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head lice prevention what methods work

Head Lice Prevention: What Methods Work?

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Head lice are common among children because they have close contact with others and are curious about their environments. One thing most people don’t know about lice infestations is that lice are normally only spreadable through head-to-head contact, not through jumping off the scalp and scattering. Lice normally die after 24 hours being off of their host’s scalp, which is why infestations are quite easy to manage. Eggs, also called nits, are unable to hatch and die quite quickly when far away from head temperatures.

If your child is a victim of the seasonal lice infestations going around their play places, there is no reason to fear and halt them from having fun. Here are some steps to take to prevent and control the spread of head lice:

Avoid Head-to-Head Contact

It is important to tell your child to avoid rough playing or having contact with their friends during playtime. Lice cannot fly, jump or transfer without direct contact, so educating your child on keeping distance will help you avoid them catching lice.

Put a Hold on Sleepovers for the Meantime

When there are outbreaks of lice in schools or play areas, a sleepover may not be the best idea for the time being. Lice can also briefly live on bedding, pillows, and carpets that have come into contact with a person who has a lice infestation. The best time to resume is once the outbreak has been solved and you are sure that lice no longer exists in your child’s environments.

Try Not to Share Head-Care or Head-Use Products

Although occurrences of lice transferring through means other than direct contact are extremely rare, there is still a small chance of other methods of transmission. Some of these involve the use of combs and brushes, sharing hats and other headgear, or towels used to dry children after playtime. These methods of transmission are very rare causes of lice transfers, but it wouldn’t hurt to disinfect combs and brushes through soaking in hot water for at least five minutes.

Think Wisely when Dealing with Your Home

Extreme clean-ups regularly are usually not going to stop the occurrence of lice in your home, as they can even manifest in clean environments. It has been found that regular washing of pillowcases is a useful method that deters the spread of lice. Spending excessively on home cleaning methods and products is not needed to avoid re-infestation of lice in your home, since lice die after a day off of a human scalp.

What is important is washing beddings and pillows after a lice infestation to avoid them from re-occurring. Utilize hot water to wash the fabric products and then seal them in a plastic bag for two days to be sure that the lice have died out.

When dealing with a current lice problem, try to avoid contact with beds and fabric surfaces such as pillows and couches that have been in immediate contact with a lice-infested person. Vacuuming floors and carpets are also recommended, but only as a precaution rather than a necessity.

Do Not Use Pest Sprays and Fogs

Children in your home may be affected by the chemicals in sprays and fog products, which are often overkill and are not a requirement to treat a lice outbreak. Simple precautions are better, and of course, proper treatment.

Head Lice Treatment in Jacksonville, Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA

There are many ways to prevent lice outbreaks from happening, but when they do, it is best to have treatment done by a professional head lice removal clinic. When it comes to head lice treatment in Jacksonville, Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA, you can trust the team at Fresh Heads! Allow us to solve your lice problems by booking an appointment today!

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

Our mission here at Fresh Heads is to eradicate lice from schools across the country, so we’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create a program called Schools Without Lice. Through this program, we provide teachers and nurses with free head lice screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!

what parents need to understand about head lice

What Parents Need to Understand About Head Lice

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If you are a parent of young children, it is all too familiar to hear that lice are spreading amongst your child’s classroom. Although lice are pests, there are misconceptions about how they spread. They can absolutely spread from person to person, but they do not spread the way you think they would. Before panicking, consider these facts about lice and why you should not be afraid for your child:

1. Lice Do Not Spread Easily

Although they multiply fast once they lay eggs, once they get knocked off of a human scalp, they die within 24 hours.

2. Lice Do Not Jump From Scalp to Scalp That Easily

Despite the invasive nature of lice, they do not jump at all. They are crawlers and can only be transmitted through direct contacts, such as during playtime, when kids experience head-to-head contact with each other.

3. Do Not Prevent Your Children from Going to School Despite Lice Infestations

Pediatricians suggest that lice are not easily spread through classrooms, so preventing your children from attending school is not necessary. The school’s administration should be responsible for handling the case in the event of an outbreak, so it is completely fine to continue sending your child to school as long as he or she refrains from having head-to-head contact with other students.

4. Lice Are a Problem That Transcends Socioeconomic Classes

Despite the social stigma that getting lice reflects the cleanliness or living conditions of a family, this notion is untrue. Anyone can get lice, which is why excluding children from their school environment perpetuates the age-old beliefs.

5. Lice are Easily Diagnosed

When peeking around your child’s scalp or head, you may notice the presence of live insects. Use a fine comb to check hair, as well as the areas behind the ear and at the base of the neck. If there is a lice infestation, you will find both bugs and their eggs.

Eggs are easily confused for dandruff, hair products, glitter, and dried up shampoo, so be sure to check if the objects are stuck strongly to hairs. If these are indeed eggs and lice, the following point is how to get rid of lice.

6. Catch and Treat Infestations Early

When a family member is diagnosed with lice, it is best to run through all people in the house for head checks, and get treated as a family to avoid further infestation. The best way to go about it is to have professional lice treatment.

7. A Cleaning Spree is Not Always Needed After a Lice Outbreak

Since lice only live around 24 hours off of a scalp, a simple change of sheets, pillowcases, and washing clothes is a good enough precaution to take after lice have been treated. If the item affected cannot be washed easily, place it in a plastic bag for two whole days to ensure that the louse has died out.

Lice Removal Services in Jacksonville, Orlando, and Savannah

Lice infestations are not as menacing as people have made it out to be. They are easily treated if you let the professionals handle them. At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, we offer top-quality lice removal services in Jacksonville, Orlando, FL, and Savannah, GA. If you or a family member is suffering from an infestation, contact us now!

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

Our mission at Fresh Heads is to get rid of lice in schools across the country. That’s why we’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we’re able to provide teachers and nurses with free head lice screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!