Bites & Stings; Poisons/Toxins;Near Drownings

EMT 100

Poison = Toxin = Venom

Reaction depends on three things: Type of poison,toxin or venom Time lapse before onset of signs &

symptoms Size of person in relation to

amount of poison

Bites and Stings:

Immediate = reaction which may include anaphylaxis

Long term = infection

Bees, Wasps, Hornets, and Yellow Jackets

Signs & Symptoms Pain Redness Swelling Itching N & V

Anaphylaxis Infection

Treatment If bee sting, remove

stinger by scraping out with knife edge or credit card

Don’t grab with tweezers!

Clean Ice pack Ammonia solution,

baking soda paste, meat tenderizer

Treat anaphylaxis Watch for infection

Black Widow Spider

Signs/Symptoms Treatment Pain, redness,

swelling N &V Fever chills Achy muscles &

joints Abdominal cramps

& diarrhea Rarely

anaphylaxis

Clean Ice pack Ammonia, Baking

soda paste, meat tenderizer

Watch for anaphylaxis (rare)

Watch for infection

Brown Recluse (Violin) Spider

Brown Recluse Signs & Symptoms Very painful Red and swollen N & V Fever & chills Abdominal cramps

& diarrhea Rarely anaphylaxis Necrosis (very

common)

Brown Recluse Treatment Clean Do NOT Ice! Ammonia, Baking soda paste,

meat tenderizer Watch for anaphylaxis Watch for necrosis & infection

Tarantula

Signs/Symptoms Treatment Pain Redness Swelling Itching Rarely

anaphylaxis

Clean Ice Watch for

anaphylaxis Watch for

infection

Ticks

Ticks carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease

Tick Treatment Remove by pulling with tweezers

parallel to skin surface Clean and Ice Ammonia, Baking soda paste, Meat

tenderizer Watch for anaphylaxis (rare) Watch for infection

Rattlesnake

Signs & Symptoms Pain Swelling Bruising N & V Weakness

Treatment Keep victim calm Clean but NO ICE! Transport

immediately if within an hour and a half of medical care

If more than an hour and a half from care, may try to evacuate wound

Jellyfish

Painful, red and swollen welts Anaphylaxis rare Vinegar is best! Watch for infection

Stingrays, Urchins, Anemones (barbs or spines)

Pain, red, swelling, itching Best to flush with hot water (102-105F) Watch for infection Anaphylaxis rare

POISON IVY,OAK, & SUMAC

Signs & Symptoms

Red and itchy May progress to “blisters” Possible anaphylaxis Infection

May need calamine lotion and/or hot baths/showersPhysician may need to prescribe steroids and/or antibiotics

Ingested Poisons

Treatment If unconscious:

Activate EMS ABC’s

If conscious: Call Poison

Control 800 222 1222 Dilute? Syrup of Ipecac? Activated

charcoal? EMS?

Inhaled Poison Carbon Monoxide

Fresh air ABCs EMS

Near Drowning - Conscious

Near Drowning - Unconscious

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