DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

To relieve pain from a sea critter sting:Baking Soda Paste - Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda + 1 part warmwater and apply to sting site until it dries. Scrape off paste with a knife orcredit card to help remove some of the skin. (Note: two other easy pastesare sand and seawater or flour and seawater. Scrape off as above.)Urine (Pee) – Again, we know this sounds weird… but pee has a history ofmedical applications and can reduce stinging pain. (Unless you have a urinarytract infection, it will be sterile and at least won’t do any harm!)SNAKE BITESAccording to the FDA and the National Institutes of Health, about 8,000people in the U.S. are treated for poisonous snake bites each year.Poisonous snakes have triangular heads, slit-like pupils, and two long fangswhich make puncture wounds at end of each row of teeth. Non-poisonoussnake bites leave two rows of teeth marks but no puncture wounds, butdon’t use bite mark to determine type since swelling may hide wounds.Things to watch for…Puncture and/or bite marksPain and SwellingNausea and pukingDifficulty breathing or swallowingPossible Allergic reaction – Weakness or dizziness;redness or discoloration at bite; trouble breathing; signsof shock (pale, cold, drowsy, etc.)What to do…• If possible, try to identify type or color of snake but don’tput yourself in danger!• Wash bite wound with soap and water.• Keep bitten body part below heart level, if possible.• Call emergency number or animal control, if necessary.If bite is from a Poisonous snake, also do this…• Remove constrictive items (like rings or watches) sinceswelling may occur.• DO NOT apply tourniquet or ice.• Monitor breathing and make sure airway is open.• Keep victim still to slow down circulation of venom.• DO NOT let victim eat or drink anything or take medicationsince it could interfere with emergency treatment.166 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325