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Survival Blog – Bug bite safety
Survival Blog Bug bite safety
Though the majority of us out there aren’t doctors or bug enthusiasts, there are ways to identify certain bug bites. Most bug bites that the average person will experience are not harmful, though they are usually pretty annoying, and don’t require any medical attention. However, if you are unsure, it’s best to have it checked out, because few things will beat a trained physician’s wisdom.
Tick bites: If you have a tick bite, you’ll probably know pretty fast because it really won’t want to leave. A tick will latch onto the skin and will move to warm, moist areas of the body. Ticks are known to carry diseases and trigger allergic reactions. You really need to remove ticks properly. You should use tweezers to get rid of it, but you have to pinch as close to its mouth as you can – avoid the abdomen at all costs because you could squeeze some of the fluids from the tick into the skin. Pull straight out, do not twist, because you could leave the head stuck to the skin. Some people encourage you to smother a tic with petroleum jelly or burn the tick off, but that is not recommended. If you have a rash, headache, joint pain, or flu-like symptoms after the bite, go to a doctor because you may have a tick related disease.
Black Widow Spider Bites: The trouble with black widow spider bites is that they can either be a stabbing pain or completely painless. If you see what looks like two red fang marks, redness, tenderness, and a nodule at the bite, you may be looking at a Black Widow bite. Symptoms are cramps, nausea, vomiting, and seizure. You need medical care immediately to receive anti-venom. If you are able to, bring the spider with you so your physician can identify the bite better.
Brown Recluse Spider Bites: These spiders will range from yellow-tan to dark brown in color, with darker legs. The venom from a Brown Recluse is sometimes deadly and can also cause serious wounds and infection, but like the Black Window, you sometimes don’t even feel the bite – actually, you often don’t feel it. The area will start to redden, and then turn white, and then blister. Go to your doctor immediately.
Lice Bites: Lice is always found in hair, especially at the nape of the neck and behind the ears. Your head will itch, but you need to avoid itching to prevent any infections or irritations. You need to find medicated lotions, creams, or shampoos, usually at the local drug store. You also need to give this to people who could have gotten it from you. Make sure to wash all your pillow cases, sheets, and clothing to prevent spreading.
Flea Bites: Though they are most often found on pets, fleas will sometimes go for humans too. You’ll see tiny red bumps with a dark, sensitive scab in the middle. Some people are actually very sensitive to fleas, so it’s important not to scratch. Spray insecticides in areas where fleas like to congregate, such a pet beds and rugs.
Bee, Wasp, Hornet, and Yellow Jacket Stings: Bees will only sting you once, but the rest of them do not lose their stinger and can often try to sting you multiple times. If experience a bee sting and you don’t have an allergic reaction, you can just remove the stinger (it’s best to scrap it out so nothing gets left behind), clean the sting site, and take some Advil. If you do have an allergic reaction, use an EpiPen and call emergency care. If your stung by one of the others, you don’t need to remove the stinger and most likely do not need to seek medical professional, though it is incredibly painful. Once you are stung you should leave immediately because the often leave a chemical that will mark you as an threat, and other may come to follow. If you are stung more than a couple times, or if you are stung in the mouth, throat, or eye, seek medical attention.
Source: http://survivalcavefood.com/index.php/blog/bug-bites/
