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Fall Sports And Head Lice

Fall Sports And Head Lice

Now that school is back in session, it is time for both fall sports and head lice season to begin again. The high contact involvement necessary for fall sports can be fun during the match, but it can also create an environment that lends itself to spreading issues such as staph infection and head lice. The only way for head lice to travel to new hosts is via direct head-to-head contact. Due to the high levels of direct contact in sports, the players are at a higher risk of catching and spreading head lice. Whether you are competing in soccer, cross country, football, cheerleading, or lacrosse this fall, it is important to understand head lice, how they spread, and what you can do to prevent them this season.

What Are Head Lice

Head lice are small parasites that live in the hair of human hosts. These blood-eating insects lay eggs, called nits, on the hairs of their victims and cause intense itching. About 1-3 millimeters in size, these bugs range from off-white to dark grey. Their eggs are yellow or white and take only 8-9 days to hatch, so if you know you have lice, it is important to take care of them before you have an infestation on your hands. Not only will the itching be hard to bear, but head lice can lead to serious bacterial infections if they are not taken care of quickly.

How Do Lice Spread?

It can feel risky to share hats, helmets, and other gear for fear of catching a case of head lice, but thankfully for us, this is not how lice spread. Head lice have evolved to live in human hair, and outside of it, they do not fare well. Once a louse has left the scalp, they are mostly immobile and die after just a few hours. The only way the lice can spread is through direct head-to-head contact.

How To Prevent Head Lice This Season

The best way to prevent the spread of lice is to be mindful of head-to-head contact. Team huddles are a good way to discuss strategy but they can also provide head lice with the opportunity they need to hop over a head or two. During huddles, be mindful of head-to-head contact and avoid it if you can. Another way to reduce your likelihood of catching head lice is by putting your hair up. Wearing braids, buns, or headbands are all good ways to keep your hair out of harm’s way.

Find Lice Removal Near You in Orlando FL

Fresh Heads is dedicated to giving your child the safest, fastest, and most effective treatments. Our chemical-free AirAlle head lice machine guarantees a head lice-free scalp in under 90 minutes. If you or one of your family members catches lice this season, book an appointment to get rid of lice and get back in the game. Our award-winning science-based head lice treatment is what makes us the number-one choice for local families. To find out more, you can book an appointment online, or visit us at one of our locations in Jacksonville, Fl, Orlando, FL, or Savannah, GA.

Schools Without Lice.

Schools Without Lice

At Fresh Heads Lice Removal, our mission is to get rid of lice in schools across the United States. We’ve partnered with the Lice Clinics of America to create the Schools Without Lice program. Through this program, we provide school nurses and teachers with free screenings, resources, and treatments. Together, we can have schools without lice!