The itching,
the scratching,
the,
the horror.
Lice are something we might associate
with little kids.
But the little buggers do not discriminate.
They'll set up shop anywhere
they can find a warm home.
Contrary to popular belief, lice cannot
jump from one head to another.
But these wingless creatures can crawl
from victim to victim.
They can even hitch a ride on things like
brushes, combs, rubber bands and hats.
So if you don't want to fall victim to this
tiny little pest, follow these steps.
Head to the pharmacy and grab the best
lice medication they have.
Buy a small-toothed comb, something that
you won't mind tossing out
after the battle.
It's even better if the lice treatment kit
has a comb with fine metal teeth
set close together.
Lice eggs, or nits, are laid
0.64 cm (0.25 in)
from a person's scalp, and these insects
use a thick but transparent, sticky,
glue-like substance to attach themselves.
So the lice will not come off
without a fight.
Now it's time to assess the situation
as the clock is ticking.
A female louse can lay up to 10 eggs
per day, and each egg hatches into a
nymph within 7-10 days.
These are adolescent lice.
So inspect the scalp, and look for little
white bumps close to the hairs' roots.
At this point, you might want to scream
or throw up, but don't.
There's work to be done.
Grab the medication you just purchased,
put on some gloves, and maybe don an
N-95 mask handy.
Because the smells you're about
to experience are pretty intense.
Now that you're all prepared,
it's time to go in.
Carefully, slowly and deliberately
comb through the hair.
Apply the medication and run the very
fine-tooth comb through every bit of hair
on the scalp.
Dunk the comb in very hot water before
reapplying the medicine.
Remember, these little bloodsuckers won't
live long if you separate them
from their food source.
But they can hold their breath
for up to eight hours.
And unfortunately, they are incredibly
skilled at hanging on.
Their bodies have short legs with really
grippy claws at the end that can clench
to a shaft of hair in a shower, a pool
or even powerful winds.
The CDC warns people not to use
combination shampoo and conditioner,
or conditioner, before using lice medicine.
And don't wash the hair for one to two
days after removing the lice medicine.
And lice are more than annoying
and gross little insects.
In early May 2021, an Indiana,
U.S. mother was arrested and charged
with neglect when her four-year-old
daughter nearly died of
a lice infestation.
The Department of Child Services notified
police that the little girl was in the
hospital due to a severe lice infestation.
Her blood levels were a fraction of what
they should have been because lice were
feeding off her blood for so long.
Sadly, in Georgia, another little girl
wasn't so lucky.
She suffered a lice infestation that might
have lasted up to six years.
Eventually, she became severely anemic
and died from cardiac arrest.
And her parents could face second-degree
murder charges for her death.
I know these stories are extreme, but it's
important to know the potential dangers.
And your battle isn't over yet,
so take a deep breath.
Once you have checked, treated and
cleaned all the hair, load up the laundry.
Wash all the bedding by the people
who have lice and their bedmates using
the hot water cycle at 54 °C (130 °F)
and the high heat drying cycle.
If a couple of lice are still clinging to life,
the heat should kill them.
The CDC recommends vacuuming the floor
and furniture, especially where the person
with lice sat or laid, but you don't need
to use fumigating sprays.
This may not be easy to do,
but it's the responsible thing.
Let anyone who might have had close
contact with the contaminated person
know about the lice.
It's okay.
It's not a big deal.
An estimated 6-12 million infestations
occur in the United States alone each year.
After using the medicine, re-examine the
scalp in 8-12 hours.
If you see small, white bugs, but they're
not moving, sit tight.
If they're still moving, call your
doctor and ask for help.
You might need a prescription because
some lice are resistant to the medicine in
over-the-counter treatments.
Keep checking the hair every two to three
days for the next two or three weeks.
Being caught unprepared and unaware
once will be enough to encourage
better cleaning habits.
Just remember to soak all those combs
and brushes in hot water, at least
54 °C (130 °F) for 5–10 minutes.
Finally, the worst is over.
Or is it?
What just crawled behind the fridge?
Oh no.
You've got cockroaches.
Don't worry.
We've got the perfect video for you.
To be prepared and stay alive,
keep watching How to Survive.