Bizarre campaign texts parents to check for lice in kids' hair

If you thought sending a SMS in order to gain entry into a public bathroom was on the weird side, get a load of this. An outlandish campaign sparked up in the UK has been sending out weekly text messages to parents in order to remind them of the need to check for head lice on their youngsters. Cleverly coined Beat the Bugs, the program led to the discovery of six cases of lice, and when polling participants at the end of the term, the majority stated that they felt more aware about treatment / prevention and that they were now checking their kids' heads at least once per week. We can hear it now: "C'mon Jimmy, time for me to look through your locks for any critters!" "Ah, bugger."

[Via Switched, image courtesy of Interior Health]

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 2:12PM]

Easier solution: Don't have kids!

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 2:15PM]

Wouldn't this be more appropriate for engadgetmobile.com?

[waffles @ Apr 10th 2008 2:21PM]

so when does "Catch the Crabs" go into effect?

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 2:22PM]

The night before it starts itching.

[Bryan Thornsberry @ Apr 10th 2008 2:23PM]

Getting checked for lice was awesome. Our school nurse could work those tongs like a pro.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 2:34PM]

My nurse never even saw my tongs.. =(

[Flashpoint @ Apr 10th 2008 2:25PM]

When you are an administrator of a school (like myself) you begin to worry about kids infecting other kids - AND YOU.

I've got teachers who get sick constantly from kids - I caught bronchitus in fact back in 2005.

We get lice and especially RINGWORM.

I've got 5 students (that I know of) with ringworm - they've got rashes on their faces that look like bite marks its so bad.

YES, I support this initiative. We can't punish children for growing up in poverty.

[Idlemind @ Apr 10th 2008 2:52PM]

Agreed, but to equate head-lice with poverty is medically (not to mention morally) wrong.



" Head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis): Head lice are the most common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 6-12 million people in the United States are infested each year with head lice.

Children aged 3-10 years in preschool, elementary school, or daycare centers are most likely to have lice. All socioeconomic classes are affected.

Lice can appear in anyone's hair (more common in girls than boys), no matter what hair length or the person's degree of cleanliness. Lice are seen less often, however, in African Americans due to hair type.

Head lice will not infect dogs, cats, or other pets"



http://www.emedicinehealth.com/lice/article_em.htm

[aglebot @ Apr 10th 2008 3:27PM]

Second idleminds's comment. I have a sixth grade daughter in upper-middle class north Chicago suburb, and head lice are a constant problem. Nothing to do with poverty. (I tend to blame too many slumber parties).

[Bob @ Apr 10th 2008 4:52PM]

YES, I support this initiative. We can't punish children for growing up in poverty.

I got news for you. Kids get headlice regardless of family income. Girls get it more frequently because they tend to make more head to head contact.

I have a friend whose 7-year-old daughter got it from wearing a rental helmet at a ski resort.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Apr 10th 2008 7:29PM]

@ everyone getting on Flashpoint's case:

Why are you taking ONE thing Flashpoint said out of context and getting upset over it? He's obviously trying to help. Sure, anyone is susceptible to lice ringworm, etc. (otherwise, why would FP be worried about getting it?) . . . he's saying that he SEES more poor kids getting it. (Correct me if I'm misconstruing your post here, FP.)

Besides, FP is speaking from his point-of-view as an educator, "in the trenches" as it were, whereas you jokers are all sitting there with your righteous indignation, citing crap you looked up on the web. When you're an administrator of a low socio-economic school like FP, then you can talk.

[gad get @ Apr 11th 2008 5:02AM]

Who said anything about a "low socio-economic school?"

[phanbouy @ Apr 10th 2008 2:31PM]

in Soviet Russia, lice check YOU

[gb @ Apr 10th 2008 2:41PM]

slashdot called, they want their meme back

[phanbouy @ Apr 10th 2008 2:43PM]

in Soviet Russia, seinfeld meme YOU

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 2:43PM]

Why does Slashdot have your number?

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 2:54PM]

lol, phanbouy, how did you manage to turn Slashdot into Seinfield?

Unless of course, thats how the Soviet Russians do it.

[phanbouy @ Apr 10th 2008 3:02PM]

"x called they want their y back" is from seinfeld, iirc

[Jagannath A @ Apr 10th 2008 4:08PM]

lol phanbouy, Anonymouse, Lowest Ranked FTW!!

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 5:08PM]

Jagannath A WTF!!!

[gad get @ Apr 11th 2008 5:05AM]

All right, we're all saying some things we're gonna regret...

[Blue Sunshine @ Apr 10th 2008 2:32PM]

At the rate kids are going these days, I wouldn't be surprised if they check for crabs next. Actually, I heard Pedobear is sending out a text message at this very moment.....

http://www.miscgarbage.com

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 2:37PM]

Its good to see that some websites today have a description of what they have to offer right in the URL!

Miscellaneous Garbage, well I'm sure glad I know that and don't have to click the link to find out.

[Blue Sunshine @ Apr 10th 2008 2:39PM]

What can I say, I'm a straight shooter pal.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 2:45PM]

I gotta say, you're reply got me to actually click the link finally, and the first word I saw in the headline was BEER.

I like it.


And now I demand some revenue for the future users who visit your site!

[phanbouy @ Apr 10th 2008 2:47PM]

are you a straight shooter with upper management written all over you?

[sully @ Apr 10th 2008 2:41PM]

Louse me, bro!

[Ellianth @ Apr 10th 2008 2:45PM]

I'd much rather taze you :P.

[Blaktornado @ Apr 10th 2008 2:52PM]

Oh noes! My Mom's gonna find my secret nit army! Drat! There go my world domination plans...

[Blue Sunshine @ Apr 10th 2008 2:54PM]

Why thank you for checking out my site, everyone loves beer of course. I should compensate you for your positive review, but alas we are in a recession you know. :(

[CaptSaltyJack @ Apr 10th 2008 4:09PM]

What a ridiculous campai--ah crap, gotta go, just got my weekly text message reminding me to take a shower.

[fanman @ Apr 10th 2008 4:15PM]

"Oh bugger" is an australian stereotype, not a British one. At least get your bigoted witticisms correct.

kthxbye

[phanbouy @ Apr 10th 2008 4:17PM]

that's funny. i kinda remember hearing the monty python gang saying "bugger" quite often. and mr. bean. and...

[Blaktornado @ Apr 10th 2008 7:01PM]

Oh bugger... it looks like no-one knows.

[Lowest Ranked @ Apr 10th 2008 5:10PM]

Weekly?

That makes you twice as clean as me and 200% better smelling.

[Hugo @ Apr 10th 2008 7:42PM]

The most famous - and the true first - Python "Oh Bugger" was at the end of the Spanish Inquisition sketch just as the credits were rolling.

(do I win anything?)

[nosrednAneB @ Apr 10th 2008 8:42PM]

In Australia we get a text message when the kids are late to school, or if they didn't turn up.

It's supposed to improve child attendance rates.