Head Lice
What are head lice?
- Head lice are small insects that live in people's hair and feed on their blood.
- Head lice are common among school-aged children.
- Lice glue their eggs (also called "nits") to hair. Nits take 6 to 9 days to hatch, and 7 or more days for the lice to become egg-laying adults.
- Head lice die quickly (within two days) without feeding, so they cannot live very long away from your child's head.
How do people get head lice?
Children can give head lice to other
children from head-to-head contact and when they share
- combs
- hats
- clothing
- helmets
- scarves
- headphones
- personal items.
How do I know if my child has lice?
- The only way to know if your child has lice is to look through their hair.
- Adult and nymphs may be more difficult to see than the nits which are usually found about 1/4 of inch from the scalp.
- Don't confuse dirt or dandruff with nits.
- Nits stick to hair.
How can I get rid of my child’s lice?
Nit combing and removal
- Comb hair EVERYDAY with a metal nit comb.
- Part hair in sections and comb from root to tip.
- Check ALL family members.
- Common place to find nits are close to the scalp, the neckline and behind the ears.
- Treat with over-the-counter head lice treatment and follow the label instructions carefully.
Important information:
In accordance with Gridley Unified School District's Head Lice Policy, all students who are found to have head lice shall be excluded from school until a head lice treatment is used and proof is provided to the school.
For more information please refer to the link below: