Bites and stings policy.

Most bites and stings are non-life threatening but may cause mild pain, redness, and/or itching. For most bites and stings the following first aid will help ease pain and discomfort:

• Wash the area with cool soapy water and keep clean and dry.

• Apply ice or cool running water.

• Seek advice from the Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26.

• If the patient is having difficulty breathing, is unconscious, or fitting, call an ambulance on 000.

SNAKES –First Aid Treatment

• Apply a firm wide elasticised bandage around the bite and then apply a second bandage over the whole limb. Ensure that the bandage is not too tight and cutting off the circulation.

• Use a splint to keep the whole limb still (that is, immobilise the affected limb).

• Keep the person still and do not move them from their position.

• Call an ambulance (000) to take the person to the nearest hospital.

• Try to notice the colour and markings on the snake but DO NOT try to catch or handle it DO NOT wash the bitten area as the venom on the skin may be used to identify the snake.

• If the person bitten collapses, perform CPR immediately and call 000 for an ambulance.

SPIDERS

There are many different types of spiders in Australia. Spider bites can cause pain, swelling and/or itching at the bite site.

The only venomous species of significance in Australia are the Red-Back Spider and the Funnel-Web Spider (FWS). The FWS can be difficult to distinguish from other big black spiders.

Red-back Spider

The Red-Back Spider is found throughout Australia. The female Red-Back Spider has a red/orange stripe on its back while the male is very small. Usually with no stripe. A Red-Back spider bite may result in pain, redness and sweating at the bite site.

First Aid Treatment:

• Wash the area with soap and water and apply an antiseptic if available.

• Apply ice or cool running water to relieve pain.

• Seek advice from the Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26 or your local doctor if pain continues. If severe pain occurs, the patient needs to be taken to the nearest hospital.

Funnel-Web Spiders and big black spiders

Many Australian spiders that are large and black can resemble the highly venomous Funnel-Web spider (FWS). A bite from this spider can be very dangerous, and potentially life threatening. A FWS bite will usually cause severe pain, lots of sweating, nausea and vomiting, drooling, difficulty in breathing, confusion, as well as numbness, tingling and twitching of the mouth and tongue.

First Aid Treatment for all big black spider bites:

• Apply a very firm wide elasticised bandage around the bite and then apply a second bandage over the whole limb. Ensure that the bandage is not too tight and cutting off the circulation.

• Use a splint to keep the whole limb still (that is, immobilise the affected limb) to slow the flow of venom around the body.

• Keep the person still.

• Call an ambulance (000) to take the person to the nearest hospital.

TICKS

Common bush ticks or scrub ticks are often found on people. Ticks bury themselves in the skin and scalp. Some Australian ticks release venom into the blood. Symptoms may include headache, blurred vision, weak limbs, and unsteady walking. These symptoms may start a few days after a tick bite.

Some people may be allergic to tick bites. Ticks should be killed before removal to reduce the chance of a life-threatening allergic reaction and the development of mammalian meat allergy.

Anaphylaxis

Trying to remove the tick before it has been killed may cause the tick to inject more toxin, leading to a serious anaphylactic reaction.

First Aid treatment:

• Do not pull on the body of the tick or try to remove it with tweezers, as this will inject more toxin.

• To kill the tick safely, the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) recommends either freezing adult ticks with an ether spray (e.g.: Wart off spray) or applying permethrin cream (Lyclear cream) to small ticks. Both products are available from the pharmacy. For people with a known tick allergy, this should be done in the hospital emergency department.

• Wait 10 minutes after treatment for the tick to die, then carefully brush off.

• Wash the area with soap and water and keep the area clean and dry.

• Seek advice from the Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26 if any symptoms occur.

SCORPIONS, CENTIPEDES and MILLIPEDES

In Australia scorpions, centipedes and millipedes are not venomous. Pain, swelling and/or itching may occur. Millipedes can cause blistering and brown discolouration of the skin.

First Aid treatment

• Apply ice or cool running water to relieve the pain.

• Seek advice from the Poisons Information Centre 13 11 25 or your local doctor if pain continues.

BEES, WASPS and ANTS

A bee, wasp or ant sting can cause pain and/or swelling. Some people may have an allergic reaction to the sting, which may cause a rash vomiting, collapse or difficulty in breathing. Seek medical attention straight away if an allergic reaction occurs.

First Aid treatment:

• Remove the sting by pulling it out or scraping it away; you may need tweezers, a credit card or something firm.

• Wash the area with water and keep the area clean and dry.

• Apply ice or cool running water to reduce the swelling and to relieve the pain (do not apply ice to the eye).

• Seek medical attention straight away if any allergic reaction occurs.

• If a person has been stung more than five times seek medical attention.

Sources: The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

NSW POISONS Information Centre

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