How to Deal with Bites and Stings

The last thing you’ll want to get during your next adventure trip is a bite from a wild, exotic critter. Apart from the discomfort caused by the itching bitten area, a single bite or sting of some insects can also be lethal.

Of course, fighting for your life is not the kind of adventure you crave for, but this might just be the case if you are travelling and you are a hundred miles away from the nearest hospital. But it’s a whole different story if you have some first aid know how for the different types of bites / stings. Here’s the basics:

If Stung by Wasps or Bees

If you can still see the sting with the sac that contains the venom, carefully use tweezers to remove it. You need to remove it with care ensuring that you don’t squeeze the sac too tight as it might spill more venom into your wound.

Use a damp cloth or ice pack to ease the sting you are feeling sore.

If bitten by Ticks

Using tweezers, you will need to remove the insect off your skin. Take hold on the head (not the body), to avoid squeezing the body too hard and having it burst on your skin more and spread even more germs.

You have to observe yourself if you start feel feverish or see some rashes forming, as ticks can carry diseases.

If bitten by Leeches

If you see a leech – or two, clinging on to you, don’t rip them off. Yes, it can really be scary and you might panic. Just breathe in and think about the first aid you learned to get rid of it.

Get something like salt, vinegar or alcohol – whatever is handy at the moment. Just pour any of these onto your skin and the leech will voluntary let go. Apply some antiseptic around the area and put on some pressure on your wound until it stops bleeding.

If stung by Jellyfish

If you felt the sting of a jellyfish, regardless if you saw one or not, get out the water quickly and look to see if tentacles are attached. Remove these with a gloved hand or a pair of tweezers.

Once you are certain you got everything removed, pour some vinegar on the affected area. This will stop the venom from stinging even more. Don’t rub the affected skin and don’t wash it with water. Seek medical help.

If bitten by snakes

Keep the bitten limb from moving using a splint or a sling and call medical help right away so it can be treated with anti-venom.

A Very important reminder though, if you have been bitten on the throat or mouth and if you feel you cannot breathe well, sweating very hard or your pulse is erratically fast, forget administering first aid on your own, seek out medical help right away.

Even with all the first aid tips listed above, it is still best to call medical attention once first aid has been administered.