How Do I Prevent My Kids from Getting Head Lice at Camp?

How Do I Prevent My Kids from Getting Head Lice at Camp?

With kids getting out of school this week and camp season fast approaching, it’s time to give consideration to head lice prevention. The following tips will help you avoid head lice this summer, and if you happen to get head lice, there are professional lice removal services readily available.

Educate Yourself and Your Children About Lice Prevention

Pre-camp registration forms usually explain your camp’s policy on head lice. They may include some identification and treatment tips so parents can pre-screen children and treat them before putting them on the bus to camp. Let your children know what to do if they have head lice, and how to recognize the symptoms of lice and nits in hair. Use tools such as educational coloring books, reputable websites, pictures, and educational handouts.

Get a quality head lice comb so you can check for lice nits in hair and other hot spots once a week. If you check ahead, you avoid the spread. “Take a peek once a week” is a great preventative measure that parents can take. Don’t be fooled by knock-off and copycat combs with short tines, plastic, or poor tolerances. You can expect to pay $15 to $20 for a quality lice comb, but these will last you a lifetime and can be sanitized between uses for multiple family members. A quality lice comb has the proper tolerances with long tines that go through the thickest of hair and do not break or tear the hair. You can get one from Larger Than Lice®️ by clicking here.

Practical Tips for Prevention

Keeping hair up and away from other people’s heads is the best thing you can do to avoid getting head lice. Sharing hats, combs, brushes, towels, and other hair items is not advised. Also, avoid sleeping on someone else’s pillow or using their blanket. Pay special attention to sharing sportswear and headgear. If you need to share headgear such as a helmet, use a hair bonnet under the helmet. Keep in mind that you may also get head lice from car and bus seats and couches. Do a visual inspection of the headrest and wipe or blow off the surface before use. There are some cleaning products and hair sprays available that will leave a scent on the hair, and these can help repel lice. Using lice treatment shampoo regularly can also help in prevention.

Communication with Camp Directors

Ask camp directors about the screening process. Catching a head lice infestation early is key and helps avoid spreading it to others in the camp, creating a severe infestation. Ask your camp director if they provide help and if they screen campers and staff as they arrive at camp. Screening is the best method of keeping lice outbreaks to a minimum. Keep in mind that all campers and staff need to be checked, and checking must be done on dry hair within at least the first week of arriving at camp. A "lice check near me" can also be helpful before sending your child to camp.

Reporting and Treatment Protocol

Report, re-check, and treat. Don’t send your child to camp with lice, and report it if you do find head lice. Others need to be informed so the campers in the cabin or at home can be checked. Follow the camp policy on head lice. If your camp treats campers on-site, ask if they use pesticides and ensure follow-up is being done. Most head lice treatments are pesticide-based. Some children are sensitive to this and may not be good candidates for its use. Speak with the camp about the treatment options. There are many natural treatment options available, like those offered by Larger Than Lice®️, and the best tools a camp could have on hand are high-quality lice combs. Treat the camper and then re-check the others in close proximity or in the same cabin. Keep checking for a two-week period and always follow up.

Maintaining a Safe Environment

Head lice will die within 24 to 48 hours without a blood meal. It is best to tell your children to keep their sleeping environment to themselves. Sharing pillows, blankets, towels, and any headgear may result in lice transmission. There is no need to spray pesticide or wash pillows and mattresses. Focus on items that have had close head-to-item proximity, such as pillowcases, sheets, hats, brushes, coats, etc. Never spray an insecticide on bedding in cabins as the toxic residue will linger for several days and may cause some campers to have breathing issues or other reactions. Remember, the most important thing about head lice is to practice prevention and to catch it early so it can be treated in a timely and effective manner. Most camps will experience head lice, but the severity of it can be reduced when everyone works together.

Conclusion

Preventing head lice at camp involves education, regular screening, and taking practical steps to avoid head-to-head contact and sharing personal items. By being vigilant and proactive, you can significantly reduce the risk of lice spreading. Remember, if lice are detected, professional lice removal services are available, and many treatments, including the best head lice treatment and best nit treatment, can help eliminate lice effectively. For more information and tips on how to get rid of lice, visit our blog and explore all about lice.