Routine hair inspections at school and at home are very important to long-term prevention of head lice. When head lice remain undetected and untreated, their population only continues to grow. Children, parents, caregivers, educators, etc. need to be involved in the solution to the head-lice condition. They should know how to prevent the spread of head lice, how to inspect for them, and what treatment procedures should be followed.
As a precaution against spreading head lice, avoid sharing hair-care items and accessories, such as combs, hairbrushes, headbands, ribbons, barrettes, hair rollers, wigs; head gear such as helmets, headsets, ear phones; clothing items, including hats, caps, scarves, sweaters, costumes; and sleep items such as pillows, bed linen, stuffed animals, etc. Coats, sweaters, scarves, hats, etc. should not contact each other in cloakrooms, closets, and lockers. If storage space is limited, an option is to put each person's coats, sweaters, hats, etc. in a separate plastic bag marked with their name. Placing each person's personal items in a separate bag, particularly while dealing with a head-lice episode, will not call undue attention to any one individual that has head lice.
Education is an important tool to dispel myths and fears often associated with head lice. Teach and encourage that the condition is not "the plague!" Head lice are just pesky insects that nobody likes, but any infestation needs to be dealt with immediately. Head lice quickly spread when people don't notice the condition and do not seek early treatment. Informed children, parents, and caregivers realize the importance of immediately communicating any findings of head lice. Early detection and proper action allow faster eradication and reduces the spread of head lice.