Bites and Stings []
General care of bug bites and insect stings:[]
- • Immediately wash the bite or sting with soap and water if available, or use antiseptic wipes if soap and water are not available.
- • Put an ice pack on the affected area with a cloth barrier between the ice and skin. If treating a bee sting, remove the stinger first (see below).
- • Never attempt to suck out any venom or poison with your mouth! • Never apply a tourniquet.
- • Do not use folk remedies or unproven treatments to care for the casualty.
- • Do not give the casualty caffeinated drinks, alcohol, or aspirin.
Bee Stings[]
- • Remove the stinger carefully using a scraping motion. Use a credit card, finger nail or other dull edge to take out the stinger without squeezing the venom sac.
- • Do not use tweezers to remove the stinger. Tweezers could squeeze the venom from the sac into the skin.
- • If the casualty has difficulty breathing and/or swelling of lips, face or neck area, call 9-1-1 or activate EMS immediately! If the casualty has an EPI-pen, help them self-administer the injection (if trained to do this - certification is required to even assist using an epipen in some areas, so if unsure, you may just prepare and hand to victim,)
Spider Bites[]
Most spider bites are not harmful and few of those which are harmful are truly dangerous or life-threatening to humans. In North America, the Black Widow (characterized by a black, shiny body with a red hour glass figure on its underside) and Brown Recluse (characterized by a dark brown, violin-shaped marking on the top portion of its body) spiders can be dangerous and may be deadly to some humans. These bites will most likely require medical attention.
- • Keep the casualty calm and immobilize the bitten area. Keep the bitten area lower than the heart.
- • Wash the bite with soap and running water.
- • Seek medical attention if the bite is thought to have come from a Black Widow or Brown Recluse. Call 9-1-1 immediately if the casualty has trouble breathing, severe pain, muscle cramps, vomiting or loses consciousness.
More coming on Animal Bites & Stings - including Snake bites, Dog Bites, Jellyfish & Stingray injuries...
From CDC & WHO:
Helpful Insect Sting Repellent & Relief Products:
- Insect Sting Relief - Pads, Sprays, bute sticks and wipes
- Insect Repellant - Wasp Spray, DEET & Non-DEET + Natural