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Bites and Stings
Most bites and stings usually
cause only minor swelling, redness, pain and itching that
lasts from a few hours to a few days. First aid is usually
all that is needed to relieve pain and itching from minor
reactions. However, the bites and stings from venomous snakes,
insects or marine animals can cause intense pain and swelling.
If not treated promptly and correctly, they can even cause
serious illness or death. Bites from humans and other animals,
such as dogs, cats, bats, raccoons, and rats, can cause severe
injury and infection, including tetanus and rabies. Some people
have severe allergic reactions to bites or stings that can
be life-threatening. All wounds, including those caused by
bites and stings, require the same general approach. control
bleeding, reduce pain and prevent infection. Occasionally,
the most important first aid measure is rapid transport to
comprehensive medical care. See the table on the following
pages for specific recommendations.
Source
Signs and Symptoms
First Aid
Venomous
Snake Bite (cottonmouth, rattlesnake) Snake Bite
Single or double fang marks.
Bleeding
Intense, burning pain and local swelling.
If untreated, swelling may involve the entire limb within
hours.
Whole body effects include nausea, vomiting, sweating, fever,
weakness, numbness, altered mental state and shock.
If bleeding, apply direct pressure
with a clean cloth or absorbent pad.
Remove jewelry and constrictive clothing.
Cover the bite with an adhesive bandage or a gauze pad.
Keep the injured part immobilized below heart level
Keep the victim warm, reassured and quiet.
Seek medical attention
Do not cut through snake bite wounds: apply suctioning, ice
or tourniquets. These are of no proven value and may be dangerous.
Severe reaction
Assess Alert and attend to the ABCs
Venomous Snake bite (Coral
Snake)
Pain and swelling may be minimal or
absent.
Abdominal pain (within hours of bite)
Whole body effects (may be delayed up to 6 hours) include:
nausea, vomiting, sweating, weakness, altered mental state,
rapid heartbeat, drooling, difficulty breathing and/or stoppage
of breathing.
Remove rings, watches and constrictive
clothing.
Apply a pressure bandage around the entire length of the bitten
extremity to slow the spread of venom.
A pressure bandage should be snug but not so tight that the
first aid provider cannot slip a finger under it.
Keep the injured part immobilized below heart level.
Keep the victim warm, reassured, and quiet.
Seek medical attention
Severe reaction
Assess, Alert, and Attend to the ABCs.
Venomous Spider bite, (widow, brown
or violin spiders)
Bite site tender, swollen, painful itch, red.
Puncture marks, bleeding
Heat over affected area.
Whole body effects include:
1. Cramping pain and muscular rigidity in stomach, or shoulders,
back and chest.
2. Fever, chills, rach, anxiety/weakness, nausea/vomiting.
3. Rash/allergic reaction/difficulty breathing.
Remove rings, watches and constrictive
clothing.
Wash with clean, running tap water for several minutes.
Cover the area with an adhesive bandage or gauze pad.
Apply ice to the injury to reduce pain, and swelling. To prevent
cold injury, place a thin towel or cloth between the cold
source and the skin. Limit an application to 20 minutes or
less.
Keep the victim warm, reassured and quiet.
Seek medical attention.
Severe
reaction:
Assess, Alert, and Attend to the ABC’s.
Bees Wasps, fire ants
Minor reaction
Bite size pain, redness, swelling, itching.
Moderate reaction
Bite size reaction expands slowly to more than 4 inches.
(10 centimeters) across.
Severe Reaction
Whole body effects.
Alergic reaction-can be fatal.
Hives ( raised itch bumps on skin).
Itching all over body.
Swelling of mouth or throat or both
Shortness of breath / difficulty breathing
Nausea / vomiting
Chest pain / palpitations.
Anxiety / weakness / fainting
Minor reaction
If present, remove the stinger as quickly as possible.
Remove jewelry and constrictive clothing.
Wash with clean, running tap water for several minutes.
Cover the area with an adhesive bandage or gauze pad.
Apply ice to the injury to reduce pain and swelling. To prevent
cold injury, place a thin towel or cloth between the cold
source and the skin. Limit an application to 20 minutes or
less.
Consider use of over-the-counter anti-itch medications such
as calamine lotion or Benadryl.
Moderate
Reaction
Seek medical attention.
Severe reaction.
Assess, Alert, and Attend to the
ABCs.
If the victim has a history or hypersensitivity and carries
a lifesaving epinephrine auto-injector prescrived by a physician,
help them use it. If the victim is unable, the first aid provider
should administer it.
Ticks
Minor Reaction
Bite site redness, itching burning
Severe Reaction
Whole body effect (days to weeks after)
Fever/Headache.
Confusion
Anxiety/weakness
Fainting
Nausea/vomiting
Difficulty breathing
Chest pain/palpitations
Minor reaction-To remove a tick
Grasp it close to the skin with tweezers
(or use a commercially available tick removal tool).
If tweezers or a tool is not available, use your fingers protected
by gloves.
Pull straight up with a steady, slow motion
If bleeding, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or an
absorbent pad.
Wash with clean, running tap water for about 5 minutes or
until there appears to be no foreign matter in the wound.
Apply triple antibiotic lotion or cream.
Cover the area with an adhesive bandage or a gauze pad.
Change the dressing frequently.
If portions of the tick remain embedded in the skin, or symptoms
of severe reaction develop, seek medical attention.
Do not use fingernail polish, petroleum
jelly, a glowing hot match or alcohol to remove a tick.
Do not jerk, crush, or squeeze or puncture the tick. These
are of no proven value and may cause additional injury.
Fire Coral, Sea Anemones, Jellyfishes
Minor Reaction
Sting site painful, raised, red, itchy rash.
Severe Reaction
Whole body effects
Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing.
Nausea/vomiting.
Anxiety/weakness/fainting.
Chest pain/palpitations
Minor reaction
Carefully wipe off stingers or tentacles with a towel or remove
with gloves
Remove jewelry and constrictive clothing. Apply household
vinegar to decrease symptoms.
Consider use of over-the-counter pain medications such as
Tylenol and anti-itch medications such as calamine lotion
or Benadryl
Severe Reaction
Assess, Alert, and Attend to the
ABCs
Stingray
Sting
Minor reaction
Sting site very painful
Minor bleeding
Swelling
Blue, then red tissue color
Minor reaction
If bleeding, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or an
absorbent pad.
Remove any Jewelry and constrictive clothing
Placing the injured area in water as hot as the victim can
tolerate for 30-90 minutes can dramatically relieve pain.
Seek medical attention
Severe Reaction
Whole body effects.
Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
Headache/nausea/vomiting
Anxiety/weakness/fainting
Chest pain/palpitations
Muscle cramps, pain, paralysis
Seizure.
Severe Reaction
Assess, Alert, and Attend to the
ABCs.
Human or Animal Minor/moderate bite
Bite, bruise or break in skin.
Signs of infection
Increasing pain
Bite site, redness
Swelling, pus, warmth, red streaks, fever
Severe bite
A large amount of blood pumping, gushing or pouring from an
open wound.
Pain
Shock
Minor/Moderate
bite
If bleeding, apply direct pressure with a clean cloth or an
absorbent pad.
Wash with clean, running tap water for about 5 minutes.
Cover the area with an adhesive bandage or a gauze pad
Apply ice to the injury to reduce pain, bleeding and swelling.
To prevent a cold injury, place a thin towel or cloth between
the cold source and skin. Limit the application to 20 minutes
or less.
Seek medical attention.
Severe bite
Assess, Alert, and Attend to the
ABCs.
Control severe bleeding and care for shock.
Save any tissue parts that were bitten off. Treat as an amputation.
When caring for children
Millions of people are bitten by dogs
every year, producing serious injuries and even death. Children
who are younger than 10 years represent the high-risk group
for dog attacks. The majority of the dogs who attack children
are familiar to them. Teach children basic safety around dogs
and review it regularly.
When caring for older persons
Aging can make an older person more
vulnerable to the beginnings of infection. Always watch any
bite, sting or break in skin for signs of infection and especially
so in older persons.
Prevention
Respect and use caution around insects
and animals. Do not harass them.
Wear an effective insect repellent when outside.
Shuffle your feet while walking or wading in the ocean to
scare stingrays away.
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