Bug Busting Information
ADVANCE WARNING
BUG BUSTING FORTNIGHT STARTS 17th MAY
It’s the time of year again to beat the bugs!!!!
Honeywell needs your help!
Why bother?
My child doesn’t scratch her/his head so why do I need to bug bust?
Your child may be infested but may not suffer any itchiness – many children don’t.
Your child may have eggs which have yet to hatch!
WE SHOULD ALL TRY TO HELP THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY ELIMINATE THIS IRRITATING PROBLEM. IT’S ONLY BY US ALL DOING IT TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE CAN DO OUR BIT AND HOPEFULLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
We are asking ALL parents in the WHOLE school to bug bust on the 4 days below. PLEASE CAN YOU PUT THE FOLLOWING DATES IN YOUR DIARY…
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Because of the life cycle of the beastly bugs the only truly effective way to get rid of nits is to comb out all the insects several times, spaced out over the above two week period. This ensures that if any juvenile insects hatch from the eggs already in the hair they are combed out before they can reach maturity and start laying fresh eggs.
SOME BASIC FACTS ABOUT LICE/NITS:
- Lice can be very hard to spot through a visual inspection. Combing is the most effective way to find them. However, if you have excellent eyesight you can sweep through sections of hair with a hairdryer in daylight next to a window and find them manually.
- A head louse usually hatches after 6-11 days after the egg is laid and becomes a mature adult only 6 days after hatching.
- The female then mates and can lay eggs from the 7th day after hatching and she can lay up to 100 eggs in her 30 day life!!
- No chemical or natural treatment kills the eggs. They all at best kill the insects. Please note that the chemical products are highly flammable and parents need to be aware of this risk.
- Head lice can only move through head to head contact. They cannot jump, fly or hop. Securely tying back long hair or plaiting hair will help reduce the chance of lice being passed on but it won’t eliminate the risk. Nits transfer from swimming pools, helmets, hats, caps. Please make sure your child wears a swimming cap.
HOW TO BUG BUST
- Shampoo hair as normal and rinse. Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil Shampoo comes highly recommended.
- Apply a light conditioner or detangler. Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil Conditioner also highly recommended and comb the hair with a wide toothed comb first to de-tangle, then a fine toothed head louse comb.
- Comb the whole head, section by section, checking the comb for lice between each stroke and removing them (use a paper towel or rinse in a bowl/basin of water).
- Make sure you slot the teeth of the comb right into the hair at the roots and comb right down to the ends with each stroke. Combing in different directions ensures you get them from all angles.
- Repeat every 3-4 days for two weeks to make sure any newly hatched lice are caught. Longer if necessary until you are satisfied your child is completely free of eggs.
- Wash your child’s bedding. Toys that lie near your child should be put away for 2-3 days in a bag or freezer. This dries the eggs/louse out and kills them. Wash scarves, hats and coats to prevent head lice returning.
FUTURE PREVENTION
Make combing your child’s hair with a head lice comb a weekly/fortnightly habit.