Restricting the spread of venom throughout the victim's body is the primary concern immediately after a snakebite. Make a visual check of the victim to locate the bite area and further inspect the bite area for puncture wounds, bruising, and swelling. Have the victim lay or sit down; either is okay, as long as the person is relaxed. Being relaxed and having the bite area lower than the heart will slow down the spread of the venom.
Loosely tying a rope or rag around the area will also help to limit the spread of the venom, as will tying a strip on either side of the wound, both two inches away. Don't over tighten, as this is not a tourniquet; allow enough room to slip two fingers between the strips and the skin. Evacuate the victim for emergency medical attention immediately.
Once the victim is stabilized, a reasonably safe effort should be made to capture, or at least identify, the snake. Most snakebite victims are successfully treated with the appropriate antivenins and recover.
Venomous Spider Bites
Black widows are the most dangerous of the widow spiders, though all are venomous. They are characterized by shiny, bulbous black bodies and red abdominal markings often in the shape of an hourglass. Indoors, they are normally found in closets, drawers and other dark areas; outdoors they prefer outhouses, window wells, undisturbed wooded areas, stumps, and abandoned rodent holes. They are known to bite only when their web is disturbed or they are cornered or threatened.
Visual indication of a black widow bite is minimal except for redness around the bite, which disappears in a few hours. However, within a few hours, the victim experiences severe pain, muscle cramps and spasms. Symptoms may also include anxiety, profuse sweating, nausea, and labored breathing and speech. In severe cases, the victim may experience convulsions, stupor or even paralysis. Death is rare, but more likely to occur in children, the elderly or those already in poor physical condition.
First aid in the field should begin with keeping the victim calm. Apply antiseptic to the bite, then apply ice, if available. A pain reliever like ibuprofen may be used. The bite should be kept at or below heart level, and bands should be tied on either side of the wound, but not too tight. Avoid excess movement. If possible, capture the spider for identification. Take the victim to a hospital or poison control center, which will administer a muscle relaxant and possibly antivenin if the reaction is severe.
Ticks
Ticks are parasitic arachnids that burrow their heads into the victim�s skin to feed on blood. They can pass on diseases, most commonly Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
If a tick is found, grasp the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and slowly pull without jerking or twisting. Special tweezers made for tick extraction are ideal, but regular tweezers work also. If the tick won�t come out, apply permethrin (an insect repellant and pesticide) to the back and underside of the tick. Wait 15 minutes, then attempt to extract the tick again, as the permethrin will relax the tick. Once the tick is extracted, wash the area with soap and water and apply and antiseptic. Save the tick in case any symptoms of infection arise.
Spring and fall trips offer an opportunity for visitors to see more wildlife and fewer people, but there are drawbacks � colder air and water temperatures. The colder conditions , if canoeists are not properly prepared, can lead to hypothermia. Symptoms include shivering, numbness, low body temperature, drowsiness, and muscular weakness. The victims body temperature must be raised as quickly as possible. Remove any wet or damp clothing. Dry off body and head if wet. Place the victim and yourself in a sleeping bag and use your body heat to raise the victims core temperature. Give the victim warm liquids (not alcohol) by mouth if conscious.
