7 Tips to Prevent Head Lice in Public Schools

It’s back to school season and you know what that means…lice! Don’t wait until your child gets sent home with head lice though. Taking some preventative steps will keep your kids’ hair free of lice and nits and keep you from losing your mind trying to prevent it from spreading to the rest of your household. (Just be glad it isn’t bed bugs 😲)

There are some ways to reduce the risks of you getting that dreaded phone call in the middle of your day to come pick your child up. Try these preventative tactics today!

Check your child’s hair daily

At least once a week, comb through your child’s hair and check the back hairline, the part, and behind the ears. This is where lice tend to start off. If you find little white bits in your child’s hair and they come off easy, it’s likely dandruff or lint. Lice are much more difficult to remove than shaking them away.

Don’t let your kids share hair accessories

If you have more than one child, make sure they don’t share hats, headbands, costumes, hoodies, scarves, coats, helmets, or headphones. Instruct them never to share these things with friends at school either.

Keep hairbrushes separate too

The same goes for your hairbrushes. Don’t use the same brush on all of your kids. If one does get lice, you’ll only spread it to the other one and double our trouble.

Use shampoos and conditioners with fragrances lice hate

It’s a common misconception that lice are attracted to filth. They actually prefer clean hair. However, if you wash your children’s hair with shampoos and conditioners that contain certain fragrances, lice will most likely be deterred. Tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil, citronella, lemongrass, menthol, and lavender oil are all scents lice despise.

Spritz essential oils on clothing

Essential oils can also be used along with shampoo and conditioner that will help further repel them. Tea tree, lavender, lemongrass, eucalyptus, or rosemary essential oils mixed into water in a spray bottle will work wonders. Spritz it on everything your child takes to school from head to toe. It’s even safe to spray onto your child’s head for added protection.

Use lice protection spray

You can look for a lice protection spray that will kill lice and nits. It smells like peppermint and can be sprayed on anything from clothes to hair to household items that you suspect may have come into contact with lice.

Do up do’s

Because girls tend to have longer hair than boys, they’re usually more susceptible to getting lice. Keeping their hair tied up has been shown to lower the chances of them coming home with lice.

Should lice come home to your home though, despite your best efforts, you can call Spears Pest Control in Crestview, Florida.  They will come help you restore order in your home and rid you and your family of these pesky little buggers, as well as any other pests that come your way.

If you feel that your house in Crestview, Defuniak Springs, Destin, Niceville, or Fort Walton Beach, FL may be infested with bed bugs brought from school, please consult a specialist immediately. Bed bugs are the biggest nuisance in pest control, and should only be left to exterminators that are highly trained. You can contact us to receive a free quote to check your house for bed bugs or call us at 850-682-5354.