How Camp Admin Can Keep Lice Under Control This Summer
Close quarters and fun activities make camps the perfect place for lice to infest many people very quickly. Planning a camp program is a huge undertaking and you don’t want lice ruining anyone’s time this summer. Here are our tips for how camp admin can mitigate lice and stay ahead of any outbreaks this summer!
Pre-Camp Communication
Inform Families
It is important to inform parents of the possibility of lice making its way through camp this summer so that they can do their best to prevent it before arrival. Share with parents a few weeks in advance on how to properly screen for lice, and next steps if they do find lice in their child’s hair.
Health Check Forms
Most camps require a health check form to be filled out prior to arrival. Ensure that there is a section on your form that asks if the camper or any family member has had a recent infestation.
Arriving At Camp
On-Site Screening
Station a lice screening area at check-in so you can catch any outbreak before it spreads to the whole camp. This should be done by a trained professional, either the medical staff on the grounds or a lice professional. If your camp is located in the general vicinity of a Hair Fairies, we can coordinate our team to be at check-in to assist with screenings. If not, we offer virtual training that can help your staff brush up on their screening skills to be fully prepared.
Have a Protocol In Place
Arrival day at camp is already stressful enough, having a lice protocol if an infestation is found will take one more task off of your plate in the chaos. Remember staff should be reminded to handle these situations discreetly and respectfully. The worst thing you can do is oust a camper for having lice as they are making first impressions at camp.
During Camp
Education
As part of orientation, remind kids that lice is not a sign of being dirty. Encourage them to keep their hair in braids or pulled back. Remind staff to encourage campers not to share hats, brushes, pillows, etc.
Prevention
Stay ahead of any outbreak by providing each cabin with lice-prevention spray. Use it on bedding and pillows, hats, or anything that frequently touches your scalp. Keep a few extra bottles on hand in the nurse’s office so staff can use it throughout the camp program.
Regular Checks
If your camp program is longer than one week, conduct regular lice screenings. Catching an outbreak early on can spare you the stress of the entire camp getting lice.
Post Camp
Provide Resources
Send campers home with lice tips and prevention methods for families to use. We have lots of helpful resources that can help parents catch a lice outbreak before it comes home with the camper. We have even had families have Hair Fairies waiting at their homes to check the campers as they arrive home from camp.
With a summer camp program, the most important thing is to be prepared. If you made it to the end of this blog post you are setting your camp up for success if lice should strike. And remember you are not in this alone! Even if you are not located near a Hair Fairies we have lots of ways we can support your camp this summer!
Welcome to the Hair Fairies blog where we share education, tips, and professional guidance on all things head lice.
