First Aid For Snake & Spider Bite & Scorpion Sting in Desert
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General Snake Bite First Aid
1. Prevent second bite or bite to first aider. Identify snake if possible.
2. Remove all jewelers and tight clothing, minimize use of bitten extremity and place below heart level. Splint if necessary to immobilize, do not allow splint to become a tourniquet if swelling persists.
3. Lightly compress the limb above the bite, not a tourniquet, just light rolled bandage compression
4. Swab clean and keep swabs for later testing.
5. Clean with soap and water if available after swabbing.
6. Bandage wound.
DO NOT allow the person to become over-exerted. If necessary, carry the person to safety.
DO NOT apply a tourniquet.
DO NOT apply cold compresses to a snake bite.
DO NOT cut into a snake bite with a knife or razor.
DO NOT try to suction the venom by mouth.
DO NOT give the person stimulants or pain medication unless instructed to do so by a doctor.
DO NOT give the person anything by mouth.
DO NOT raise the site of the bite above the level of the person’s heart.Sea Snake Bite First Aid
As for general first aid plus: Apply pressure immobilization of the bitten extremity as quickly as possible because it may impede venom spread. Rapidly wrap the limb with a broad pressure bandage, starting at the wound site and extending as high up the extremity as possible. The bandage should be wrapped to venous occlusive pressure in a manner similar to wrapping a sprained ankle. An extremity splint completes the immobilization. Fingers or toes should remain pink, this is not a tourniquet!
Pressure-immobilization is recommended for:
Sea snakes
Funnel web spiders.
Bee, Wasp and Ant stings in allergic individuals
Blue ringed octopus
Cone shell stingsDo not use pressure-immobilization first aid for:
Spider bites other than from a Funnel web spider
Jelly fish stings
Stonefish and other fish stings
Bee, Wasp and Ant stings in non-allergic individuals
bites by Scorpions, Centipedes, BeetlesPRESSURE IMOBILISATION
1. Apply a broad pressure bandage over the bite site as soon as possible. Crepe bandages are ideal, but any flexible material may be used. Clothing, towels etc may be torn into strips. Panty hose have been successfully used. Do not take clothing off as the movement of doing so will promote the movement of venom into the blood stream. Keep the patient (and the bitten or stung limb) still.
2. Bandage upwards from the lower portion of the bitten or stung limb. Even though a little venom may be squeezed upwards, the bandage will be more comfortable, and therefore can be left in place for longer if required. The bandage should be as tight as you would apply to a sprained ankle.
3. Extend the bandage as high as possible up the limb.
4. Apply a splint to the leg. Any rigid object may be used as a splint. e.g. spade, piece of wood or tree branch, rolled up newspapers etc.
5. Bind it firmly to as much of the leg as possible. Keep the patient still. Lie the patient down to prevent walking or moving around. Have the patient taken immediately by ambulance to the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
Spider Bite First Aid
1. Wash the area well with soap and water.
2. Apply a cold flannel or ice pack wrapped in cloth to the site.
3. Give paracetamol for pain.
4. Seek immediate emergency care for further treatment
Scorpion Sting First Aid
Primary first aid for scorpion stings is to reassure the victim who will be suffering from shock. Clean the wound and then try to isolate it by immobilizing the site of the sting. Use a firm supporting bandage but not a tourniquet, and hold the limb up to avoid the venom going directly to the heart. If possible keep the site of the sting cold by placing it in iced water. Although fatalities are very rare, do seek medical help, particularly in the case of small children and invalids who are most at risk. In some cases, anti-venom can be administered and these work well if given early enough. However, in other cases a painkiller is all that can be given but recovery should be rapid.
General Precautions: Always wear Desert Shoes and don’t use open toe shoes in Desert
As they say…Prevention is better than cure.
Just because we ca’nt see them does not mean that they are not there!!!
The most important point is to understand that most desert animals & insects, which burrow deep in the sand to avoid the daytime heat are active from Dusk upto early morning looking for sustenance.
This is exactly the time when Humans too tend to be active around their campsites!!!
Most of the smaller insects, spiders & centipedes etc. tend to congregate around vegetation & they in turn attract predators such as snakes, scorpions & reptiles to these areas so trees, bushes & shrubs need to be avoided when camping.
Precaution should be taken to avoid wearing open toed shoes, sandals etc. which incidently are extremely uncomfortable in hot sand, too.
Most modern tents are designed to keep these unwanted guests out while we slumber, so this point should be kept in mind when buying tents that the entry ports should be raised above the ground and be fully secure-able.
Shoes should not be left out in the open but kept in the tent.
If the shoes are left exposed for any duration, they should be shaken before being worn, to avoid any nasty surprises lurking inside that may have just found their way to a ready made burrow!!!Some very basic, common sense precautions would avoid un-neccessary complications for self & companions, too.
Very useful topic! especially for the coming Ramadan night drives.
Thanks Thanseer, Ahmed Bhai
very useful info ahmed bhai & thanseer..thanks…my first agenda before the weekend is to buy desert shoes…
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