A Note From the Nurse

Kim Goodwin, R.N.

Here at Meadow Park Elementary, we want to be a lice “aware” school. We know that awareness and education help us to prevent lice from spreading.

Lice are small parasitic insects that cannot survive without a human host. They are about the size of a sesame seed (unless newly hatched “nymphs” that are no bigger than the point of a pencil). They are generally dark in color. Their nits (eggs) are small, silvery-white, and are attached to the hair shaft like a tiny glue bubble. Please check your child’s head for lice or nits once or twice weekly all year round. If caught early, it is much easier and much less costly to treat. If all nits are not removed, they will eventually hatch and new lice will be creeping about again and laying new eggs. The cycle begins again.

Contact the school nurse if you find lice or nits on your child so we can follow up at school. It is impossible for this nurse to check every head on campus. It is very important that every parent check their child routinely as a part of overall hygiene care. If you find something or are concerned, please contact me or bring the child to the clinic so I may check it out myself. Do not ignore the problem. It will not go away by itself and will only get worse and spread to others at home and at school.

We want to help with education and detection. However, if you need help with treatment, there is a local organization that will help with screening and nit removal. This organization is Lice Solutions Resource Network, Inc. They are a non-profit organization that will work with you if you can not afford to pay for services. Their phone number is (561) 842-9969. Also, this is an awesome organization that relies mostly on donations from the community. They are not federally funded. Donations are greatly appreciated.

If you want more information, please feel free to contact me at (561) 641-1270.