Important: How to Properly Check for Head Lice

Due to the ongoing lice issue, please check your child’s hair using a lice comb, not just visual inspection. Lice and especially eggs (nits) are often missed by the naked eye.

What you need

• A metal lice comb (plastic combs are often ineffective)

• Bright light (natural light or a lamp)

• Conditioner or damp hair (lice are easier to find in wet, slick hair)

• Paper towel or tissue to wipe the comb

How to check

1. Start with clean, damp hair and apply conditioner generously.

2. Section the hair into small parts.

3. Place the lice comb flat against the scalp and comb from scalp to ends.

4. After each pass, wipe the comb on a paper towel and check for:

   • Live lice (small, fast-moving insects)

   • Nits (tiny yellow/white eggs firmly attached to the hair shaft, usually within ¼ inch of the scalp)

5. Pay special attention to:

   • Behind the ears

   • The nape of the neck

6. Continue until the entire scalp and all hair have been combed.

This process should take 10–20 minutes per child.

Important treatment note

Most over-the-counter lice shampoos:

• Do NOT reliably kill eggs (nits)

• Are increasingly ineffective due to resistance

• Should never be relied on alone

If lice or nits are found:

• Manual nit removal with a comb is essential

• Repeat combing every 2–3 days for 2 weeks

• If using any treatment product, a repeat treatment at 7–9 days is critical to kill newly hatched lice

Children can return to school once live lice are eliminated, but continued combing is necessary to prevent reinfestation.

Consistent, thorough combing by all families is the only way to stop an ongoing outbreak.