SUMMER PLANS? HERE’S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM HEAD LICE
You might have a vacation planned, but head lice never take a break. They’re always active and looking for new hosts to enjoy. The number one way that lice spread is through head-to-head contact, which there is plenty of when you go on vacation. Between sitting on cramped planes to doing activities with other families, there are many opportunities for lice to spread.
With everything going on in the world today, the last thing you want to worry about is bringing home head lice. Unfortunately, it happens. Below are some tips on how you can prevent lice from coming home with your family.
READ HOTEL REVIEWS
If you plan on staying in a hotel, do your homework and be sure to choose one that is clean and well-maintained. Lice are like bed bugs and can infiltrate a hotel if they don’t take the proper precautions. Common spots where lice like to breed are couches, chairs, beds and other plush objects.
As long as the hotel changes the sheets daily and gives each room a thorough cleaning in between guests, you should be fine. Contracting head lice from a hotel is low. Bed bugs are a different story.
AVOID SHARING HAIR PRODUCTS
On vacation, many friends and families end up sharing personal items. We advise against doing this. Someone could have lice even if they don’t show symptoms. By sharing a hairbrush or hair tie, you’re giving the lice a chance to infect a new host. Your best bet – buy a cheap box of combs and assign one to each member in the family.
DON’T TRY ON HATS AT THE GIFT SHOP
Avoid trying on sun hats, baseball caps and other accessories at the gift shop. Hundreds to thousands of people have probably tried them on, too, which means there could be an active louse in one of them. If you find a hat you like, ask the employee if they have clean ones in the back. Or, order a hat online so that you have it for your trip.
KEEP THE HAIR TIED BACK
Tying back the hair lowers the risk for catching lice. Lice can’t fly or jump, but they can crawl quickly. If your hair isn’t swinging around, it’s less likely that a louse will crawl over. Braids, ponytails and hats are a great way to keep the hair out of the face and away from potential lice infestations. Also, use a lice repellent spray for added protection.
PERFORM HEAD LICE CHECKS
You should perform head lice checks on everyone in the family before you leave for vacation and after returning home. Use a nit picking comb to get close to the scalp. If you notice a louse, pull it out and contact a professional head lice expert like My Hair Helpers. It’s possible that you may benefit from one of our safe, proprietary treatments.
If you plan on traveling this summer, be sure to follow these simple tips and tricks. You can avoid coming home with lice and also enjoy your vacation to the fullest!
