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Head Lice to Dead Lice Gets Rave Reviews!!
Consumer Digest:
"Frantic parents and their itching offspring now have recourse in a five-step "battle plan"
outlined in a humorous, disarming and easy-to-follow award-winning fifteen-minute video,
Head Lice to Dead Lice."
CINEMOM, A Film Guide for Parents:
"Feeling Lousy? Try this treatment...
you can win the battle of Head Lice to Dead Lice....
The nitty gritty is right here for you in humorous detail.
Fifteen minutes of facts and fun! So get over the embarassment.
Get armed. Get mad. Get going. This is war!"
Catholic Library Association:
"This video provides accurate information about how head lice are spread
and gives step-by-step directions for dealing with the problem effectively and safely,
while alleviating feelings of shame and anxiety.
The video combines live action and animation and presents information clearly,
succinctly and humorously.
This amusing, instructive video puts people in a positive frame of mind
while offering information to help them take control of the problem."
Dayton (Ohio) Daily News:
"Key weapon against super head lice: olive oil...
For Americans who do not know the proper way to pour olive oil over the heads of their loved ones,
Sawyer Mac has just released Head Lice to Dead Lice.
It has received favorable reviews..."what may posssbily be the greatest head lice movie ever
...could be the answer to your kid's lousy grades..."
School and Community Management
In April of 1998 the Wall Street Journal reported that a study by the Harvard School of Public Health
determined that head lice have indeed developed resistance to permethrin,
the active ingredient in Nix. And because the molecule in permethrin is almost identical to the molecule in pyrethrin, the active ingredient in Rid, Pronto, A200, and most other pediculicides, there is cross-over resistance.
This means many schools will have to deal with widespread and difficult-to-contain
head lice infestations. Parents, school health professionals, and Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs)
need to be prepared with information and a plan to contain a lice problem in school,
before it grows out of control and causes anger and finger-pointing within the community.
Here are some ideas to consider...
Implement regular lice checks.
Children frequently return to school from vacations and camp environments,
having been exposed to new people and possibly head lice.
Be ready to check heads after major vacations: Summer, Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring breaks.
Provide trained personnel.
The American Head Lice Information & Resource Center (AHLIRC) advocates training parents
or hiring additional personnel to do a thorough check on each child.
This process is too burdensome for one school nurse who is constantly interrupted
with the daily emergencies of school life. Plan ahead for the time, space, and budget.
Disseminate information.
Education of parents and the community is key to managing head lice.
Schools should properly instruct parents on how to eliminate an infestation
and also provide access to all necessary up-to-date educational materials.
Remember, parents will be under stress at this time and will need information
and emotional support.
Schools should also work with a local library to insure that they have books
and videotapes about head lice available.
In September, teachers need to remind students to store coats and hats carefully
in their individual cubbies, whenever possible.
Notify all personnel that athletic headgear and earphones should be checked and cleaned
immediately after student use.
During an epidemic:
If a student has lice, go back and recheck the class thoroughly.
Also check siblings and, weekly over a four-week period,
continue to check each student who has been exposed.
Monitor infested students carefully for four weeks.
If nits continue to be found on students, this may indicate that the parent
may not know what to look for or may have a problem seeing the nits.
Take this opportunity to retrain the parents to nit pick and familiarize them with
the Five-Step Battle Plan outlined in the video Head Lice to Dead Lice.
Also some parents need magnification to see the nits.
Schools should have on hand several sets of "vision visors" which can be loaned to parents.
Vision visors are inexpensive binocular magnifiers which are worn like goggles
and leave the hands free for nit picking.
What about the "No Nit Policy?"
The "No Nit Policy" is a common, but somewhat controversial, school policy
that excludes a child from school if any nits are found on the child's head.
The AHLIRC supports the "No Nit Policy" with some reservations.
We believe that school nurses should have some discretion in implementation.
No child should be forced out of school for long periods because of a head lice infestation
that won't go away despite a parent's best efforts.
Remember, getting rid of head lice takes perseverance.
School and PTO responsibilities:
- Do a thorough whole school nit check four to five times a year.
- Stay up to date on the latest re-search on head lice.
- Educate children and parents about head lice.
- Be prepared. Have a plan and information available ahead of time.
- Make sure people know to clean head phones, athletic headgear, etc.
- Help students keep their coats, hats, and other clothing separated.
Parental responsibilities:
- Calm yourself. Head lice are not life threatening and can be eliminated if you are persistent and follow a comprehensive protocol.
- Educate yourself about head lice. Be prepared with information. View the video Head Lice to Dead Lice, a basic primer on head lice.
- Keep the following supplies on hand: a bottle of olive oil, a good metal nit comb, shower caps (enough for the whole family), a good clarifying shampoo, and hair clips.
- Check your children regularly for head lice.
- Be responsible about following treatment protocols and informing the school nurse if your child has head lice.
Money Back for Ineffective Pediculicides?
The AHLIRC continues to receive calls from angry consumers who want to know
how they can get their money back for pediculicidal products that appear not to be working.
Our view on pediculicides is that they can provide an initial "big kill,"
but none of them are 100% effective, even if used as directed. So, consumer beware.
Make sure you read the product packaging very carefully.
Before you purchase a pediculicide, ask your pharmacist about the store's return policy.
Some pharmacies will refund your money with a receipt.
Others insist you return the product and the receipt to the manufacturer.
In either case, be an assertive consumer.
As such, you have the right to ask for money back if you are dissatisfied with any product.
If you decide to use a pediculicide, follow the directions meticulously.
How to Document an Infestation
Without proper magnification, head lice and their eggs are often difficult
to distinguish correctly from artifacts -- e.g. dandruff, hairspray droplets, scabs, dirt, or other insects caught in the hair. Thus, ensure that lice are present before considering treatment.
To document an infestation, save a few lice, louse eggs, or other suspected material
under clear tape on the form below, and send the completed form with a
self-addressed envelope to:
Richard Pollack, Ph.D.,
Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases
Harvard School of Public Health
665 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
We will examine the specimens and send our reply to you within a few days.
Your specimens may be used for research or teaching purposes.
Specific information submitted by you on this form will remain confidential.
Offer expires 12/31/98.
Name of person with suspected infestation
Address
Age Sex
Who is submitting this form?
[ ] Self [ ] Parent/Guardian [ ] Nurse [ ] Physician
Who diagnosed the infestation?
[ ] Self [ ] Parent/Guardian [ ] Nurse [ ] Physician
Which anti-louse treatments have been used on this person within the past
four weeks?
Does your school have a 'no nits' policy?
[ ] Yes [ ] No [ ] Does not apply
Head Lice to Dead Lice Wins 1998 Gold Apple
The National Educational Media Network has awarded its top award, the Gold Apple,
to Head Lice to Dead Lice. NEMN is the nation's only organization dedicated to recognizing and supporting excellence in educational media for pre-schoolers through adults.
NEMN's internationally acclaimed Apple Awards Competition is the premier event
in the nation honoring outstanding achievement in educational media.
Other awards for this video include: American Medical Association's International Health & Medical Film
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