Can Schools Do without the ‘No Nit’ Policy?

The school term has started and children are already complaining about that telltale itch in their hair. And you are terrified.

Lice and nits are common amongst schoolchildren, especially when it’s back-to-school-time. And to not risk a lice outbreak, many schools employ a ‘no nits’ policy, that states that a child must have no trace of the bugs in their hair otherwise they will be sent home.

But is this really fair?

Sure, your child has lice. But it’s not really a health concern. Neither are they causing any health complications. Ergo, a child shouldn’t be sent home for something they have no hand in.

But how can you convince the school, and other parents of that fact?

Perhaps we can help!

Understanding Lice Outbreaks and Necessary Treatments

While it is understandable that the school administration would be concerned about a lice outbreak, the best way to go against lice isn’t to simply send the child home, but to educate them.

Thanks to several institutes such as the Centers for Disease Control, American Association of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses, people have become aware that the there are several reasons why the no-nits policy doesn’t work.

First, the child has an unnecessary day off from school, which not only causes problems for their studies but further ostracizes them from their classmates. Also, misdiagnosis of nits is quite common, so even if a child doesn’t have lice or nits, they may be sent off for no apparent reason.

Furthermore, nits do not spread, since they are glued to their hair shafts. In addition, active lice infestations are usually a month after the child is actually infected. So there’s no risk of the lice for other children during those days than there would be in the days before.

Rather than sending the child home, it is more beneficial if children and parents are educated about lice, and what they should do to stay vigilant about lice.

How We Can Help!

Aside from offering lice treatments using natural ingredients, we also offer at-home treatments, home inspection and cleaning services and school and camp screenings.

With lice specialists at hand to help you in schools in Hollywood and Pembroke Pines, you’ll be able to discover the lice early on, teach children about lice and make them aware of the unfair prejudices around lice.

If you want our help, contact Lice Busters USA at (800) 405-8201 and book an appointment with a professional lice removal service!