One of the biggest sources of concern for parents of many school-aged children is pediculus humanus capitis — better known by its common name, head lice. It’s estimated that in the United States, between six and twelve million school-aged children are affected by head lice each year. In case your child is ever exposed to head lice, here are a few tips for making sure the rest of your home isn’t affected:
Treat the issue as soon as possible. If you detect or suspect that your child has head lice, make sure to seek a professional lice removal company immediately. The longer you wait, the longer the lice have time to develop and spread from their initial host. According to kidshealth.org, a nymph becomes a fully-grown louse between one and two weeks after hatching. Once developed, adult lice can live for two days off of a human scalp and infect any new host with which it comes in contact.
Keep your vacuum close by. While you’re treating your child’s lice infestation, it’s important to be extra careful about home cleanliness. To prevent anyone else in your home from picking up a stray louse, vacuum sofas, cloth chairs, car seats, carpets, and any large pillows that can’t go in the dryer as this will rid surfaces of any stray lice.
Rely on your dryer. As you’re warding off the lice infestation in your home, remember that your dryer is a good tool for ridding clothing and other fabrics around the home of any potential lice. Put items like hooded sweatshirts, coats, hats, stuffed animals, blankets, bed linens (especially pillow cases) and towels in your dryer for thirty minutes on high heat.
Stop sharing. No one should share hats, headbands, hoodies or jackets with others. Also, combs, brushes, towels, hair ties, and other related items should not be shared.
Be careful in public places. Throughout the lice removal process, it’s important not to spread lice in public places, such as movie theaters or on busses. Make sure your child wears a hooded sweatshirt with all hair tucked inside the hood to prevent contact with seatbacks. For added caution, put a towel over seatbacks, and go over them with a lint roller before leaving.
Treating and preventing head lice may seem like an arduous process, but by seeking professional treatment and following the above steps, avoiding a total home infestation of lice is relatively simple. If you or someone you know is currently seeking treatment for head lice, schedule an appointment with Lice Lifters today by calling 732-540-8145. Your lice problems will be taken care of before you know it.
