Parents know that the secret to staying warm in the cold weather is to keep your head covered. Yes, it’s the time of year when bins full of hats, scarves, and gloves fill up classrooms and homes. It’s also the time of year those pesky letters from the school nurse frequently come home with our kids.
Yes it is true that head lice can survive the cold weather and take up residence on the heads of your loved ones. Let’s review some facts of head lice:
- Head lice are parasites that require human blood for survival
- Head lice do not jump or fly. They crawl quickly along the hair shaft.
- Head to head contact is the most likely means of transferring head lice from one person to another, but sharing hats, combs, etc can also result in spreading lice.
The good news is that with some education, head lice can be prevented. Here are some tips:
- Do not share any items that go on your head such as hats, combs, brushes, helmets, etc.
- Teach your children to place their hats and scarves in the sleeve of their winter coat instead of the classroom bin.
- Tie long hair back in a pony tail and/or keep a short hair do. This makes it more difficult for the lice latch onto a strand of hair.
- Have frequent head checks! After all, tis the season to snuggle close to others!
Meticulice is here to offer education, head checks, and treatment if needed. Call with any questions and we’ll be happy to answer!
