With the kids back in school, there are lots of things they will be bringing home. Homework, books, colds, and tales of the classroom are just what you expect, but they can also bring home some less-appreciated things, including lice and bed bugs. Ugh. But don’t fret! Even though we can’t help with the homework and we probably won’t be bringing chicken soup over when they get sick, we can help with some of the pests they bring home!
To prevent your child from bringing home lice, follow these important tips:
- Check your child’s head regularly for lice and nits (lice eggs). Lice are approximately 1/8 of an inch long, flat, and either yellow/white in color or gray/black. The nits are obvious because they will be attached to the hair near the scalp.
- Teach your children to never put on an item that is worn on someone else’s head. This includes hats, scarves, headphones, etc. Lice can easily be transferred from child to child by this method.
- The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that lice transfer happens most often from head-to-head contact. Remind children to never touch their head against another child; this may mean no hugging!
- If you see your child itching, check their clothing (and yours as well) for lice and lice eggs. You should also check rugs, bed linens, and towels your children may have used.
Head lice are considered a medical problem and are not something we can treat for. If your child has been exposed to someone with head lice, or you have identified these pests on your child, call your child’s pediatrician immediately. If you have questions about head lice, we may be able to advise you on the nature of these pests, so please call us with any pest-related questions.
To prevent your child from bringing home bed bugs, follow these important tips:
- Check your child’s clothes and backpack periodically to look for this tiny brown apple-seed-sized insect. Bed bugs are known for hiding in places where they cannot be seen, including the seams of clothing and inside backpack pockets.
- Again, remind your children not to share belongings with their friends. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers, so they may be passed from child to child when they share infested belongings.
- Educate your children on what bed bugs look like. If they know the signs of bed bugs and can perform bed bug identification on their own, they will be more likely to recognize bed bugs and report the problem, helping prevent the spread of these pests.
If your child does bring home bed bugs, these are not a problem you can take care of on your own. For bed bug control, the Indianapolis exterminators at Action offer an effective heat treatment for bed bugs. A bed bug heat treatment will heat the infested rooms of your home to a temperature that is known to kill bed bugs and their eggs, sustaining the raised temperature until all bed bugs are exterminated. Contact the professionals at Action today for pest control in Terre Haute, Indianapolis, and Louisville or anywhere in our service area to set up your first inspection. Don’t let lice and bed bugs ruin the school year; contact us today!