Chapter 17- Bites and Stings

Which is the best thing to do if you encounter a snake while you are on a hiking trip? a. Check for other snakes, then turn and walk back the way you came. b. Spray it with snake repellant, then walk back the way you came. c. Jump up and down to scare the snake away. d. Stay very still until the snake leaves the area, then continue your hike.

a. Check for other snakes, then turn and walk back the way you came.

What precaution should you take in applying an insect repellent containing DEET to children? a. Do not apply repellent to the children's hands. b. Only apply the repellent to the children's clothing. c. Apply the repellent every 2 hours for the greatest effectiveness. d. Make sure children close their eyes tightly as you apply repellent to their faces.

a. Do not apply repellent to the children's hands.

Why should you take the victim of a black widow spider bite to a medical facility? a. Medical professionals will clean the wound and, in some cases, administer an antivenin. b. Medical professionals will want to record the bite for other health officials and statistics. c. Medical professionals will want the victim to identify the type of spider so they can give the best available care. d. Black widow spider bites will cause death to over 90 percent of the healthy adults they bite.

a. Medical professionals will clean the wound and, in some cases, administer an antivenin.

Which of the following is a signal of a mild reaction to a bite or sting? a. Redness around the entry site b. Redness throughout the body c. Redness on one side of the body d. Redness on the face

a. Redness around the entry site

Which of the following is the best way to remove an embedded tick from the skin? a. Use fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin and pull slowly, steadily and firmly. b. Use your fingernail or a plastic card and scrape it away slowly and steadily. c. Apply petroleum jelly to coat the tick—the tick will then let go by itself. d. Apply both an antiseptic and antibiotic to the tick—the tick will let go by itself.

a. Use fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin and pull slowly, steadily and firmly.

What is the best way you can prevent insect or tick bites while hiking in the woods? a. Wear long-sleeved shirt and long pants. b. Wear dark-colored clothing. c. Wear loose-fitting clothing. d. Wear shorts to make the ticks easier to see.

a. Wear long-sleeved shirt and long pants.

Which of the following is the best treatment for a scorpion sting? a. Wash the sting in warm soapy water and apply an ice pack. b. A scorpion sting should be treated as a medical emergency—call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. c. Apply an antiseptic and, if possible, an antibiotic to prevent infection. d. Immobilize the affected part of the body and apply an ice pack.

b. A scorpion sting should be treated as a medical emergency—call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

How should you care for the entry site after you have removed a tick from a victim? a. Wash the wound in warm soapy water. b. Apply an antiseptic and antibiotic ointment if possible. c. Apply an ice pack to prevent further infection. d. Coat the site with petroleum jelly in case any part of tick is left in the wound.

b. Apply an antiseptic and antibiotic ointment if possible.

You are swimming in the ocean and receive a bite on the leg from something in the water. As you exit the water, you notice there is a red painful area where you think the bite occurred. What should you do? a. Immediately soak your leg in hot water. b. Call, or have someone else call, 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. c. Put vinegar on the wound to reduce the pain. d. Flush the area with cool fresh water to remove the venom.

b. Call, or have someone else call, 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

A wound from an animal bite is bleeding heavily. How would you care for this wound? a. Wash the wound in soap and water, then control the bleeding. b. Control the bleeding, then seek medical care to have the wound cleaned. c. Control the bleeding by applying a pressure bandage to constrict the blood vessels at the wound site. d. Control the bleeding, then apply an antiseptic and an antibiotic ointment to the wound.

b. Control the bleeding, then seek medical care to have the wound cleaned.

Why is it important to ask a victim of an insect sting if he or she has had any prior reactions to insect stings? a. So the caregiver knows how to properly treat the current sting by soaking the entry site in hot water. b. If the victim has had a prior reaction, the current sting may result in anaphylaxis; call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. c. If the victim has had a prior reaction to a bite or sting, the caregiver should remove the stinger immediately. d. In cases of a prior reaction, the caregiver should immediately apply ice to the entry site.

b. If the victim has had a prior reaction, the current sting may result in anaphylaxis; call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Infections from human bites are caused by— a. HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) in the saliva. b. Rabies virus in the saliva. c. Bacteria in the saliva. d. Mucus in the mouth.

c. Bacteria in the saliva.

A signal for a snakebite may include— a. A blood-filled blister at the entry site. b. A venom sac that remains at the entry site. c. One or two distinct puncture wounds at the entry site. d. A rash that looks like a bull's-eye pattern on the skin.

c. One or two distinct puncture wounds at the entry site.

How would you remove a bee stinger embedded in a victim's skin? a. Use the point of a knife to gouge out the stinger. b. Use tweezers to pull the stinger away from the skin. c. Scrape the stinger away from the skin with a fingernail, plastic card or the edge of a knife blade. d. Under no circumstances should you remove the stinger from the skin.

c. Scrape the stinger away from the skin with a fingernail, plastic card or the edge of a knife blade.

Which of the following should you consider doing for someone who has a snakebite and cannot get to medical treatment within 30 minutes? a. Wash the wound in warm soapy water and apply an ice pack to restrict the flow of venom. b. Constrict blood flow to the affected area and apply ice. c. Suction the wound with an appropriate snakebite kit. d. Constrict blood flow and suction the blood out of the wound.

c. Suction the wound with an appropriate snakebite kit.

Why would you apply an ice pack to the entry site of a bite or sting? a. To neutralize any insect venom that entered the wound b. To reduce the possibility of anaphylaxis c. To reduce pain and swelling in the affected area d. To prevent skin damage at the entry site

c. To reduce pain and swelling in the affected area

Which is the best care for someone with a snakebite who can get medical care within 30 minutes? a. Apply ice to kill the venom and then transport the victim to the nearest medical facility. b. Suction the wound using the appropriate snakebite kit. c. Wash the wound, immobilize the affected part and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. d. Constrict blood flow to the affected area, and apply ice to slow the venom's effect.

c. Wash the wound, immobilize the affected part and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Your child is playing in the park and tells you that a squirrel bit him. What care would you give your child? a. Notify the police and they will capture the squirrel to have it tested for rabies. b. Wash the wound in soap and water and tell your child not to play with squirrels. c. Take your child to try to capture the squirrel so it can be tested for rabies. d. Get the child to professional medical care as soon as possible.

d. Get the child to professional medical care as soon as possible.

A friend is stung on the arm by a jellyfish. Which is the best care for your friend? a. Immediately apply fresh water to rinse off the stingers. b. Immediately call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number. c. Immediately immobilize the arm and keep it lower than the heart. d. Immediately soak the injured arm in vinegar.

d. Immediately soak the injured arm in vinegar.

Which of the following is a disease caused by a virus and transmitted by infected animals? a. Rocky Mountain spotted fever b. Tetanus c. Lyme disease d. Rabies

d. Rabies