Submissions     Contact     Advertise     Donate     BlogRoll     Subscribe                         

Monday, May 10, 2010

Buzz buzz baby + First aid tips for insect bites & stings

Here in Southern Arizona we personally haven’t noticed a reduction in the bee population like many other states and, since spring is in full bloom here, there’s a LOT of pollen ready for the taking. But with bees come the chance of swarms and stings. We primarily have Africanized bees here but for the most part, they leave humans alone unless someone disturbs a hive or is in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This past weekend Bill and I were out front washing windows and heard .. then saw a swarm of bees in the middle of our street in front of our home, then it flew across our neighbor’s yard. We thought the swarm went into the wildlife corridor behind neighbor’s home but nope… they hung out in our neighbor’s mesquite tree since Sat. Before the bee removal team arrived Bill snapped this pic of the bee mosh pit.




So … we figured this would be a good time to post some basic first aid tips about insect bites & stings.


Things to watch for…

Stinger (Note: honeybees leave a stinger and venom sac)
Puncture or bite mark
Burning pain or Swelling
Allergic Reaction - Pain, itching, hives, redness or discoloration at site, trouble breathing, signs of shock (pale, cold, drowsy, etc.)

If a mosquito bite – watch for signs of West Nile Virus (most symptoms appear 2 to 15 days after being bitten)Mild flu-like symptoms - fever, headache & body aches, Mild skin rash and swollen lymph glands, or Severe symptoms - severe headache, high fever, neck stiffness, confusion, shakes, coma, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, meningitis or encephalitis

What to do…

- Move quickly and calmly away from area if there’s a swarm or nest nearby.
- Remove stinger by scraping it away with credit card, long fingernail or using tweezers. Don’t try to squeeze it out since this causes more venom to get in the victim.
- Wash wound with soap and water or rinse with hydrogen peroxide.
- Cover with a bandage or clean cloth and apply ice pack.
- Watch for allergic reactions for a few days (see above).
- Call Fire Department or bee removal expert if needed.

To relieve pain from an insect bite or sting:

Activated charcoal - Make a paste using 2-3 capsules and a small amount of warm water. Dab paste on sting site and cover with gauze or plastic to keep it moist. This will help draw out venom so it collects on your skin. Note, powder makes a black mess but easily wiped off with a towel.
Baking Soda - Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda + 1 part warm water and apply to the sting site for 15-20 minutes.

Clay mudpack - If in the wilderness, put a mudpack over injury and cover with bandage or cloth. The mudpack must be a mix of clay-containing soil since clay is the key element but don’t use if any skin is cracked or broken.

Meat tenderizer - Mixing meat tenderizer (check ingredient list for “papain”) with warm water and applying to the sting will help break down insect venom. (Papain is a natural enzyme derived from papaya.)

Urine (Pee) - Another remedy useful in the wilderness sounds totally gross (but has a history of medical applications in a number of cultures) is urine (pee) which reduces the stinging pain. (Unless you have a urinary tract infection, the pee will be sterile and at the least won’t do any harm.)

Some potential pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory remedies:
fresh aloe - break open a leaf or use 96-100% pure aloe gel
lemon juice - from a fresh lemon
vitamin E - oil from a bottle or break open a few gel capsules
store brands - if over-the-counter methods preferred, use calamine cream or lotion and aspirin or acetaminophen

Things to do to avoid mosquito bites …

- Stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and early evenings when mosquitoes are most active.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.
- Spray clothing and exposed skin with repellent containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) - the higher % of DEET, the longer you’re protected from bites (6.65% lasts almost 2 hours; 20% lasts about 4 hours, etc.) Two other repellents are picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
- Don’t put repellent on small children’s hands since it may irritate their mouths or eyes.
- Get rid of “standing water” sources around yard and home since they are breeding grounds for skeeters.
- The CDC says Vitamin B and “ultrasonic” devices are NOT effective in preventing mosquito bites!

Above extracted from IT’S A DISASTER! …and what are YOU gonna do about it? A Disaster Preparedness, Prevention & Basic First Aid Manual (proceeds benefit APN)

------------------------------------------
Join the APN Forum at http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/
Visit the Arizona Forum at http://www.arizonapreppersnetwork.net/

No comments:

Post a Comment