy Kitty away from the math teachers. This was their frame of mind!

allnurses Guide

BostonFNP, APRN

2 Articles; 5,581 Posts

Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.
Good lord, Boston, keep Grumpy Kitty away from the math teachers. This was their frame of mind!

Seems pretty reasonable.

BabyFood26

203 Posts

Specializes in Home Health, Mental/Behavioral Health.

I laughed so hard when I read this. Well put :D

kidzcare

3,393 Posts

You should evacuate the premises and put the school in a plastic bag for 2 weeks.

Then tack the bag to your bulletin board for science.

+ Add a Comment