Lice are transmitted from person to person by head to head contact. They cannot jump, hop or fly, but crawl from head to head. The nit, or egg, is attached to a hair shaft close to the scalp by the female louse. Lice cannot live without a host, and a nit will not hatch in temperatures lower than the scalp. A nymph, or hatched nit, cannot survive more than a few hours off the head, and needs about 10 days to mature to an adult. Adult lice can lay many eggs, live about 10-14 days, and can live about 24 hours off the head. Personal cleanliness or that of one’s surroundings does not contribute to having lice. The life cycle is 3-4 weeks and the adult will die after laying new eggs. Lice cannot be transferred from dogs, cats, or any pet. Less common, but possible, is a transfer from hats, scarves, towels, pillows, combs, brushes, hair ties and accessories, particularly if these are shared immediately. Once 24 hours has passed, nothing will be living on these items. Lice are not affected or removed by water, so swimming or showering does not spread them to others. Lice do not cause infections or carry illness; however, constant scratching may open sores that are then susceptible to infection.

The best treatment is prevention and screening. There are both over the counter and prescription shampoos that can be used. There are also methods without using chemicals that are just as effective. All the nits must be removed to end the infestation. Washing and drying at high heat (for at least 20 minutes) is sufficient for cleaning linens, pillows, stuffed animals, hats, and other items that have come in contact with hair that has been found positive for lice. Dry cleaning will also eliminate any live lice. Medically, lice are considered to be a nuisance, not a disease or cause for alarm.

We believe that in order to control this situation, we need every girl to be lice-free upon entering camp. In order to accomplish this, we have contracted with a lice treatment company, who will be on hand to do a head check of every camper and counselor on Opening Day. We will be doing this in bungalow groups during the afternoon. If during the screening a camper is found to be positive for head lice, she will be treated immediately and then will rejoin her bungalow. During her treatment we will be putting the items that have come into contact with her head (pillow, pillow case, stuffed animal, shirt she is wearing, etc.) into the dryer at high heat for 20-30 minutes to eliminate any possibility of transfer. Her hairbrushes, combs, hair ties, and any recently worn hair bands will be thrown away. A new hairbrush and comb will be provided by Nyoda. Anyone who is positive for head lice will be rechecked in 5 and then 10 days. Screening will be provided by Nyoda, but the cost of treatment will be billed to the parents. Cost will vary according to hair length. Parents will be notified if treatment is necessary. This new policy is part of the registration page, and requires a parent signature agreeing to this responsibility.

If you feel that your daughter has been at risk in the weeks immediately preceding her camp stay, you might consider having her checked the day or two before her arrival. Potential concerns include slumber parties, friends or siblings who have been found to have lice, sharing towels or bathing caps at the pool, or if your daughter shared a pillow or bed with someone while on vacation or at home. We assume that she will be bringing all clean linens and clothes to camp, but any item that concerns you is very treatable by putting it in the dryer at high heat for 20-30 minutes. Lice have a gestational period of about three days when the nits are virtually invisible. Therefore your camper will be screened the first day whether she had treatment at home or not. Pre camp treatment would just take care of an active case at home rather than the first afternoon she is here. Please let us know when you arrive if you have concerns that your daughter has the possibility of a lice issue so that we may monitor her during her stay.

So, are you itchy yet? Scratching your head as you read this? We know! Lice are creepy and we don’t want them at Nyoda!! We feel we are taking every possible precaution so that we have a lice-free, stress-about-lice free summer for everyone… parents, campers and counselors. Thank you so much for your understanding and being a partner with us.

To combat head lice, Nyoda is contracting with a professional company to provide screening and treatment upon each camper’s arrival. If the screening is positive and treatment is necessary, the company will provide this for a cost which will be billed to the parent. Parents will be notified and treatment will begin immediately so the camper can return to her bungalow as soon as possible. This is in accordance with the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Camping Association, who both advocate treatment and then immediate return to all group activities.

• cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head

• acacamps.org/resource-library/lice

• aap.org/en-us/about-the-app/app-press-room/headlice

• kidshealth.org/en/parents/headlice