Injection-Stings and Bites

If someone is stung by an insect, such as a bee,

• remove the stinger by scraping it away from the skin with your fingernail or a plastic card, or use tweezers.

• Wash the area with soap and water, cover it to keep it clean, and apply ice to reduce pain and swelling.

• If the victim begins to have trouble breathing, he or she may be experiencing an allergic reaction and his or her body is going into anaphylactic shock.

• You must CALL EMS immediately or the victim's airway may constrict, preventing breathing and killing the victim.

Spiders

Only two spiders in the U.S. have bites that can make you seriously ill or kill you. The black widow spider is black with a reddish hourglass shape on the underside of its body. The brown recluse spider is light brown with a darker brown, violin-shaped marking on the top of its body. Both prefer dark, out-of-the-way places, and bites usually occur on the arms or hands of people rummaging in dark garages or attics or in wood piles(In other words, don't go looking for them and they won't bite you!).

Symptoms of spider bites and scorpion stings are:

nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing or swallowing, sweating and salivating profusely, severe pain in the bite/sting area, a mark indicating a bite/sting, and swelling of the area. If you suspect you have been bitten by a black widow or a brown recluse or stung by a scorpion.

• Wash the wound,

• Apply ice to the area, and call EMS immediately.

• Antivenins, medications that block the effect of the poison, are available.

(at left is a Black Widow and at right is a Brown recluse)









(at left is a bite of a Brown recluse spider and at te right is a bite of a Black widow spider)

Scorpions

Only a few species of scorpions are known to cause death. Scorpions live in dry regions of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, under rocks, logs and the bark of certain trees. They are most active at night.

If you are stung by a scorpion.

• You would be wise to call EMS unless you are positive that the one that bit you is not poisonous.

(at left is a Jelly fish and at right is a Scorpion)

Marine Life , Snakes and Other Animals

The stings of some different types of marine life, such as sting rays, sea anemones and jellyfish may make you sick. If you are stung.

• Soak the affected area in salt water and apply a paste of baking soda or meat tenderizer.

• Or even ice, as soon as possible to reduce swelling.

• If you are unsure what stung you, have a history of allergic reactions to marine life stings, are stung on the face or neck, or are having difficulty breathing, call EMS immediately.

If you are bitten by a wild or domestic animal, you may get an infection and you will have injury to the soft tissue. The most serious possible consequence is rabies, which is transmitted through the saliva of diseased animals, including dogs, cats, raccoons, skunks, cattle, and bats. Infected animals may behave strangely; for example, a nocturnal animal like a raccoon may be active during the day, or the animal may drool, appear partially paralyzed, or act irritable, mean, or quiet. Rabies is fatal if it is not treated promptly.

• If you suspect that you have bitten by a rabid animal, call EMS immediately.

• Get away from the animal. DO NOT try to catch or hold it.

• Wash the wound with soap and water if it is minor, control bleeding and apply an antibiotic ointment and a dressing.

• If the wound is bleeding heavily, do not try to wash it; just try to control the bleeding, and call EMS.

• Try to remember what the animal looked like, as well as where you last saw it.

• Call EMS and inform them, and they will get the proper authorities involved.