Rationale:
- Head lice (pediculosis) are tiny insects that live on the human scalp where
they feed and breed. Probably between 2-3% of primary school children are
infested at any one time. While they do not carry or transmit disease, they
are the most common cause of head itch and scratching which may lead to infection
and swollen lymph glands; therefore, they need to be eradicated.
- Anyone can catch headlice.
Aims:
- To respond to reports of head lice quickly and effectively.
- To ensure that an effective process for treating head lice is known and
consistently followed.
- To ensure that parents and children are well informed about head lice treatment.
Implementation
- Head lice cannot fly, hop or jump. They spread from person to person by
head to head contact, and by the sharing of personal items such as combs,
brushes and head gear such as hats. Therefore the school strongly advises
against the sharing of such items.
- While it is parents who have the primary responsibility for the detection
and treatment of head lice on their children, the school will assist by offering
up-to-date information, by offering a screening process, and by alerting parents
of lice when detected.
- The school will organise to have staff members trained by the Department
of Human Services or the local council in the detection of head lice.
- The school will ask parents to sign a permission form allowing their children
to be screened by our trained personnel for the presence of head lice.
- Teachers suspecting that a student has head lice are to report their concerns
to the Principal who will arrange for an inspection by the authorised staff
member.
- All children screened will be provided with a confidential report indicating
to parents the results of the screening (see Form2 ), as well as advice on
the latest information regarding head lice.
- Consistent with Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001, the principal
will ensure that the parents of any child found to have live lice are informed
that their child is to be excluded from attending school until appropriate
treatment has commenced.
- The principal will also provide parents of children found to have live lice
with information about head lice treatment and prevention.
- Upon their return to school, parents of excluded children must present the
signed declaration on Form2 indicating that appropriate treatment has commenced.
All excluded children are to undergo another inspection from our trained personnel
upon recommencing school.
- The principal will ensure that information relating to the prevention and
eradication of head lice appears throughout the year in the school newsletter,
particularly at times of heavy outbreaks.
- Classroom teachers will incorporate activities that provide students with
an understanding of the habits and life cycle of head lice in order to minimise
the incidence of stigmatisation of particular students and families.
Evaluation:
This policy will be reviewed as part of the school’s three-year
review cycle.
This policy was last ratified by School Council in.... March
2003