I work in a laundramat. A customer (for our drop-off service) came in today and told us that her lil girl had lice. She also had several baskets of clothes. How should these clothes be handled? Should I even handle them at all? This time I didn't have to do the clothes, but I'm worried that her next loads might be brought in on my shift.
2006-12-28 13:26:21 · 5 answers · asked by KatF 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Should I wear gloves or anything?
2006-12-28 13:31:11 · update #1
Don't be too alarmed> think of all the customers who never had the courtesy to tell you about this, and you didn't get lice. Lice are all too common. In your job, it would be good to have some sort of clothes like nurses scrubs that get washed after each shift, and to shower well as soon as you get home whether anyone alerts you to a problem or not. This client had the decency to say this, but most would not say a word about it. They might not even know yet, when they drop off the clothes and bedding.
The most common way to transmit them is by sharing combs, brushes, clothing, or bedding,(or by sleeping, ie. sex, with an infected person). Public toilets are another place. Use the seat covers or at least cover seats well with paper before you sit.
With basic hygiene, I don't believe that people in your profession are at high risk of infection.
try this site for more technical info:
http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/urban/human_lice.htm
click on all the other sites from here, any thing highlighted.
2006-12-28 14:00:17 · answer #1 · answered by character 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wash the clothes right away and dry them. If they are white things, bleach them.
Be sure to keep your hair clean. Also, I have heard that hair spray will keep them away, as they cannot breathe through it. Gloves won't help or hinder unless you use latex gloves all the time you contact the unwashed clothes and then, take them off and destroy them. However, if you touch your hair while you have the gloves on, it will do you no good. Also, if you touch the clothes to your hair or your own clothes while they are dirty, there is a possibility of the lice being transferred from the clothes to your clothes and then, crawling to your hair.
Use good hygiene, and if you get the lice, it is no huge catastrophe...only the inconvenience and cost of the shampoo to rid your hair of them. If you are really concerned, you could buy the special shampoo after handling the clothes and wash your hair that night. It won't hurt your hair, and will kill any sneaky lice that may have tried to infest your hair.
2006-12-28 13:45:43 · answer #2 · answered by wbecca52 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As soon as you get the clothes wash them and then dry them. Don't leave them sitting around. Don't let anything like your coat or anything touch them.
2006-12-28 13:28:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess use grease becuase black people don't get lice and they say it's becuase they put grease in their hair,and vaseiline on their body when they get out the bath tub,it feels good too.
2006-12-28 13:32:36 · answer #4 · answered by please can i have a best answer 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
wear gloves and shave your head so its impossible to get lice :)
2006-12-28 13:34:44 · answer #5 · answered by nevershoutbecky! 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋