Head lice control is as much about preventing lice as it is about treating any, and these steps can increase your chances of being lice free. Lice are not caused by poor hygiene, and it’s impossible to catch lice from your pet. Teaching your child to avoid close contact with other children at school is one step to take, as the lice can literally crawl from one head to another; children also shouldn’t share combs, towels, brushes, scarves or headphones. If you have to treat an incident of lice, always disinfect any brushes and combs used by soaking in hot water. Items that may have been in contact with the infected person should be discarded or disinfected. Vacuum any carpets or rugs in a room where someone infected has been, and it’s also important to check everyone in the house carefully for the next few weeks.