Ch. 23-Bites and Stings
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Most poisonous snakes have the
following characteristics:
Large fangs
Vertical slits for pupils, much like those of a cat
A heat-sensitive pit between the eye and the nostril
on each side of the head
A variety of differently shaped blotches on a
background of pink, yellow, olive, tan, gray, or
brown skin
The triangular head is larger than the neck
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Severity of Snakebite
The location of the bite (fatty tissue absorbs the
venom more slowly than muscle tissue)
Whether disease-causing organisms are in the
venom
The size and weight of the victim
The general health and condition of the victim
How much physical activity the victim engaged in
immediately following the bite (physical activity
helps spread venom)
4
Signs and Symptoms of Snakebite
Two distinct fang marks about half an inch apart at the bite
site, which may or may not bleed (in some cases there may
be only one fang mark)
Immediate and severe burning pain and swelling around the
fang marks, usually within 5 minutes but sometimes taking
as long as 4 hours to develop (swelling may affect the
entire arm or leg)
Purplish discoloration and blood-filled blisters around the
bite, usually within 2 to 10 hours
Numbness around the bite
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Vocabulary
Coral snake- A type of poisonous snake that does not
have a pit or fangs
Elliptical pupils- Pupils that are vertical slits, like those of
a cat
Pit viper- A type of poisonous snake, such as a
rattlesnake, characterized by a pit between the eyes and
nostril
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PROGRESS CHECK
1. Most poisonous snakes have ____________. (large fangs/small, irregular
fangs/rows of small teeth)
2. The pupils of most poisonous snakes are ____________.
(round/elliptical/oval)
3. Pit vipers are so named because of a pit between the ____________.
(eyes/eye and nostril)
4. The poisonous snake that does not share typical characteristics of
poisonous snakes is the ____________.
(copperhead/water moccasin/coral snake)
5. Pain from a pit viper bite is ____________. (sharp/burning/dull)
6. Pain from a coral snake bite is usually __________. (absent/sharp/dull)
7. Signs and symptoms of pit viper bites are generally ____________.
(immediate/slightly delayed/delayed by as many as 8 hours)
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Insect Bites and Stings
Signs and Symptoms include:
A mark from the bite or sting
Pain or tenderness at and surrounding the bite or sting
Redness at and surrounding the bite or sting
Swelling around the bite or sting
A venom sac, stinger, tentacle, or other remnant of the insect at
the bite or sting
Medical help is necessary if:
Itching lasts longer than 2 days.
Signs of infection develop.
Signs of an allergic reaction develop.
The insect is poisonous, most often black widow or
brown recluse spiders (which can be fatal).
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Black widow spider bites cause:
Sharp pinprick pain at the site, followed by dull pain in the
area of the bite (pain peaks in 2 to 3 hours and lasts 12 to
48 hours)
Small red fang marks
Severe muscle spasms and rigidity, especially in the
shoulders, back, chest, and abdomen, starting within 1 to 4
hours of the bite
Fever and chills
Profuse sweating
Headache and dizziness
Restlessness
Anxiety
Nausea and vomiting
Weakness
Drooping eyelids 9
Vocabulary
Black widow spider- A poisonous spider identified by a
red mark shaped like an hourglass on its underside
Brown recluse spider- A brown poisonous spider
identified by a violin-shaped mark on its back; brown
recluse spider bites do not heal and require surgical grafting
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Scorpion
Fire Ants
Ticks
Centipedes
Insect Stings
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Anaphylactic Shock
Nausea and vomiting
Itching of the throat
Faintness
Dizziness
Generalized itching
Hives
Redness of the skin
Generalized swelling, including the eyelids, lips, and tongue
Upper airway obstruction
Difficulty swallowing
Shortness of breath, wheezing, or stridor
Drippy nose
Labored breathing
Abdominal cramps
Confusion
Loss of consciousness
Convulsions
Low blood pressure
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PROGRESS CHECK
1. In addition to general signs of insect bite, a sign of black widow bite is
____________. (cramps/ulcerated skin/fluid-filled blisters)
2. A brown recluse spider bite is especially serious because it
____________.
(causes neurological damage/does not heal/goes unnoticed)
3. Fire ants sting in a characteristic ____________ pattern.
(circular/parallel/random)
4. Ticks can cause a serious problem because they carry ____________.
(meningitis/encephalitis/Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
5. Anaphylactic shock is a severe ____________ that can cause death
within a few minutes. (sting/allergic reaction/venom)
6. ____________ leave the stinger behind, so they can sting only once.
(Wasps/Hornets/Bees)
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PROGRESS CHECK
1. Poisonous forms of marine life are found in ____________
waters. (temperate/tropical/all)
2. The venom of marine animals causes ________ tissue
damage than that of poisonous land animals.
(less extensive/more extensive/more varied)
3. The venom of marine animals is destroyed by
____________. (cold/heat/antiseptics)
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First Aid for Bites and Stings
1. If the stinger is still present, remove it by gently scraping against it with
the edge of a credit card, the edge of a knife, or your fingernail.
2. Wash the area around the bite or sting gently with a soap solution
3. Remove any jewelry or other constricting objects as soon as possible—
ideally, before any swelling begins.
4. Lower the site of the bite or sting slightly below the level of the victim’s
heart.
5. Apply a cold compress to the site of an insect bite or scorpion sting to
relieve pain and swelling
6. Apply a paste of baking soda and water to relieve the pain of bee sting
7. Observe the victim carefully for at least 30 minutes to determine
whether he or she is developing the signs and symptoms of an allergic
reaction
8. Keep the victim calm, limit physical activity, and keep the victim
warm; arrange for transport as soon as possible
9. Help a victim who carries an insect sting kit to use the
kit as he/she has been instructed to do
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First Aid Care for Snakebite
Regardless of the type of snakebite,
never
Cut the skin, which can cause infection
Use suction of any kind
Use a tourniquet, which can result in loss of
a limb
Apply ice, which causes more rapid
absorption of the venom
Use electric shock, which can cause severe
injury
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First Aid Care for Snakebite
Instead, do the following:
1. Treat a nonpoisonous snakebite as you would any minor wound; clean with soap and
water, cover with a dry sterile dressing, and seek medical advice.
2. For pit viper bite, move the victim away from the snake (they will bite more than
once, and can strike half their body length). Keep the victim calm and quiet; if
possible, the victim should not walk. Clean the bite with soap and water, then splint
the affected extremity. Seek medical attention immediately; antivenim is available
only in hospitals (partly because of its short shelf life) and must be administered
within 4 hours.
3. For coral snake bite, gently wash the bite with soap and water and wrap the entire
extremity with several elastic bandages, exerting moderate pressure to slow the
spread of venom. Use overlapping turns to keep the pressure from the bandage
firm, beginning at the end of the limb farthest from the heart; gently stretch the
bandage as you wrap. Use figure-eight turns around the knee or elbow. When you
have finished, the bandage should be firm, but you should be able to slip your finger
under the bandage. Leave the toes or fingers exposed so you can check for any
kind of discoloration, which would indicate that the bandage is wrapped too
tightly; the victim should also stay alert for numbness or tingling in the
fingers or toes, which also indicate that the bandage is too tight.
Seek medical attention immediately: an effective antivenin is available.
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First Aid Care for Marine Life Poisoning
Activate the EMS system immediately if:
The victim does not know what stung him or her
The victim is having trouble breathing
The sting is on the face or neck
The victim has had allergic reactions to previous marine
animal stings
The victim is bleeding heavily
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Removing a Tick
1. Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close as
possible to the point where it is attached to the skin
2. Pull slowly, firmly, and steadily until the tick is
dislodged
3. Wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water
and apply an antiseptic or antibiotic ointment to the
area
4. Apply a cold pack or use Calamine lotion to relieve any
pain and swelling
5. Encourage the victim to report the tick
bite to a doctor
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PROGRESS CHECK
1. To remove a stinger, ____________ it. (squeeze/twist/scrape)
2. Apply ____________ to all bites except snakebite and those of
marine animals. (antiseptic/heat/cold)
3. Monitor the victim continuously for signs of ____________.
(anaphylactic shock/dyspnea/rapid pulse)
4. Pour ____________ on marine life stings to denature the toxin.
(rubbing alcohol/vinegar/hydrogen peroxide)
5. Remove the barbs of marine life unless they are embedded in
____________. (the chest/a joint/the abdomen)
6. When you remove a tick, be careful not to ____________ it.
(squeeze/break/twist)
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