Basic First Aid

[OphidianDelight]

I have been reading through the bite and sting reports and am amazed at the variety of different methods people have used to treat their wounds--hot water, ice, antibiotics, painkillers, etc. In general, for non-hot species of scorpion and tarantulas, the following steps, amalgamated from advice from the Mayo Clinic and the Dept. of the Army's First Aid for Soldier's, may help reduce some pain and give you less grief in case you get tagged. These tips are meant to aid with Tarantula and non-hot scorpions--I'm sure everyone has the common sense to seek medical aid for hots and serious true spider bites like Loxosceles sp./Latrodectus sp.

1--Ice it. Heating the wound with hot water raises your circulation and takes the venom further from the incident site. Ice constricts blood vessels and reduces the likelihood of symptoms spreading. Furthermore, ice reduces the swelling. Remove jewelry on or near the affected area, as well.

2--The following agents will reduce pain and itching--Benadryl, Tagamet, baking soda, calamine lotion and meat tenderizer. Antivenom is very rare especially if you are keeping non-native species (hot-snake keepers can attest to this medical frustration).

3--Stay calm and relax. The more you keep your pulse down, the slower the venom will circulate and cause further problems.

Personally, I am a big believer in taking a Tagamet, a Benadryl and waiting it out. I'm very interested to hear other methods users have tried that they found effective. Hope this helped.

Sources: http://www.medtrng.com/Fm21_11/fm211_6.htm#REF74h2
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-spider-bites/FA00048

 

[dianedfisher]

That's a sensible list. I'd mention elevating the point of the bite, if the bite is in an area that makes that possible. Fortunately, with taratula bites, that is usually the hand or finger and makes elevation posible. It is also why I feel people who allow tarantulas near their face and tongue are not using common sense. I'm curious about the Tagamet? Why, and what clinically does it do? I keep it here, but I've not thought of using it if I got tagged.
Diane

 

[OphidianDelight]

Tagamet is an H2 blocker, which is a different type of histamine blocker than Benadryl. It can be used as a buffer to help augment the Benadryl.

 

[dianedfisher]

Tagamet is an H2 blocker, which is a different type of histamine blocker than Benadryl. It can be used as a buffer to help augment the Benadryl.

Thanks for the reply.
Diane

 

[Quazgar]

I have been reading through the bite and sting reports and am amazed at the variety of different methods people have used to treat their wounds--hot water, ice, antibiotics, painkillers, etc.

Good list. I noticed you did not include it on your list, but I would like to point out that taking antibiotics would do nothing to help a bite. Antibiotics by definition are used to kill bacteria, which is not really what your worried about when you get tagged. I guess there might be a small risk of some outside bacteria traveling on the fang into you but highly doubt there would be enough to call any sort of problem. It won't do anything for the venom.

 

[dianedfisher]

Good list. I noticed you did not include it on your list, but I would like to point out that taking antibiotics would do nothing to help a bite. Antibiotics by definition are used to kill bacteria, which is not really what your worried about when you get tagged. I guess there might be a small risk of some outside bacteria traveling on the fang into you but highly doubt there would be enough to call any sort of problem. It won't do anything for the venom.

There's an interesting thread on the ATS forum right now about the introduction of bacteria during a bite. Secondary infection due to puncture wounds is always a possibility and while I wouldn't start antibiotic therapy without evidence of an infection, I would begin them immediately if any signs of infection developed. http://atshq.org/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=27439
Diane

 

[compnerd7]

3--Stay calm and relax. The more you keep your pulse down, the slower the venom will circulate and cause further problems.

Personally, I am a big believer in taking a Tagamet, a Benadryl and waiting it out. I'm very interested to hear other methods users have tried that they found effective. Hope this helped.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-spider-bites/FA00048

These methods you suggest are also what I use. I also suggest lots of alcohol for non hot species. 6.5% - 46% will suffice.

On the other hand, I have A brother who is a Doctor, graduated from Stanford University. He is somewhat of a " naturalist " and studies and lives in the wild. If I get tagged i'll give him a text ( or call if im worried ) about what kind of action I should take if tagged. SO i'm somewhat spoiled in this region. But what I said in the previous paragraph is true in many regards. Waiting out many bites and stings proves beatifically in the end because you develop antibodies. In essence, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. BUT this is not true in case you have an allergic reaction to a certain toxin, so knowing your own constitution and resistances is considered in seeking medical attention.

 

[OphidianDelight]

There's an interesting thread on the ATS forum right now about the introduction of bacteria during a bite. Secondary infection due to puncture wounds is always a possibility and while I wouldn't start antibiotic therapy without evidence of an infection, I would begin them immediately if any signs of infection developed. http://atshq.org/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=27439
Diane

I started this thread partly to help folks treat themselves better when these things happen. From what I read, the person who took antibiotics (and I'm not naming anyone to avoid stepping on toes), took them on his own without them being prescribed by a doctor as a remedy for the venom. I read another report where a person went to the ER and received a tetanus shot and then added lockjaw as a symptom of the venom a day afterwards when the lockjaw could easily have been a side-effect of the tetanus shot (it happens).