Caren,

This topic comes up quite often on this list, the Children's Museum List and
the Museum Ed List.  The Last time I participated in this discussion there
was controversy on whether one can even catch lice from wearing infested
clothes.  There seems to be a surprising dearth of research that proves that
you can (no one could find a source proving it) but there were studies that
showed that you couldn't catch lice from wearing an infested hat.  There is
even a Lice Web Site out there some where that has study citations.  I may
have the address on my home machine, but I am at work atthe moment.  If I
find it later I'll forward it. The upshot is that catching lice from
clothing may be just an old wives tale.  However, it is a very popular old
wives tale and you may have to treat the hats with something anyway to make
your visitors feel safer.  In that case any over teh counter spray will
probably work.  Only use things approved for use around children.  Check the
pharmacy not the nursery (plants not babies) and you should be fine.

Any recent thoughts or suggestions from the group?

Matthew White
Executive Director
American Precision Museum


----- Original Message -----
From: "Caren Oberg" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2000 9:45 AM
Subject: preventing spread of lice in costumes


> We have aviation costumes for visitors to try on -
> Does anyone know of a spray/plastic guard/washing
> method to keep hats clean (prevent spreading of lice).
>
>
> Thanks
>
> Caren S. Oberg
> Education Consultant
> National Air and Space Museum
>
>
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