Bites & Stings

Bites & Stings

Questions to Ask

Are any of these problems present?

• Signs of a severe allergic reaction. {Note: Before emergency care, use emergency kit as directed.}

• The bite severely mangled the skin and/or causes severe bleeding. {Note: See First Aid For Severe Bleeding.}

Was the bite from an animal that lives in the wild or a pet that has not been immunized against rabies?

Was the bite or sting from a poisonous snake, spider, etc. or do any of these problems occur?

• Fainting. Feeling lightheaded.

• Confusion.

• Seizures.

• Feeling restless or dizzy.

• Breathing problems.

• Painful cramps and muscle stiffness in the abdomen, shoulders, chest, and/or back.

• Fever. Chills. Heavy sweating.

• Nausea. Vomiting.

(Note: Give first aid as needed.)

Was the bite over a joint and does it cause painful movement?

Do you have a fever, pus, or increased swelling and/or redness 24 or more hours after the animal bite?

Self-Care / First Aid

For Poisonous Snake Bites Before Medical Care

Carefully move the person away from the snake. Calm the person. Have him or her rest. Moving about can help spread the venom.
Gently wash the bite area with soap and water. Keep the limb of the bite site level with the heart (or just below this). Apply a splint to the limb of the bite site to keep it from moving.
Being careful, note, if you can, the shape of the snakes eyes, pupils, and head, the colors it is, and if it has rattles.
Don’t try to kill the snake, cut the fang mark, or suck out the venom.
Don’t apply a tourniquet, a bandage, or ice to the bite.

For Non-Poisonous Snake Bites

For Poisonous Spider and Scorpion Bites Before Medical Care

For Poisonous Spider Bites Until Emergency Care Arrives

For Human Bites Before Medical Care

Wash the wound area with soap and water for at least 5 minutes. Don’t scrub hard. Rinse with running water or with an antiseptic solution, such as Betadine.
Cover the wound area with sterile gauze. Tape only the ends of the gauze in place. Then get medical care.

For Deer Tick Bites

Remove any ticks found on the skin. Use tweezers to grasp the tick(s) as close to the skin as you can. Pull gently and carefully in a steady upward motion at the point where the tick’s mouthpart enters the skin. Try not to crush the tick. The secretions released may spread disease.
After you remove the ticks, wash the wound area and your hands with soap and water.
Save one tick in a closed jar with rubbing alcohol to show the doctor.

For Dog and Cat Bites

Wash the bite area right away with soap and warm water for 5 minutes. If the bite is deep, flush the wound with water for 10 minutes. Dry the wound with a clean towel. Then get medical care.
If the wound is swollen, apply ice wrapped in a towel for 10 minutes.
A tetanus shot is needed if tetanus immunizations are not up-to-date.
If the bite hurts, take an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for pain.
Report the incident to the animal control department.
If a pet’s immunizations are not current, arrange with the animal control department for the pet to be observed for the next 10 days to be sure it does not develop rabies.
Observe the wound for a few days. Look for signs of infection. Often, cat bite wounds need an antibiotic.

For a Stingray Bite

Remove the person from the water.
Apply a local pressure bandage for a wound that bleeds a lot.
Immerse the wound area in hot water for 30 to 90 minutes. Make sure the water is not hot enough to burn the skin.
Scrub the wound area well with soap and water.
Unless the wound is a slight one in only one limb, get medical help right away.

For Stings from Jellyfish or Sea Nettles, etc.

Remove the person from the water. Don’t touch the sting area with bare hands.
Rinse the sting area with salt (not fresh) water right away. Don’t put ice on the skin. If you can, put vinegar or rubbing alcohol on the area several times for 30 or more minutes until the pain is relieved.
Apply dry or moist heat to the sting area until the pain subsides. You can mix one part ammonia with 3 parts salt water and apply this to the sting area.
Wear gloves when you remove stingers. Use a towel to wipe the stingers or the tentacles off. Use tweezers to lift large tentacles. Don’t scrape or rub them.
To relieve itching, apply OTC calamine lotion or 1% hydrocortisone cream to the affected area as directed on the label.
Contact your doctor for any signs of infection.