Bites and Stings

It's nearly impossible to spend time in the out-of-doors without suffering a few bites and stings. Most are not dangerous, but some venomous creatures are a real threat to comfort and safety. Rabies is a significant problem in wooded areas these days. There are 3 areas that are discussed here; Snakes, Insects and Animals.

The poisonous snakes of North America are pit vipers and coral snakes. Pit vipers, including rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths, have triangular-shaped heads with pits on each side in front of their eyes. Coral snakes have black noses and are marked with read and yellow bands side by side, separated by bands of black. Coral snakes inject a powerful venom that works on the nervous system of the victim, while pit vipers venom affects the circulatory system.

Signs of a pit viper bite.

1. Puncture marks
2. Pain (perhaps extreme)
3. Swelling (possibly severe)
4. Skin discoloration
5. Nausea and vomiting
6. Shallow breathing
7. Blurred vision
8. Shock

The symptoms of a coral snake bite include

1. Sleepiness
2. Nausea
3. Shortness of Breath
4. Convulsions
5. Shock
6. Coma

First aid for the note of a nonpoisonous snake is the same as for a puncture wound. First aid for a venomous snakebite, however, requires special care. You must calm the victim, slow the spread of the venom, treat for shock, maintain respiration, and quickly obtain the care of a physician who can give snakebite ant-venom. Follow these steps.

1. Make the victim lie down and be still. Movement spreads the poison through the body faster. Keep the part that was bitten lower than the rest of the body.
2. Remove any rings, watches, and bracelets that the victim might be wearing -- a precaution in case of swelling.
3. Put a broad, constricting band (1 1-inch-wide) or more strip of cloth, belt or neckerchief) around the arm or leg, 2-4 inches above the bite (between the bite and the heart), to slow the spread of venom. This is a constriction band, NOT a tourniquet; though snug, it should be loose enough for a finger to be slipped under it with little difficulty. Do not use a contriction band around fingers, toes, the head, neck, or trunk.
4. Treat for shock.
5. Do not give alcohol, sedatives, or aspirin. Do not apply ice or cold packs.
6. Obtain medical help as soon as possible. Get the victim to a hospital, avoiding unnecessary physical activity in route. Tell the doctor the kind of snake, if known.

Almost all snakebites occur on the limbs. Gloves and boots or high leather shoes will protect the most vulnerable areas from bites. The best rule is to never put your feet or hands where you cannot see. Don't reach over blide hedges or poke around in crevices, hollow logs, or woodpiles.

The bites of mosquitoes, chiggers, and no-see-ums are irritating but not usually dangerous. More trouble are ticks, which bury their heads beneath the skin. Particularly painful and sometimes dangerous are the sting of bees, wasps, hornets, and some ants.

The recommended way to remove a tick is to grab the tick as close to the victim's skin as possible. Use tweezers or gloved fingertips. Pull upwards until the tick detaches. Do not squeeze, twist or jerk the tick out, as you may break off the mouth parts and inject yourself with infected fluids. Once the tick has been removed, the site can be disinfected with rubbing alcohol. As a precautionary measure, save the tick in a jar of alcohol for later identification.

If stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet, remove the stinger by scraping it out with a knife blade. Avoid squeezing it with tweezers or fingernails; this forces more poison into the skin. Use a paste of baking soda and water or household meat tenderizer and water to ease the pain.

Some people have severe allergic reactions to insect stings. They should carry a special treatment kit prescribed by a physician. Before hikes and other outdoor activities, they should explain to their companions the nature of the allergy, how it is to be treated, and where to find the treatment kit in an emergency.

To give first aid to someone suffering a severe allergic reaction:

1. If the bite or sting is on an arm or a leg, tie a constricting band above the wound (between the heart and the bite). It should be just tight enough to stop the blood in the skin. You should be able to put a finger under it.
2. Put ice water or ice in a cloth on the wound.
3. Keep the arm or leg that was bitten lower than the rest of the body.
4. Make sure the victim continues to breathe. Give rescue breathing if needed.
5. Get the person medical care quickly

The bite of a warm-blooded animal is not an ordinary puncture wound. The animal might suffer from rabies, a disease that can be carried by all warm-blooded animals but especially by dogs, skunks, raccoons, foxes, and bats. Rabies is a fatal illness if not prevented.

An unprovoked attack could be a sign that the animal is rabid. Report all animal bites to your local public health authorities or police. Do not kill the animal unless necessary. Suspicious animals may be confined and observed, or killed so that their brains can be tested for rabies.

If the skin is broken, consider the wound to be a bite. The danger of infection is just as real whatever the size of the injury. Follow these steps:

1. Wash the bite thoroughly with soap and water. Flush the bitten area with clear water for a full 5 minutes to remove saliva and other contamination.
2. Control Bleeding.
3. Cover the bite with a sterile or clean dressing.
4. If the bite is that of a pet dog or cat, get the name and address of the owner. If bitten by a wild animal, carefully capture it for rabies observation; kill it if you have to.
5. The victim MUST see a physician, who can determine whether to ive rabies shots.

Avoid contact with any animal that appears to be sick or is acting strangely. Do not pet strange dogs or cats. Check with your local health department about the presence of rabies in your area.