Summer First Aid—
Bites, Stings & Other
Nasty Things
The Creepers, Crawlers and Flyers
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Bite/Sting Symptoms: Sharp, pinprick
sensation; moderate burning pain; one or
more bumps.
Sometimes the creatures leave stingers and
sometimes not.
The Flyers
Mosquitoes, Honeybees, Hornets, Yellow
Jackets, Bumblebees, Black Flies, Wasps,
Gnats, Midgets or No-see-ums.
 For mosquito bites—apply paste: 1 tsp baking
soda + 1 tsp water—reduces swelling and
soothe itching.
The Flyers
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Honeybee
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NEVER use a tweezers
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Scrape
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Cold compresses
The Flyers
If you receive multiple stings, this could lead to
anaphylactic shock or a toxic reaction
including:
 Vomiting, diarrhea, fever muscle spasm and
loss of consciousness.
 Prepare to treat anaphylactic shock with an
Epi-pen if available or call 911.
The Creepers
Ticks: American Dog Tick, Lone Star Tick, Rocky
Mountain Wood Tick.Symptoms:
 Flat red spots that blanch if pressed. They turn to
blood spots within 2 to 4 days.
 Some can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever—
spots appear on wrists and ankles, then palms of hands
and soles of feet before spreading farther.
 Or Lyme Disease—Fever, severe headaches and
general body pain appears within 3 days to 3 weeks
after bite
The Creepers
Fleas: 20 species—feed on blood of humans—carried
indoors by pets.
Symptoms:
 Cause excruciatingly itchy, tiny, pink bumps
clustered in groups.
 Treatment—ice or cool, damp compresses to soothe
the itching; cover bites with paste made with meat
tenderizer and a little water.
 May use OTC oral antihistamine, such as Benadryl,
apply an OTC hydrocortisone cream.
The Creepers
Chiggers: Inject an enzyme that dissolves skin
cells which they then suck up. Symptoms:
 Uncontrollable itching where clothing
frequently meets the skin; swelling, redness,
blisters and scabs.
 Treatment: Wash with soap and water, dab on
antiseptic to prevent infection, apply cold
compress to soothe itching and take an OTC
oral antihistamine.
The Crawlers
Brown Recluse Spider
 Leaves symptoms of intensely painful,
pimple-like bump surrounded by bumpy rash.
 Skin may turn bluish gray as rash fades.
 Feels like a bruise with one or two small
puncture marks in the center.
 Skin becomes red and swollen.
The Crawlers
Black Widow Spider
 Leaves a sharp stabbing pain followed by a
dull ache.
 Pain becomes extremely intense.
 Whole body discomfort may begin within 30
minutes.
 Look for a faint red halo surrounding
a tiny puncture wound.
The Crawlers
With both spider bites their venom is activated by heat.
Treatment:
 Reduce swelling and apply cold compresses for 2030 minutes.
 Elevate the affected area.
 Take aspirin or ibuprofen to relieve pain or swelling.
 See physician—the venom can cause extensive
tissue damage, kidney failure and coma in children.
 With the black widow spider, you may be given an
antivenin to counteract the poison as well as a
tetanus shot.
The Crawlers
Fire Ants
 Small, yellow, red or black ants living in anthills.
 Extremely aggressive and often attack in numbers.
Symptoms: sharp, stinging pain; swelling and redness
often arranged in a circle.
 Blisters form within 10-20 hours and clear up in
about 10 days—may leave scars.
 With multiple stings, some people develop fever and
malaise and may need immediate medical care.
 Treatment: cool compresses, paste of baking
soda mixed with water applied to area, aspirin
or ibuprofen to relieve pain and swelling.
Signs of Infection
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Area around wound swollen and red.
Area feels warm or throb with pain.
Discharge/pus
Fever
Red streak that progresses from wound in the
direction of the heart.
Shock/Internal Bleeding Signals
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Swollen, tender, bruised or hard areas of body
such as abdomen.
Rapid weak pulse.
Skin feels cool or moist and looks pale or
bluish.
Excessive thirst.
Victim becomes confused, faint, drowsy or
unconscious.
Care for Shock
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Have victim lie down.
Control any external bleeding.
Help maintain normal body temperature.
Elevate legs about 12 inches unless you
suspect head, neck, or back injuries, possible
broken bones to hips or legs.
Do not give them water
 Call 911
Knocked Out Teeth
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Most can be replanted if you act quickly and
tooth is cared for properly.
Pick up tooth by chewing edge; not the root—
do not rub or handle the root.
If you can put tooth back into its socket, do
so. If not, preserve the tooth by placing it in a
closed container of cool, fresh milk if
available or water and take to dentist.
Burns
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Stop the burning by cooling it in running water for
several minutes
Apply a loose, dry, clean dressing to prevent infection.
Do NOT put ointments on serious burns! They seal in
heat and do little to relieve pain.
Do NOT break blisters! They help prevent infection.
Take to physician if serious.
If minor burn that doesn’t need medical care—wash
with soap and water, keep it clean, may apply
antibiotic ointment, watch for signs of infection.
Radiation Burn
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Sunburn can cause painful burns that may blister.
Reduce your exposure.
Avoid sun exposure between 10am—2pm.
Wear protective clothing.
Protect your skin with sunscreens with a SPF
minimum of 15—apply 15-30 minutes before
exposure and reapply every 60-90 minutes.
Apply sunscreen that protects both UVB & UVA rays.
 Sunglasses should have UV absorption of at
least 90%
Heat Illness
Heat cramps—may have painful muscular spasms in
legs or abdomen.
 Heat exhaustion—may feel cool, moist, pale or flush,
nausea/vomiting.
 Heat stroke—may have red, hot dry skin.
Treatment: Get victim to cool place.
Loosen tight clothing and remove perspiration—soaked
clothing.
Apply cool, wet cloths to skin, fan patient, if
conscious give cool water or sports drink—
massage and lightly stretch muscle that has spasm.
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Diabetic Emergency
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Give victim some form of sugar if they are
conscious.
Call 911 if they don’t respond quickly or if
they become unconscious.
Poison Ivy, Sumac, and Oak
Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac
Usually exposure to these poisonous plants can be treated at home
with self-care.
Tips
 Wash suspected areas
 Cool compresses.
 OTC lotion
 A soak in lukewarm water mixed with an oatmeal bath product
Animal Bites
Minor wound
 Wash wound
 Control bleeding
 Apply antibiotic ointment; cover
 Get medical attention if wound bleeds
severely or if you suspect animal has rabies;
call 911 and animal control personnel.
Snake Bite
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Wash wound
Immobilize injured area, keep area lower than the
heart
Call 911
Carry victim if possible or if they must walk, have
them walk slowly.
Do NOT apply tourniquet