As reported in the Boston Globe a few weeks ago, Lice are running rampid! Camps this summer and schools all over are reporting record number of cases and many of you have recieved letters notifying you that there has been a case of lice in your child's classroom. Please try to follow these helpful instructions so we don't have an epidemic at Ward School! PLEASE READ ENTIRE MESSAGE!!!!!!!

*Please let me know asap when and if you discover lice on your children! The office can get busy - please call the Health Room to notify me.  617-559-6453! (Just as important - please remember to report cases of strep throat!!!!!)

*When  a case of lice has been reported in your child's class or you know that a friend from another class has or had it...You have to be diligent and check your child's head every day for 2 weeks with a fine toothed Lice Comb.  This means, separate the hair and look for either the live bug which looks like a gray sesame seed or the eggs (nits) which usually are white or yellow and sometimes darker.  Theses nits are usually found closer to the scalp (1 inch from scalp) but can be anywhere on the head.  Also they seem to like to congregate at the nape of the neck or behind the ears (where it is warmest on the head).

*Your children should be kept out of school until the case of lice has been successfully treated. This means that you have used the store bought preparations or the olive oil treatment. (If you need more instruction regarding these treatments please do not hesitate to contact me)!   MOST IMPORTANT!!!!! To be sure that the case of lice is successfully treated, along with the store bought preparation or the olive oil treatment....You must get all the eggs out.  To do this, you may pick out the eggs that you see BUT this does not insure that all the eggs will be removed.  Some eggs when carrying live unhatched lice are darker and harder to see, also they can be very small.  SO, you must use the Lice Comb which can be bought at the pharmacy.  This fine tooth comb is the only way to ensure that you get all the eggs.  The best way to use the lice comb is to use it with either gel (Rid and Nix make a gel for this purpose) or conditioner to make it easier to comb.  

IMPORTANT!!!!!! If you know that your child has come in contact with a child with lice...you may not see the live bug or even an egg when checking BUT to insure that your child is lice free, you must use the Lice Comb which not only gets out all the eggs but can FIND live lice as well.
Last but not least,  as listed in the longer document that comes home when a case is reported, you must also be diligent re: washing bedding, clothing, stuffed animals, etc.
Thanks for your cooperation, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns!!!!

Sincerely, Karin Lieberman, RN