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Head Lice


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#1 dancinmomof3

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Posted 26 May 2008 - 09:07 PM

Do you think it's ok to let kids stay in school even though they have active head lice infestations?

Do you think it's ok that the schools don't necessarily notify parents when cases of head lice are identified?

This is how our current Folsom Cordova school district head lice policy works.

If you want to help change this policy please let me know so we can work on this together. I am in the process of discussing the issue with our princial, the school board and health services.

#2 bordercolliefan

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 06:21 AM

I think the proof is in the pudding, as they say.

The District changed its head lice policy in the last year or two. Prior to the change, I never heard about cases of head lice at our local elementary school. This year, our school has been plagued by head lice all year. It doesn't do any good to treat your own child if they go back to school and sit next to another child who is infested.

Also, it is ridiculous that the school doesn't publicize cases. I found out through rumor that my entire Brownie troop had been exposed to an active case (at my house, no less). It became the moms' responsibility to spread the word among our troop so parents could check their own kids.

There are some parents who are responsible enough to notify classmates and playmates... but there are others who are too embarassed or negligent to do so.

Our family has been spared this year but I'm counting the days till school is out... hopefully summer vacation will kill any remaining little pests that are running around the classrooms.

#3 Mommy2Sydni

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 06:30 AM

It's no use.....
While we were lucky enough to not get it....MANY other kids in class/grade did....when approached about the policy, I was given the run around andbasically told it is what it is (the policy) and will remain the same. For every parent that is responsible, there are always 2 that AREN'T....
I can forward you the emails i received from the district and such if you like...

#4 stacycam

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 06:41 AM

WTH is the thinking on this? Does the school just want to make sure they get the students' money for the day?

#5 cw68

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 06:42 AM

We weren't spared. My daughter had it FOUR times and I had it twice. I can tell you that I was diligent about treating it and I'm convinced that we kept getting it because of all the kids running around school with it. Had I known that lice was going around I believe my daughter's case (and the many others in her class) could have been prevented because I wouldn't have let them play a game in class where EVERYONE shared the same hat.

#6 bordercolliefan

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 06:51 AM

QUOTE(stacycam @ May 27 2008, 07:41 AM) View Post
WTH is the thinking on this? Does the school just want to make sure they get the students' money for the day?


The school district takes the view that head lice is not a "serious public health threat"; thus, it does not justify the extraordinary measure of keeping kids out of school, etc.

While it is true that it is not "serious" (we're not talking measles or something), even a health inconvenience can become serious if it recurs and recurs and can't be eliminated. Fleas aren't "serious" either, but do we all want our houses infested with them??

Plus, think of the chemical exposures this policy is subjecting our kids to. Many lice treatments are extremely harsh chemicals (because lice are resistant to ordinary shampoos). As cw's story illustrates, now we have children who might be exposed to these treatments 4+ times in one year. That is unacceptable.

As for the hat game, that blows me away. I knew there were lice at school all year, so what clueless teacher is passing around a hat for the kids to share....??!!

#7 cw68

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 06:56 AM

She's an awesome teacher, just obviously not thinking. This is a perfect example of where, had the parents known, a little info/education would have helped drastically. The game came from a parent. Had they known, I'm sure they wouldn't have suggested the game. Had I known, I would have reminded the teacher it was a dumb idea.

#8 dancinmomof3

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 07:10 AM

Yes, policy can change. This is really an easy problem to improve. The policy will be reviewed this summer. Please contact me if you want this policy to change. There is a small group of people from Natoma Station working on this together right now and we are making some headway. I know that some effort was made earlier in the school year. Sometimes it takes more than one try to bring about change, but it can happen. Please email me jen@birthresource.com or call me 985-4136 if you have info about the lice outbreaks in the district this year.

The more parents who share their experiences about this the clearer the picture becomes and the harder it is for the administration, board and health services to believe that it's not a serious problem.



#9 Andrea V

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 07:12 AM

I am glad I have a boy, I'd just shave his head.

But I am now going to have a girl too!! God! Lice on a girl would be horrible!
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#10 supermom

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 07:16 AM

blechh---I feel sorry for the teacher.



Someone told me that you can get intestinal parsites from head lice ( should your child swallow a louse).

Is that true?

And for people with exema ( I know I didn't spell that right) lice is not just a discomfort--it's miserable.

I wonder if the school janitors lice bomb all the class rooms in the summer?

#11 cw68

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 07:26 AM

QUOTE(supermom @ May 27 2008, 08:16 AM) View Post
blechh---I feel sorry for the teacher.
Someone told me that you can get intestinal parsites from head lice ( should your child swallow a louse).

Is that true?

And for people with exema ( I know I didn't spell that right) lice is not just a discomfort--it's miserable.

I wonder if the school janitors lice bomb all the class rooms in the summer?

Bombing isn't necessary. If there isn't any human hair to grab on to, they die and the eggs die upon hatching if they aren't immediately attached to a head.

#12 hopeanelli

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 07:36 AM

When I was in high school we had two major Health issues that my parents were forced to do something about before I received my diploma. THe first was LICE a few girls that had immigrated with their family from Samoa just before we graduated had lice and it spread through the locker room (we were required to shower in high school and if we didn't bring a swim cap we had to use the schools) anyways all girls were brought into the locker room and inspected for lice and each of us was given a head lice care kit our parents had to use on us three times before we were allowed back in PE... Then two weeks before graduating that same group of girls came down with measles which I was vaccinated for as a young kid and we had to do it all again (the whole 850 kids that graduated) the day before graduation we all went to the gym and got booster shots....

My point is when kid/kids get lice doesn't the school require them to get their heads inspected (we had nurse ratchett with a comb and a black light inspect us) and then don't they force the family to treat it and when the kid comes back do they not check again. My boys were never infected with it but when I got a notice they may have been exposed I became nurse Ratchett and had daily inspections and used the product regardless. My niece had it so bad once one actually got under her eyelid and infected it was horrible....
YIKES..

PS- Both boys usually had to have their head shaved just extra precaution as I just hated having to clean every sheet, pillow case, brush etc....

#13 dancinmomof3

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 07:58 AM


Supermom,

You can get tapeworm from swallowing a FLEA. As far as I know, head lice do not transmit disease and that is the basis for the new policies from the American Academy of Pediatrics and from our own school district.

Lice are contagious though and very time consuming to get rid of especially if you have a persistent case. Also as mentionned earlier many of the treatments available are themselves toxic. There are non toxic treatments that are effective but either way one has to be very diligent about removing all bugs and eggs. It can take hours and hours. Not to mention all the vacuuming and extra laundry.

#14 stacycam

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 08:05 AM

I am completely disgusted. Boy, I am in a bitter mood this morning. Right now I am so fed up with the schools I could scream.

#15 Steve Heard

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Posted 27 May 2008 - 08:50 AM

I feel your pain!

My daughters were blessed with long, thick, gorgeous, hair with lots of natural curls.

When they were small, there was a lice epidemic at their school in Foster City.

It was so difficult to get rid of those little buggers! We had to treat their hair several times, scrub and vacuum the whole house, wash bedding and clothes. It was a lot of work. Days later, the lice would be back. We had to search the girls' hair to pick the nits out, and each time, it took a couple of hours.

The 3rd time around, my wife them too. I shaved my head to keep from getting them myself.

That was not fun.

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