Gaby
Doctors warn that during the hot season, we are hunted by many invisible predators. To avoid becoming easy prey or someone else’s “trophy,” gardeners and vacationers should remain vigilant in their gardens, fields, and the great outdoors.
What to Do If Bitten by a Tick
If you can’t see a doctor right away, you need to remove the tick from your body either by yourself or with someone else’s help, noting the date of the bite. It’s crucial not to crush or damage the tick with your fingers: if the contents of the tick’s abdomen enter the wound, they can infect the victim or contaminate the skin of the person helping to remove the dangerous insect. Avoid using ammonia, nail polish, oil, or petroleum jelly to remove the tick; these substances can cause the tick to release saliva into the wound, which may contain the tick-borne encephalitis virus.
To remove the tick, use a loop of thread placed snugly against the skin of the affected person. A sharp pair of tweezers can also help: grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull it straight out confidently but gently. Do not yank or twist the tick, as it needs to be removed completely. After removing the tick, dispose of it properly, and clean your hands and the bite area with soap and water or an antiseptic.
If the tick is larger than 5 mm, to prevent tick-borne borreliosis (commonly known as Lyme disease), doctors may prescribe a single dose of doxycycline for adults and children over 8 years old. The antibiotic is effective within 1-3 days of the tick bite. If symptoms resembling a cold—such as fever, skin rashes, joint and muscle pain—appear after an initial false-negative test, you will need to undergo testing twice, with a two-week interval. This is because certain immunoglobulins can only be detected from the tenth day after the bite, while others appear from the third week onward.
What to Do If Bitten by a Spider or Scorpion
Venomous crawling insects can be found in southern Crimea, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Generally non-aggressive, scorpions pose a danger to tourists because they can sting unintentionally (while sleeping, packing, or getting dressed), as these creatures often crawl into backpacks, sleeping bags, and clothing left on the ground. At the moment of the sting, a person will feel a burning pain, and redness and swelling will appear at the site of the bite, eventually leading to the formation of clear blisters.
The body reacts to a scorpion sting with a rise in body temperature (up to 38°C), headaches, dizziness, weakness, and cramps. The affected person must be taken to the hospital immediately for the administration of the necessary serum to prevent complications. The victim should be kept warm and given two tablets of analgesic to relieve pain. Neither a tourniquet nor treatment of the wound with ammonia will provide the expected effect.
Venomous spiders include the tarantula and the black widow (Latrodectus mactans). They also sting unintentionally, but the pain from their bite intensifies over time and spreads throughout the body. Symptoms of poisoning include facial cyanosis, pain with the slightest exertion, inability to move independently, nausea, and shortness of breath. In cases of lung or heart disease, death can occur within the first or second day after the bite (with a probability of 2%). Since the venom constricts blood vessels, first aid involves pain relief, warming, and body massage. In the hospital, the patient will receive a special serum.
How to Help with Insect Bites
It’s important to be aware of the potential consequences of hidden threats. Small creatures can cause significant problems, ranging from fever and pain shock to loss of consciousness, respiratory paralysis, and cardiac arrest. It’s not just scorpions, spiders, and ticks that pose a risk. An individual’s reaction to contact with an irritant can be just as dangerous as a venomous toxin. Allergic reactions are most commonly triggered by the bites of bees, wasps, hornets, and fire ants.
Symptoms of an Allergic Reaction to an Insect Bite:
- Hives (itchy red spots at the bite site, resembling a nettle burn, and spreading skin rash across the body);
- Anxiety and panic;
- Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath;
- Increased heart rate;
- Swelling of the face, mouth, or throat;
- Sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness;
- Loss of consciousness, shock, and cardiac arrest.
The time frame for the development of a life-threatening allergic reaction is 2-5 minutes. Medical assistance is urgently needed as soon as alarming symptoms appear. Timely injection of adrenaline, IV fluids, and an oxygen mask can save the victim. A repeat allergic reaction to an insect bite can occur in 60% of cases.
What to Do If Stung by a Bee
To prevent an allergic reaction, the venom sac left in the body must be removed within 30 seconds. At the same time, do not squeeze the sac to expel the stinger, as this will release venom into the skin. You need to remove the entire venom sac, not just the stinger: this can be done with a fingernail or a plastic credit card, which people usually have on hand. Treat a bee sting with the utmost seriousness, as in severe cases, the victim may require emergency resuscitation procedures and intensive care in a medical facility.
First aid for a bee sting depends on the condition of the affected person. Without waiting for swelling in the fingers and hands, immediately remove rings and bracelets. Wash the sting site with soap and water and treat the skin with a soothing or antiseptic agent—hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion on a dry sterile bandage. Swelling can be alleviated with a cold compress or ice. Pain can be relieved with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: take one or two ibuprofen tablets.
An allergic reaction to a bee sting can be blocked with adrenaline or epinephrine. It’s important to note that the latter medication has side effects, is not compatible with other medications, and may have contraindications for certain conditions (particularly cardiovascular issues). Allergy sufferers should always carry an antihistamine—this allergy medication will relieve swelling, itching, and rashes. During pregnancy and in young children (under two years old), these medications are used only when absolutely necessary.
What to Do If Stung by a Wasp
An allergic reaction to a wasp sting occurs in one out of every three hundred cases. Symptoms of an allergy include rapid heartbeat, dizziness, headache, nausea, rash, itching, and cramps. A wasp sting in the mouth or throat poses a risk of suffocation due to swelling of the larynx, which can have fatal consequences. The affected person must be taken to the hospital immediately! While waiting for emergency medical assistance, slow the swelling by gargling with cold water. Give the victim ice or ice cream.
When a wasp stings a child, it increases the likelihood of an allergic reaction, which may not manifest immediately. Keep an ampoule of prednisolone, ephedrine, or diphenhydramine on hand. A hormone injection does not negate the need for an urgent call to a doctor. Until help arrives, take measures to quickly reduce swelling: if the sting site is accessible, apply a cold compress or ice, and try to remove the stinger and disinfect the sting site with an antiseptic—hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, or vodka.
Pain from a wasp sting can last for up to 20 hours, and you will need to apply calendula tincture and cooled olive oil to the wound every hour. You can also apply raw potato juice, mint, plantain, parsley, lady’s mantle, or dandelion to the sting site. Chopped leaves of medicinal herbs with anti-inflammatory effects can be used in a compress. You can apply a sliced clove of garlic or a compress made of garlic or onion paste to the sting site for 15 minutes.
What to Do If Stung by a Hornet
The hornet has a hollow, sharp stinger at the end of its abdomen that resembles a syringe needle. When it pierces the skin, the insect injects venom through this “tool.” Like a regular wasp, its larger relative only attacks when threatened, but it can sting multiple times. The danger of multiple stings is reflected in the folk saying that a person cannot withstand nine stings.
In reality, even a single sting from a hornet can be fatal if anaphylactic shock develops. A sting on the tongue, gums, or palate in allergic individuals can cause local angioedema, which threatens suffocation. As with a wasp sting, the affected area should be cooled to prevent swelling, and emergency medical services should be called. For inflammation, itching, and pain, a compress made from a mixture of baking soda and crushed wet tablets of activated charcoal, validol, and aspirin can help.
Particularly dangerous is the hornet with a 6-millimeter stinger and highly toxic venom from the species Vespa mandarinia. If attacked, you should expel as much venom as possible from the wound, then treat the sting site with ammonia or iodine. If you are prone to severe allergic reactions, avoid areas where stinging insects may be present, and do not spend time outdoors alone. Wasp nests are often found in earth mounds, on old walls, and logs. Hornets live in houses, bushes, and on tree trunks. It’s best to steer clear of such places to stay safe.
What to Do If Stung by a Bumblebee
The fluffy beauty is larger than a bee and occupies an intermediate position between the family (honey) bee and solitary bee. The powerful jaws of the insect are used for peaceful purposes: they chew plant fibers and form honeycombs. For self-defense, the bumblebee uses its stinger, which is less painful compared to that of a bee. This insect only attacks humans to protect its nest.
Keep in mind that bumblebees are attracted to sweet scents and bright colors. Avoid provoking them with colorful clothing (especially blue, which seems to bother bumblebees) and the smell of alcohol. Do not drink sweet beverages, wine, or beer outdoors. Avoid using perfumes in nature. To prevent insect bites, try not to be near plants that attract them. Avoid walking barefoot in summer grass, no matter how romantic it may seem: when walking in meadows and forests, wear socks and closed shoes, and choose long-sleeved clothing.
First aid for a bumblebee sting should focus on preventing an allergic reaction. After removing the stinger from the wound, rinse the sting site with cold water and take an antihistamine (such as suprastin or diphenhydramine). Always keep a self-help kit on hand for acute allergy symptoms. An allergy to insect bites can be prevented with allergy shots, where the allergic person receives an increasing dose of insect venom daily, so their immune system stops reacting to the allergen.
Insect Bite Remedies
- In indoor spaces, mosquito nets installed on windows and doors can protect against “airborne attacks.”
- Before sleeping in the bedroom, you can turn on a fumigator or spray insect repellent.
- For mosquito, horsefly, and fly bites, simply treat the skin with ammonia or a soapy solution. A large aloe leaf can be peeled and applied with the flesh to the sting site.
- For compresses, you can use an infusion of tansy flowers. Pour 3 tablespoons of flowers with a glass of water, boil for 15 minutes over low heat, cool, and strain. Soak a bandage or gauze in the infusion and apply it to the sting site.
- To relieve itching and swelling from insect bites, use an infusion of oak bark, mint, and St. John’s wort. Mix the ingredients in equal parts, pour 1 tablespoon of the herbal mixture with a glass of water, boil, and let it steep for an hour. Cool the infusion, strain it, and use it for compresses on the sting site.
- Allergic reactions can be treated with an infusion of parsley root. Pour 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley root with boiling water (0.5 liters) and let it steep in a thermos for 8 hours. Drink a glass of this remedy throughout the day in equal portions.
What to Do If Bitten by a Snake
Every year, over 2 million people suffer from snake bites. Non-venomous snake bites leave only minor scratches on the body, so first aid in such cases is minimal: you can simply rinse the wound with running water and apply plantain or treat the bite site with iodine or hydrogen peroxide. A dangerous bite is indicated by punctures at the ends of the scratches. If the wound looks like a pair of bloody dots, it indicates an attack by a venomous snake. When it bites, the predator punctures the skin with its two front fangs and injects deadly venom into the bloodstream.
Snake venom affects the body in two ways: it can paralyze the respiratory organs, causing rapid death by suffocation, or provoke vascular spasms with tissue swelling, destroying blood cells. One of the most common venomous snakes in our area is the viper—a 30-80 cm snake with black or gray scales and a characteristic zigzag pattern. If you encounter such a snake, you need to act quickly and calmly.
If bitten by a snake through clothing, remove the garment from the body to avoid adding venom to the wound. You should also remove wristwatches, bracelets, rings, and other jewelry: if swelling occurs, these can impede blood circulation. If the snake bites your arm, bend it at the elbow and secure it with a bandage in that position. If the bite is on the leg, tie the injured limb to the other leg to transport the victim to the nearest medical facility while lying down. You will need to lie down after the bite due to headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fainting.
First Aid for Snake Bites
First and foremost, the victim of a snake bite should be laid down and kept still. They should not walk or sit, as snake venom spreads through the lymphatic system. Carefully remove any drops of venom from the skin to prevent them from entering the wound. Grasp the bite area and apply slight pressure to allow the venom to flow out. Experienced rescuers even suck out the venom with their mouths, but this is dangerous if there are bleeding gums or mucosal injuries. Moreover, this method may only be effective within 15 minutes after the bite. Sucking out the venom should only be attempted if it will take more than an hour to reach a doctor.
An alternative method is to make a cross-shaped incision around the wound to allow blood mixed with venom to flow out more quickly. Contrary to popular advice, medical professionals do not recommend applying a tourniquet above the wound. Stopping venous and arterial blood flow can cause the venom to be absorbed through deep bone veins, worsening intoxication as the venom mixes with tissue metabolic products. Ultimately, the victim’s condition will sharply deteriorate after the tourniquet is removed. Since alcohol increases the absorption rate of venom and the severity of poisoning, consuming alcoholic beverages after a snake bite is strictly prohibited. Instead, drinking plenty of water will help reduce intoxication.
You can apply a poultice to the bite site to draw out the venom. This can be made from two chopped onions and a few drops of kerosene. Another folk remedy is to apply wet or saliva-soaked tobacco to the bite site. Poultices made from an infusion of veronica (four stems of this medicinal plant per liter of water) can help with the venom of a spider or viper. Apply the herbal compress three times a day for a month.
What to Do If Bitten by a Dog
While walking in the woods or park, you may be attacked by a strange dog if it perceives you as a threat to its owner. A bite from a domestic animal usually does not pose a rabies infection risk, but that doesn’t mean such wounds are safe. Bite wounds are always infected with bacteria, which can lead to serious complications. It is known that bite wounds heal more slowly than others, so they should be treated with extra care.
For disinfection, you can use hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, iodine, or brilliant green. Soak a sterile bandage, gauze, or any available clean cloth made of natural fibers in these solutions and wipe the skin around the bite site several times, leaving the treatment of the open internal tissues to the doctor. After applying a bandage to the wound, take the injured person to the emergency room. There, they will inquire about the vaccination status of the biting animal and administer a rabies vaccine to the victim if necessary. A series of forty shots is guaranteed for anyone bitten by an aggressive animal (including dogs or cats), as well as for bites from foxes, beavers, nutria, wolves, or bats.
Aggressive behavior from wild, domestic, and household animals can be a sign of their potential illness. Infection with rabies leaves no chance for the victim without vaccinations: doctors report a 100% mortality rate even at the current stage of medical development. First aid for a rabid animal bite involves washing the affected area for 10 minutes with soapy water and running water, and removing any saliva from the aggressor. The only way to prevent infection is through vaccination. An immunization course is prescribed both immediately after the bite and several months after contact with a suspicious animal. So do not underestimate the danger and take care of your health!
