STUDENTS

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES IN TREATMENT OF HEAD LICE

A. GENERAL CONDITIONS

1. Any student suspected of having head lice, will be examined by the nurse or a trained staff member to identify the lice and inform parents regarding the need for treatment.
    

2. For any student found to have live lice or nits:

   1. The parents* will be notified. If there are live lice, the parents may choose to remove the student or allow the Robi comb to be used. If the parents cannot be reached, the Robi comb will be used and the student will be returned to class. The nurse will not remove the nits. Nit removal is a parental responsibility.

   2. If the student has nits but no live lice, the parents will be notified. However, the students may be returned to class after the Robi comb is used.

   3. Students who are found to have live lice or nits will take home a parental responsibility checklist and treatment information. Parents must complete treatment. They must also complete and sign the parental responsibility checklist and return it with the student upon his/her readmission to school. If treatment was conducted properly, the parent does not need to return to school with the student, unless they wanted to further consult with the nurse.

   4. When the parent is notified, the nurse is to explain to the parent what lice and nits are and what procedures must be followed for treatment and readmission to school. The nurse may show the parents the nits and how to remove them. The nurse will recommend that all family members be checked for nits or lice.
       

3. If a parent calls to report that a student is home because of head lice, the nurse will explain to the parent the necessary treatment procedures parents are to follow.
    

4. Students who have had lice or nits must be examined by the nurse or trained staff member before being readmitted to school to ensure that treatment has been successful and that all nits have been removed from the hair.

   1. The returned checklist will be examined to determine the action taken by the parents.

   2. If the student is cleared of live lice, the student will be readmitted to class.

   3. If the student has live lice, the parents will be contacted and (be provided the option of taking the student home or allowing a Robi comb to be used) or asked to remove the student from school.** If appropriate treatment was followed, there may be nits but there should be no live lice. The parent must accompany the student, free of live lice, for the student to return to classes.

   4. If the student has nits, the parents will again be contacted and the student will be readmitted to class after the Robi comb is used. The nurse or staff member will not remove the nits. At the end of the day, (those students who were found to still have live lice nits) the student will take home a parental responsibility checklist, treatment information and a letter noting that the parent must accompany the student in order for the student to be readmitted to school.
       

5. In elementary buildings, the nurse will check the heads of classmates, siblings attending, teachers, and close friends of students who have had head lice. The nurse will explain to the students what she or he is looking for and stress the importance of not using other people’s hats, combs, etc.
   
   SPECIAL NOTE: If siblings attend another school(s), the nurse will notify the appropriate nurses of the potential problem.
    

6. The classroom should be cleaned thoroughly after school. The desks should be washed or wiped off with a cleaning solution; floors should be carefully swept or vacuumed; locker and clothes closets should be cleaned.
    

7. In intermediate and senior high buildings, the nurse will check the heads of siblings attending school and close friends of students who have lice.
   
   SPECIAL NOTE: If siblings attend another school(s), the nurse will notify the appropriate nurse of the potential problem.
    

8. If the outbreak of lice involves more than once classroom, the nurse and principal may decide to screen several classrooms or the whole school. The nurse may ask other nurses to help with the screening if it is felt to be necessary.
    

9. With prompt and thorough treatment, the student need only be home from school for one day.

B. EXTENDED ABSENCE

1. Parents/guardians or actual custodians of a child found to be infested with head lice shall be notified and the child sent home with instructions on how to treat the problem.
    

2. If a child is absent for three (3) consecutive days, the school nurse will contact the parents/guardians or actual custodians to assess the progress being made and to offer further advice on treatment procedures. The nurse will also inform the parent that the attendance officer will be notified if the child is not nit free and in school the following day.
    

3. If a child is absent four (4) consecutive days due to head lice infestation, the school nurse shall notify the attendance officer who will initiate the appropriate action.
    

4. If a child, who has been previously referred to the attendance officer, becomes infested with head lice on subsequent occasions, the school nurse shall notify the attendance officer on the second consecutive day the child is absent. Children who are absent more than 12 school days due to head lice infestation will be considered chronic truants, and the parent(s) of said child may be subject to truancy charges.
   
   * “Parents” refer to “parents, guardians or actual custodians of the youth”.
   ** This day would count towards the accumulation of “consecutive days” that would be reported to the
   attendance officer.

• Updated 4/91, 12/97, 4/98, 7/03
• Reviewed 8/99, 7/03