Animal & Insect Bites & Stings

1. Animal & InsectBites & Stings Nueces County Risk Management Department

2. Bites And Stings • Rinse all bites 5 minutes with water • (except severe bites) • Clean with soap and water

3. Dog Bites • If approached: • Stop/ Stand still • Talk softly/ Avoid eye contact • Move slowly • Never turn your back on a dog • Use: stick, mace, pepper spray • If attacked, cover face/throat • Concern for rabies

4. If bitten by a dog or cat Contact your local Animal Control, Sheriffs, or Police Department Maintain a visual of the animal to know where it is at. Remember the size, color, and type of animal that bit you, for when authorities arrive.

5. Precautions for avoiding possible bites When entering residential or private property always be aware of your surroundings. Look for food bowls, dog houses, or beware of dog signs, or worn out grass along a fence to indicate there may be a dog on the property. Tap your horn to see if any animals come out from the property.

6. Rabies: Be Concerned If Skin Is Penetrated By: • Unprovoked animal (squirrel) • Strange acting dog or other animal • Animal of high risk species • Raccoons • Bats • Foxes • Skunks • Coyotes

7. Bites and Rabies • An acute virus disease of the nervous system of warm-blooded animals, usually transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal • Results in hydrophobia: throat muscles go into spasm if they try to drink and they choke • No cure once symptoms develop

8. Rabies: What To Do • If bitten by a wild animal - suspect rabies • Clean wound with soap and water (under pressure) • Seek medical attention immediately • Tetanus shot may be required • Start rabies treatment immediately (series of 5 arm injections over one month)

9. Rabies: What To Do with The Animal • Contact Animal Control immediately: • Don’t make contact with the animal to avoid further exposure. • Animal Control will prepare a specimen for laboratory testing • Don’t incur another bite on another person

10. Snakebites • Poisonous snakes in the U.S. • Rattlesnake • Copperhead • Water moccasin • Coral snake

11. Pit Vipers • Rattlesnake • Copperhead • Water moccasin • Characteristics: • Flat heads that are wider than their necks (triangular) • “Cat eyes” (elliptical) • Heat sensitive “pit” between the eye and nostril on each side of the head

12. Pit Viper Bites: Signs and Symptoms • Severe burning/ fang marks • Swelling (occurs in 5 minutes and can involve entire extremity • Mark extent of swelling on body • 6-10 hours later: potential discoloration and blood filled blisters

13. Coral Snake Bites • Most venomous, but rarely bites • Red, yellow and black bands • Every other band is yellow • Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, friend of Jack. • Chews venom into the body

14. Snake Bites: What To Do (controversial but generally recommended) • Pit Viper • Get away from snake / may re-strike • Can strike ½ the length of their body • A decapitated head can react for 20 more minutes • Have victim lie down and stay calm • Do not move victim unless absolutely necessary • Keep bitten area immobile and below the level of the heart • Call 911 • Wash area with soap and water

15. Snake Bites: What To Do #2 • If more than 1 hour from medical facility, use “extractor” (if available) within 3 minutes and left on for 30 minutes (pit vipers only) • (up to 30% of venom may be removed) • Seek medical attention immediately • Anti-venom available only at hospitals • Same anti-venom used no matter type of snake • Must be given within 4 hours of the bite

16. Snake Bites: What To Do • Do Not’s • Icing is not helpful • “Cut and suck method” • Avoid mouth suction, can ingest venom • No constriction bands

17. Coral Snake Bites: What To Do • Coral Snake • Use same methods except: • Apply mild pressure over the bite site and wrap entire limb with an ace bandage • No ice is necessary

18. Non-Poisonous Bites • Horseshoe shaped tooth marks • May be painful but no systemic reactions • What To Do? • Minor wound treatment • If in doubt, go to hospital/ER/Doctor

19. Snake Bite Prevention • Use caution around wood piles, rock crevices etc. • Watch where you step • Do not reach into holes or hidden ledges • Wear boots, long pants, long sleeved shirts • Don’t sit or step over logs without checking it out • Use a walking stick • When camping, keep tent zipped at all times • Take a friend along

20. Snakes: Additional Information • Poor vision, especially when shedding • Prime time for crawling snakes, dawn & dusk (hunting times) • Baby snakes have stronger venom • Snakes just out of hibernation have stronger venom

21. Spider Bites • Tarantula • Black Widow • Brown Recluse

22. Tarantula • Not life threatening • Treatment • Cortisone cream • Antihistamines (Benadryl)

23. Black Widow Bites • Bite: • Pin-prick or no “bite” sensation • Immediate pain, swelling, redness • Headache, chills, fever, heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain • Faint red bite marks appear • Severe muscle pain, cramps, and stiffness • Severe pain peaks in 2-3 hours but can last up to 48 hours

24. Brown Recluse • Found in dark, dry places • Violin shapes on backs • Slight initial pain • Severe pain in 2 to 8 to 12 hours

25. Brown Recluse #2 • Redness, swelling, itching • Volcano lesions result • Possible consequences: • Skin grafting • gangrene

26. Spider Bites: What To Do • Save spider for identification • Keep bite area below the heart • Clean bite site • Ice • Monitor ABC,s • Seek medical attention immediately

27. Ticks • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever • Colorado Tick Fever • Lyme Disease

28. Lyme Disease • Spread by animals that carry deer ticks: • White tailed deer/ White footed mice • found primarily in the Northeastern U.S. • Signs and symptoms: 3 to 30 days post bite • Is difficult to diagnose: Flu-like, fever, chills, headache, joint stiffness, fatigue • May be diagnosed initially as arthritis • May come and go for years • Rash: white center with redness all around (hot to touch but without pain) • Treat with proper antibiotics

29. Prevention for Tick Bites • Insect repellent (DEET) • Check for ticks frequently and remove • Stay on path when hiking • Tape jeans to boots • Wear long sleeved shirts, long pants • 7 dust for yards (controls fleas as well)

30. Tick Removal • Check cracks/crevices/hairy areas • Remove as soon as possible with tweezers (pull slowly and gently) • Do not use nail polish, hot match etc. • If head or mouthparts remain, remove as if a splinter

31. Tick Bites: First Aid • Clean wound site • Watch for infection and other symptoms • See physician if: • Rash • Fever, muscle aches, sensitivity to bright light, weakness in limb, paralysis

32. Insect Stings • Worrisome Reactions: • Normally, the sooner the symptoms develop, the more serious • Flushed skin /blue skin • Hives • Swelling of lips, tongue, throat • Wheezing, “tickle in throat” • Abdominal cramps, diarrhea • Trouble breathing • Seizures

33. Stings: First Aid • Remove stinger by scraping with a credit card or like item (back out the stinger) • Stinger injects poison for 2-3 minutes up to 20 minutes after sting • Stung in the throat? Suck on ice or flush with cold water, hold baking soda water in the mouth

34. Stings: First Aid #2 • Cleanse site • Use extractor if available • Use a commercial “sting stick” • Apply ice (slows absorption, relieves pain) • Baking soda paste • Meat tenderizer • Tobacco • Vinegar or lemon juice suggested for wasp sting • Aspirin, Tylenol, hydrocortisone cream • Benadryl (or other antihistamine) if given early may prove helpful

35. Stings: First Aid #3 • Observe for 30 minutes • Keep anaphylaxis in mind • Epinephrine • Re-inject after 15 minutes if necessary • Watch for delayed allergic reaction (possibly the next day)

36. What Would You Do? • 18 months old • First time to be stung by a bee • Allergies in family

37. Killer Bees and Fire Ants

38. Other Bites and Stings