Itchy or Scratchy - Head Lice and Climbing Equipment

Guidelines for Controlling Head Lice

How do Head Lice Spread?

• Lice are almost always spread from head-to-head contact.
• Inanimate objects - such as sport helmets - are not suitable for head lice. Helmets are not warm or hairy. Head lice are not built to hold on to these materials, and inanimate materials do not make hospitable environments for them to live on.
• Lice are built to move in hair from one person to another, and not on other materials. Head lice do not have jumping legs like fleas, and are wingless through their life cycles.
• Nits on a hair stuck in a helmet should pose no risk to multiple helmet wearers. Nits need heat and humidity, just as hatched lice do.

Helmet and Harness Care

Should you discover lice or choose to clean your equipment, always follow guidelines from the Original Equipment Manufacturer Manual (OEM).

• Wash harnesses and helmets as per OEM recommendations. Typically with warm, soapy water not exceeding 30°C.
• Always line dry away from direct sunlight. DO NOT tumble dry.
• All other cleaning products, such as solvents, stain removers, degreasers are too powerful, are incompatible with polycarbonate, polystyrene or nylon, and can weaken the helmet shell.
• DO NOT use fumigant sprays or fogs. These can be toxic if inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Additionally, these may damage the components of your equipment, and void any warranty.
• DO NOT use a high pressure water sprayer.
• If you cannot wash an item, you can carefully vacuum it.
• There is no need to bag harnesses or helmets.

Sources:

Head Lice. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2019, from https://srhd.org/health-topics/environmental-health/head-lice

How Should I Clean the Inside of my Petzl Helmet. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2019, from https://www.petzl.com/CA/en/Sport/FAQ/how-should-i-clean-the-inside-of-my-petzl-helmet