Bites, Stings, Ticks, and Poisonous Plants

Insect stings and anaphylaxis

• Remove a visible bee stinger as soon as possible by scraping or plucking it out. Speed matters more than the exact removal method.
• Wash the area with soap and water. A wrapped cold pack can reduce local pain and swelling.
• Watch for trouble breathing, swelling of the tongue or throat, widespread hives, vomiting, dizziness, faintness, or rapidly worsening symptoms.
• For suspected anaphylaxis, call 911 immediately. Help the person use their prescribed epinephrine autoinjector if they need assistance and you are trained or permitted to do so. Do not rely on an antihistamine instead of epinephrine for a severe reaction.

Animal and human bites

Bites can damage tissue and introduce infection. Rabies is a concern after exposure to certain mammals.

• Control serious bleeding first.
• For a minor bite, wash thoroughly with soap and running water, cover it with a clean dressing, and seek medical guidance because antibiotics, tetanus care, or rabies evaluation may be needed.
• Do not try to capture a wild or strangely behaving animal. Note its appearance and location and contact local animal-control or health authorities as directed.

Ticks

1. Remove an attached tick as soon as possible.
2. Use clean fine-tipped tweezers. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk.
3. Clean the bite area and your hands after removal. Do not use petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, or similar methods to force a tick to detach.
4. Watch for fever, rash, unusual fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain, or other illness over the following days or weeks. Seek medical care if symptoms develop and report when and where the bite occurred.

Snakebites

• Move away from the snake and call 911 or Poison Control for guidance. Do not try to catch or kill the snake.
• Keep the person calm and as still as practical. Remove rings, watches, or tight items before swelling increases.
• Keep the bitten limb in a comfortable, neutral position and limit movement while awaiting medical care.
• Do not cut the wound, suck out venom, apply ice, use electric shock, or apply a tourniquet for snake envenomation.

Spider bites and scorpion stings

Wash the site and use a wrapped cold pack for local pain when appropriate. Get medical help for breathing difficulty, severe muscle cramps, weakness, spreading tissue injury, severe pain, symptoms in a young child, or a suspected medically important spider or scorpion exposure.

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac

• As soon as practical, wash exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water and clean under the fingernails.
• Wash clothing, shoes, tools, and gear that may carry plant oil. The rash itself does not spread the oil once the skin is cleaned.
• Cool compresses, calamine, or other over-the-counter anti-itch treatments may help when used according to the label and unit medication rules.
• Seek medical care for severe swelling, widespread rash, infection, or involvement of the eyes, face, mouth, or genitals. Call 911 for breathing difficulty.

Marine stings

Treatment varies by species and location, so get lifeguard or medical guidance whenever possible. Remove the person from the water safely, avoid touching tentacles or spines with bare hands, and watch for severe allergic reaction, breathing difficulty, weakness, or collapse. For serious symptoms, call 911. Do not use a one-size-fits-all remedy for every jellyfish or marine sting; local protocols are important.