Each year, the National Pediculosis Association (NPA) sponsors
the All Out Comb Out-- NPA's National Head Lice Prevention Campaign
for back-to-school. What is the NPA’s message? Learn what to look
for, and check the children for head lice and nits regularly. Early
detection with thorough manual removal of lice and nits is the best
approach given that there is no totally safe and effective chemical
treatment available.(PRWEB) Needham, MA, September 1, 2005 --
Each year the National Pediculosis Association (NPA) sponsors the
National Head Lice Prevention Campaign for back-to-school. The NPA
wants parents to learn what to look for and understand the
importance of checking their children for head lice and nits (lice
eggs) regularly.
Early detection with thorough manual removal of lice and nits is the
best approach to managing these blood-sucking human parasites,
especially since there is no totally safe and effective chemical
treatment available.
What is the purpose of the All Out Comb Out? The goal of the
campaign is to remind communities that Pediculosis (head lice) is a
communicable disease affecting children across the nation. The NPA
encourages everyone to be proactive and preventive, emphasizing the
importance of early intervention and how it works to protect
children from unnecessary exposure to potentially harmful pesticide
shampoos and sprays.
Helpful information about this important public health issue is
available at
www.headlice.org along with answers to frequently asked
questions and the availability of non-chemical treatment
alternatives. Because knowing what to look for is key, the NPA
offers parents and school officials a Free Critter Card™ which
provides images of lice as one would expect to see them along with
pictures to help differentiate nits from normal hair debris such as
dandruff.
http://www.headlice.org/special/critcard.htm
Why kick off the campaign in September? Back-to-school signals a new
beginning -- an excellent time to educate parents, children and the
community about head lice. Parents need to understand the
communicability of head lice before outbreaks occur, how to make an
accurate identification and how to remove head lice and nits (eggs)
from their children in the safest and most effective way.
Armed with this knowledge, parents will avoid the dreaded call from
school when someone else was first to notice their child was
infested. Families and classmates will avoid the disruption that
occurs when there is no public health prevention standard in place.
School systems, child care centers, hospital clinics, health
departments, camps, professional organizations, hair salons, HMOs,
school nurses, parents, physicians, pharmacists and thousands of
individuals work cooperatively to keep head lice prevention going
strong each September and every month thereafter.
Headlice.org is the #1 website on this important public health
issue. It is the 24/7 one stop educational resource. The website has
free downloads for family and community education, age appropriate
resources and games for children in the area for kids, e-cards and
photographic images of lice and nits along with access to
information on the LiceMeister Comb -- the medical device known as
the gold standard in combing tools -- as valuable for screening as
for removing lice and nits. The website also provides teaching
videos showing how to comb.
http://www.headlice.org/video/index.htm
NPA says preparedness can't be emphasized enough. There is no need
for panic or for children to miss school when parents are informed
about the benefits of early detection and the fact that the lice are
resisant to the majority of shampoo treatents. Parents who screen
regularly can send their children to school lice and nit free:
Communities that promote head lice prevention programs demonstrate a
commitment to family health and wellness.
While every month is head lice prevention month, September is the
month to kick off the campaign that lasts throughout the year!
"Because it is not about lice, it’s about kids™"
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