Bees, Bugs And Bites

Bees, insects, spiders, and scorpions are capable of causing very painful reactions.

Bug bites are dangerous because of the possibility of anaphylaxis. Spider bites and scorpion stings can be more worrisome. The reality, however, is that most bites are from unidentified bugs.

1. Stay Safe! If there was a stinger , remove the stinger first. Apply an ice pack to the site of the sting. Alternate on and off to prevent tissue damage – usually 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.
2. If the victim exhibits any of the following, consider the possibility of anaphylaxis
   • itching
   • swelling (other than the site of the sting)
   • shortness of breath
   • heart palpitations
   • chest pain
   • weakness
   • dizziness
   • hives or redness
3. If the victim has any involuntary muscle movements, call 911 immediately.
4. Try to identify the bug. If the bug is dead, scoop it up and take it with you to the emergency department. Be careful, even dead bugs have venom.
5. Bark scorpion stings can cause numbness and tingling in the tissue around the bite. If the site is tingling or burning, see a doctor.

TIPS

1. Spiders like damp, dark areas the best. Be aware around wood piles, attics, and cellars.
2. The two common North American poisonous spiders are the black widow and the brown recluse..
3. Scorpions are undeniably ugly but rarely fatal pests. Arizona, New Mexico, some of Nevada and Utah, and the California side of the Colorado River are known for the bark scorpion, a particularly nasty critter.
4. Scorpions come out at night, so take care to check bedding before snuggling in. Scorpions are also notorious stowaways; inspect baggage before and after heading home.

By Rod Brouhard
about.com

Bee stings are either annoyingly painful or deadly, depending on if the victim is allergic to the venom.The best way to reduce any reaction to bee venom is to remove the bee stinger as quickly as possible. If a bee sting victim has had any allergic reactions to bee stings in the past, consider the possibility of anaphylaxis.

• How to remove a stinger Safety First!. Get away from the bee. Bees release a scent when in danger to attract other bees. If you’re still around when reinforcements get there, they’ll sting you.
  

  See how to remove a stinger. They are speaking in French, but you get the idea.

• Remove any stingers immediately! No need to scrape off bee stingers, just remove them. It’s OK to pull stingers out with your fingers. The longer bee stingers are allowed to remain in the body, the more severe the reaction will be.
• If the victim is allergic to bees, check to see if the victim is carrying an epinephrine auto injector (EpiPen). If so, help the victim use the EpiPen. If the victim is supposed to carry an EpiPen and does not have it, Call 911immediately! Do not wait for symptoms to appear.

Watch any victim closely for signs of anaphylaxis.

• itching
• redness
• hives
• shortness of breath

• If there is any concern that the victim may be developing anaphylaxis, call 911 immediately. Antihistamines, such as (Benedryl), can slow an anaphylactic reaction, but will not stop it.
• Non-allergic victims will almost always develop local reactions to bee stings. Redness, swelling, and pain are all common at the site of the bee sting. The pain will usually go away pretty quickly, but swelling may last for more than a day. Use an ice pack to reduce swelling at the site. It’s common to develop some itching at the bee sting site. Antihistamines or calamine lotion should help.
• Take the victim to the emergency department if the victim was stung more than 10 times, or if there are bee stings inside the nose, mouth, or throat. Swelling from these stings can cause shortness of breath, even in non-allergic victims.

TIPS

• Conventional wisdom says to scrape bee stingers away from the skin because pinching the venom sack could push extra venom into the victim. In fact, how fast you get the stinger out is much more important than how.
• Honey bees leave a stinger behind when they sting a victim. Wasps, yellow jackets, and hornets do not leave a stinger. These relatives of the honey bee can also cause an anaphylactic reaction.

By Rod Brouhard
about.com