Lice

Lice are a common occurrence in schools, daycare settings  and camps, there are more than 6 million cases of head lice reported each year in the U.S. They do not carry disease but are a human parasite. The best way to protect your family is to prevent infestation!

Callahan school nurse Maureen Gearty created an informative slide show about all the "Facts of Lice".

For even more information http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/head_lice.html# or contact your school nurse.

Norwood Public Schools Protocols for Pediculosis - Head Lice

Pediculosis (head lice) is one of the most prevalent communicable conditions in the United States, with more than 6 million cases seen per year. Head lice are tiny insects that live only on people’s scalp and hair.  Head lice hatch from small eggs called nits. Head lice do not carry any diseases and they do not cause any pain or illness. Head lice can infest any person, regardless of age, race, socio-economic status or hygiene practices.

Norwood Public Schools will maintain procedures for the management of pediculosis that will not disrupt a student’s education process. The goals of the NPS procedures for managing pediculosis are to contain infestation, to provide appropriate health information to families & school staff regarding treatment and prevention, to prevent overexposure of children to potentially hazardous chemicals, and to minimize school absences.

• Children found with live head lice or nits by the school nurse will be referred to parents/caregivers for treatment and sent home at the end of the school day.  
• Every attempt will be made to notify the school nurse of the appropriate school, if a student is found to have head lice and has siblings/household members attending other NPS schools. 
• The school nurse will provide parents with detailed information for the treatment of head lice that should be done at home that evening and in the coming days. Recommendations for treatment will follow current standards of evidence-based practice.  
• The school nurse may recheck the student upon return to school to verify that treatment was done and to provide additional guidance to parents as needed. If live lice are found, the student may be asked to return home for further treatment. Because no disease process is associated with head lice, NPS will not exclude students when just nits remain after appropriate lice treatment, although further monitoring at home for two weeks for signs of re-infestation is appropriate. 
• At nurse and principal discretion, letters may be sent home to classroom parents if a cluster of cases (3 or more) are identified in a classroom. The school nurse may send general information to the entire school community about head lice at various points throughout the school year.