Bites & Stings

General care of bug bites and insect stings:

 * • Immediately wash the bite or sting with soap and water if available, or use antiseptic wipes if soap and water are not available.


 * • Put an ice pack on the affected area with a cloth barrier between the ice and skin. If treating a bee sting, remove the stinger first (see below).


 * • Never attempt to suck out any venom or poison with your mouth! • Never apply a tourniquet.


 * • Do not use folk remedies or unproven treatments to care for the casualty.


 * • Do not give the casualty caffeinated drinks, alcohol, or aspirin.

Bee Stings

 * • Remove the stinger carefully using a scraping motion. Use a credit card, finger nail or other dull edge to take out the stinger without squeezing the venom sac.


 * • Do not use tweezers to remove the stinger. Tweezers could squeeze the venom from the sac into the skin.


 * • If the casualty has difficulty breathing and/or swelling of lips, face or neck area, call 9-1-1 or activate EMS immediately! If the casualty has an EPI-pen, help them self-administer the injection (if trained to do this - certification is required to even assist using an epipen in some areas, so if unsure, you may just prepare and hand to victim,)

Spider Bites
Most spider bites are not harmful and few of those which are harmful are truly dangerous or life-threatening to humans. In North America, the Black Widow (characterized by a black, shiny body with a red hour glass figure on its underside) and Brown Recluse (characterized by a dark brown, violin-shaped marking on the top portion of its body) spiders can be dangerous and may be deadly to some humans. These bites will most likely require medical attention.


 * • Keep the casualty calm and immobilize the bitten area. Keep the bitten area lower than the heart.


 * • Wash the bite with soap and running water.


 * • Seek medical attention if the bite is thought to have come from a Black Widow or Brown Recluse. Call 9-1-1 immediately if the casualty has trouble breathing, severe pain, muscle cramps, vomiting or loses consciousness.

More coming on Animal Bites & Stings - including Snake bites, Dog Bites, Jellyfish & Stingray injuries...

From CDC & WHO:


 * Information on Dengue & Yellow Fever / Danger from Mosquitoes

Helpful Insect Sting Repellent & Relief Products:


 * Insect Sting Relief - Pads, Sprays, bute sticks and wipes


 * Insect Repellant - Wasp Spray, DEET & Non-DEET + Natural