Dear Parents,

Many of you are aware that we have been having a higher incident than usual of nits (eggs) and lice in our school community and in Southern California.  School nurses are examining the children for nits and lice and excluding those who are infested

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

1. Please check your childrens’ hair daily as well as their clothes and bedding for any signs of lice or eggs.

2. The eggs are silver-gray in color and are attached like glue to the hair shaft.  Dandruff falls off the hair shaft easily and hair cast (caused by hair spray) slide up and down the hair shaft.  Nits tend to cluster at the hair line, around the nape of the neck, the ears and across the frontal and top area of the head.  The actual louse is grayish white in color, ½ MM in size and crawls.  It does not fly or hop.

3. Infestation by the louse and nits (eggs) cause frequent itching of the scalp.  If you suspect that your child or any family members have been infested by the head louse or nits, you may contact your physician or the  Los Angeles County Health Department for a prescribed treatment.  During school hours if you would like to consult our school nurse for screening of checking please feel free to contact her.

4. A word of caution.  It has been found that nits and lice are sometimes resistant to treatment, and it may take more than one treatment to destroy the infestation.  Be sure to follow the directions carefully and use only shampoo intended for the treatment of head lice.

5. After the shampooing has been completed and the hair thoroughly rinsed, comb the wet hair thoroughly with a fine-toothed steel comb made particularly for this purpose (ask your school nurse where to get this type of comb). The hair must be combed strand by strand, inch by inch to assure complete removal of every nit.  Short hair is easier to work with than long hair.

6. If one family member is found to have nits others may have it also.  Check all other members of the family for the presence of nits.  This is of great importance.  In order to rid the entire family of nits and lice all must be treated at the same time.

7. Lice or nits can live in pillows, upholstered furniture and under certain conditions on clothing (jackets with hoods, coats).  Thus, all clothing and bedding that has been in contact with the person or persons infected with lice or nits should be washed, dried on the hot cycle on the same day the hair is treated.  If this is not possible the clothing can be dry cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for 10 days.  Carpeting, upholstered furniture and mattresses should be vacuumed.
8. Combs and brushes should be thoroughly cleaned with the same medication uses on the hair.

Your cooperation and understanding in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Health Points for Parents of Elementary Pupils

The development of good health habits is extremely important, especially early in life.  The home and school must work together as a team to accomplish this purpose.  The following points are necessary to good health.

REST AND SLEEP

Most elementary pupils need 10 to 12 hours of sleep at night.  A nap is desirable for pre-school and kindergarten pupils, and for some primary children.  This should be in a well-ventilated, quiet room.  Each child should have his own bed whenever possible as children sleep better alone.  An early bedtime is best.

Activities should be selected carefully to avoid over stimulation. Children should not be permitted to see or listen to programs of violence and crime.  Reading or quiet time with a parent before bedtime is valuable.

FOOD

An adequate daily diet usually consist of 3 or 4 glasses of milk; one egg; meat, poultry, fish, or legumes (peas, beans, lentils, etc.); citrus fruit or tomatoes; three vegetables, one of which is leafy, one dark yellow or green, and one starchy; one additional fruit or vegetable; whole grain cereals and bread; butter or margarine.

Breakfast is a highly important meal because of the 12-hour fast preceding it.  It should contain a generous amount of protein (meat, milk, egg, poultry, cheese) and provide one-third of the day’s calories.

CLEANLINESS

Keeping clean is essential.

Hands should be washed before eating and after toileting to prevent the spread of disease.  Young children need help in keeping fingernails clean and trimmed.

Teeth should be brushed immediately after eating.

A daily bath or shower, using mild soap, is advisable.

Hair should be brushed daily and washed at least once a week.

Clothing should be cleaned and comfortable, with daily change of socks and underwear.

Your child should be provided with tissue handkerchiefs.
 
 

TOOTH CARE

Dental health affects the total health, appearance, and social adjustment of your child throughout his lifetime.
Therefore

Try to help your child establish fine eating habits.  Excessive use of sugar and other refined sweets is a major factor in causing tooth decay.

Help your child develop a regular habit of brushing teeth after each meal whenever possible.

Take your child to visit the dentist regularly.  If small cavities are filled, extensive dental decay will be prevented and resultant large dental bills eliminated.  Near the age of six, the sixth-year molars appear.  These are permanent teeth; they are not replaced by other teeth.  Watch for them!

POSTURE AND FEET

Poor posture is caused by poor nutrition, fatigue, disease, bad habits of sitting, standing or walking, poorly fitting clothing, and poor mental attitudes.  Adequate rest, sleep, food, and a healthy outlook on life are important for good posture.

Clothing should be light and loose with no constriction on any part of the body.

Children should be helped to stand, sit and walk tall, with the toes pointed straight ahead.

Shoes should be preferably of leather with low heels, a straight inside line, a broad toe, and should be about ½ inch longer and ¼ inch broader than the foot.

Socks should be loose fitting, without wrinkles, and should be changed daily.

Rubbers should be worn in wet weather, and shoes and stockings changed if feet get wet

MENTAL HEALTH

Affection and respect from parents are necessary to the development of a secure and happy childhood.

Kindly but firm and consistent discipline is essential in promoting security within the child.

Goals for the child should be reasonable and obtainable for his age.

Proper health habits may best be taught to the child by example and training.

A child should be given a truthful explanation, appropriate to his age, about life and growth.  He should be taught that his body is wholesome, and sound health is to be valued.

HEALTH PROTECTION

Colds and sore throats are commonest contagious diseases of childhood and cause the greatest amount of school absence.  When a child has a cold he should be kept home from school.  If he has fever he should be kept in bed.  It is well to consult your physician.  A “cold” may be the first stage of measles, whooping cough, or other contagious diseases.

Children should be immunized in early infancy or childhood to prevent diphtheria, measles, tetanus, whooping cough, smallpox, and poliomyelitis.  Parents should consult their family physician for these services. The Los Angeles County Health Department offers immunizations at their district health offices and periodically through the city schools.

READMISSION AFTER ILLNESS

Children who have been absent from school on account of a reportable communicable disease, such as measles, mumps, scarlet fever, must be readmitted by the family physician, the county health department, the school physician or nurse.

Children with quarantinable conditions must be readmitted by the health department.

Children who have been absent from school because of non-reportable communicable diseases such as chickenpox, German measles, “colds”, influenza, pneumonia, skin diseases, or because of non-communicable illnesses, may be readmitted to school by the principal or a person selected by the principal.

The school physician or nurse will be glad to discuss with parents these points and others concerning the health of their child.  The nurse is at school on _____________________.