First Aid and Safety: Bites, and Stings
scorpion sting: what to look for severe
Pain along stung arm or leg Uncontrolled jerking movements Fast heart rate, salivation, breathing distress
coral snake bite: what to do
Call 9-1-1. Apply a wide elastic bandage. Stabilize the bitten arm or leg and keep it below heart level. Do not cut skin or use suction
pit viper bites: what to do
Call 9-1-1. When possible, carry the person. Do not apply a pressure bandage
black widow spider bites: what to do
Clean with soap and water. Apply an ice pack. Give pain medication. Seek medical care as soon as possible. If facial swelling or anaphylaxis occurs, call 9-1-1 and treat appropriately.
for a wild animal bite
Do not try to capture the animal. Do not kill the animal. Contact the local health department.
true bite
Flesh is caught between teeth
tarantula bites: what to do
For hairs in the skin: Remove with sticky tape. Wash with soap and water. Apply hydrocortisone cream. Give an antihistamine and pain medication.
nonvenomous snake bites: what to do
Gently clean with soap and water. Care for the bite as you would a shallow wound. Consult with a physician
honeybee
Have barbed stingers Die after the sting Some venom remains in the stinger embedded in the person's skin. This venom worsens the person's reaction
Worrisome reactions to insect stings
Hives Swollen lips or tongue Tickle in throat Wheezing
nonvenomous snake bites: what to look for
Horseshoe shape of tooth marks on skin Bleeding Possible swelling, mild itching, and tenderness
human bites: what to do
If the wound is not bleeding heavily, wash it with soap and water for 5 to 10 minutes. Flush with running water under pressure. Control bleeding with direct pressure. Cover with sterile dressing. Seek medical care.
usual reactions to insect stings
Instant pain, redness, itching
mosquito bites: what to look for
Itching Mild swelling
if a tick's mouth parts remain in skin
Leave the parts in place. Treat with warm soaks and antibiotic ointment. If infection develops, seek medical care.
scorpion sting: what to look for
Local immediate pain and burning Later, numbness or tingling
brown recluse spider bites: what to look for
Mild to severe pain that occurs within 2 to 8 hours Blister that develops within 48 to 72 hours Nausea, vomiting, headache, and fever
For a venomous bite caused by a sea snake, octopus, or cone snail
Monitor breathing. Control bleeding. Apply pressure bandage on entire arm or leg
For a bite, rip, or puncture caused by a shark, barracuda, eel, or seal
Monitor breathing. Control bleeding. Wash wound with soap and water. Flush the area with water under pressure. Treat for shock
scorpion sting: what to do
Monitor breathing. Gently clean with soap and water. Apply an ice pack. Apply dressing. Seek medical care for severe reactions
embedded ticks: what to look for
No initial pain Red area around tick Rash, fever, and chills Varies from small bump to extensive swelling and ulcer
Four species of venomous snakes in US
Rattlesnakes Copperheads Water moccasins Coral snakes
insect stings: what to do
Remove stinger and venom sac. Wash with soap and water. Apply an ice pack. Give pain medication, Apply hydrocortisone cream and give antihistamine.
coral snake bite: what to look for
Several hours may pass before the onset of: Minimal pain Sagging or drooping upper eyelids Weakness Pricking, tingling of skin Double vision Difficulty swallowing Sweating Abnormal flow of saliva
pit viper bites: what to look for
Severe burning pain Two small puncture wounds Swelling Discoloration Blood-filled blisters Nausea, vomiting, sweating, weakness
black widow spider bites: what to look for
Sharp pinprick sensation followed by dull, numbing pain Two small fang marks Severe abdominal pain Headache, chills, fever, heavy sweating, nausea, and vomiting
coral snakes
Small and colorful Series of bright red, yellow, and black bands around its body
For a puncture caused by a stingray, scorpion fish, stonefish, starfish, or catfish
Soak in hot water for 30 to 90 minutes. Remove pieces of debris with tweezers. Wash with soap and water. Flush with water under pressure. Treat the wound.
For jellyfish stings in North America and Hawaii
Soak in non-scalding hot water for 20 minutes. Xylocaine can be applied on the affected skin
wasps, hornets, and fire ants
Stingers do not embed in person. Can sting multiple times Most do not die after stinging.
brown recluse spider bites: what to do
Treat the bite the same as you would a black widow spider bite. If the wound becomes infected, apply antibiotic ointment under a sterile dressing. Seek medical care.
pit vipers
Triangular, flat heads Elliptical pupils A heat-sensitive pit
embedded ticks: what to do
Use tweezers or specialized tool. Grasp tick as close to skin as possible. Pull upward and way from skin
clenched-fist injury
Usually a laceration over the knuckles
tarantula bites: what to look for
Varies from mild to severe throbbing pain that lasts up to 1 hour
For a sting caused by jellyfish, Portuguese man-of-war, sea anemone, or fire coral
Wash tentacles off with ocean water. For Hawaiian box jellyfish and Portuguese man-of-wars, soak in vinegar for 30 seconds. Remove clinging tentacles quickly
most common area for human bites
hand
You should seek immediate medical attention for all bites EXCEPT: Human bites that break through the skin Domesticated animals/ family pet bites that break through the skin Human bites that do not break through the skin Any wild animal bite
human bites that do not break through the skin
The most dangerous single stings in nonallergic individuals
inside the throat
shark attacks: most frequently bitten part
leg
In developing countries, mosquitoes transmit
malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever
What are the signs of a venomous snake bite? Puncture wounds, nausea, and difficulty breathing Puncture wounds, venom leaking from wounds, and hot/dry skin Severe bleeding, swelling, and immediate loss of consciousness Loss of circulation and sensation to the affected limb
puncture wounds, nausea, and difficulty breathing
Which one of the following is the appropriate method to remove a tick that is embedded in the skin? Burn the tick with a match to kill it, then pull it out with a tweezer Remove the tick by grabbing the head with tweezers and pulling upward with steady pressure Drown the tick with running water and then scape it off the skin with a flat plastic card Apply petroleum jelly/vasaline over the tick and wait 24 hours for it to release its self from the skin
remove the tick by grabbing the head with tweezers and pulling upward with steady pressure
What is the appropriate care for a jellyfish sting? Rinse skin with ocean water Apply rubbing alcohol wash off tentacles Rinse with fresh water Apply a pressure bandage
rinse skin with ocean water
Stings to the mouth or eye
tend to be more dangerous
For a bite that has broken the skin
Apply direct pressure over wound and for shallow wound wash with soap and running water, flush inside of wound with clean running water, and cover with antibiotic ointment and a dressing
tarantula
Bite only when provoked or roughly handled When upset, scratches abdomen and flicks hairs onto a person
life-threatening reactions to insect stings
Blue/gray skin color Seizures Unresponsiveness Inability to breathe
animal bite: what to look for
-Puncture wound -Crushed tissue and skin -Open wound on fingers, knuckles, and/or hand
Two concerns result from an animal bite
-immediate tissue damage -infection
Symptoms of a coral snakebite will appear within ________ of the bite.
1-5 hours
Most shark attacks occur within ____ feet of shore.
100
number of people that die from snake bites each year
100,000
mosquito bites: what to do
Wash with soap and water. Apply an ice pack. Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream.
for a completely removed tick
Wash with soap and water. Apply an ice pack. Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. Place tick in bag and bring to a physician. If a rash, fever, or flulike symptoms occur, seek medical care.
In the US, mosquitoes carry
West Nile, Zika, and equine encephalitis viruses
For a bite that did not break the skin
apply ice pack for 20 minutes
most spiders
are venomous
You have just been bitten by a black widow spider. What should you do? Apply a topical antibiotic ointment and monitor circulation Suck the venom out of the bite and apply ice Clean the bite area with soap and water, apply ice, and monitor breathing and development of swelling Control circulation of the venom by applying a touniquet
clean the bite area with soap and water, apply ice, and monitor breathing and development of swelling
Immediate care for deep puncture wounds caused by a dog bite should include: Control bleeding and seek immediate medical attention Apply antibiotic ointment and wrap with a dressing Rinse with warm water and leave open to dry Control bleeding and apply ice for up to 20 minutes
control bleeding and seek immediate medical attention
America's most venomous snake
coral snake
responsible for most animal bite injuries
dogs
Apply an ice or cold pack over a snake bite.
false
Care for stings from marine animals (for example, jellyfish) by pouring hydrogen peroxide on the affected area.
false
Covering an embedded tick with petroleum jelly causes the tick to back out because of the lack of oxygen.
false
You should seek medical attention for all bites caused by dogs that break through the skin? True False
false
Apply an ice or cold pack over an insect sting or a suspected spider bite.
true
If a person has ingested a poison, you should position them lying down on their left side True False
true
Remove a bee's stinger by using tweezers to pull it out.
true
Severe abdominal pain is a sign of a black widow spider bite.
true
You should seek medical attention for all spider bites True False
true
cause of rabies
virus found in warm-blooded animals