Although not all spiders are poisonous, spider bite first aid is a must for all persons bitten by spiders.
Medical treatment should be sought especially if symptoms are evident in parts of the body outside of the bite location. Bitten persons with symptoms like sweating, stomach cramps, leg cramps, headache, body aches, exhaustion should be immediately treated by a medical staff such as a doctor or should be rushed to an emergency department for the proper spider bite first aid.
Most common spider bites from the US are those by the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. The black widow bite may at first provide a slight swelling and faint red marks then develop into intense pain and stiffness. Other symptoms are fever, chills, nausea and vomiting and severe abdominal pain.
READ: First aid is vital when bitten by a spider.
Clean the Bite Area
Soap and water can be used to clean the site of the spider bite or the wound before applying a cool compress over the same area.
Apply First Aid
A snug bandage can be tied above the bite particularly when the bite is on the arm or on the leg. The affected limb should be elevated to slow down or stop the spread of the spider’s venom. A pressure bandage may be applied to the envenomed limb and, if the bite is located in the trunk, firm pressure should be applied but without restricting chest movement. The limb should be splinted to restrict movement.
A cold cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice can be used in cool compression of the wound.
After providing the appropriate first aid, it is important to rush the victim to the nearest medical facility to seek treatment for the bite such as that of the black widow since black widow bites may require anti-venom medication. Different medications can be given by the doctor for treatment of brown recluse spider bites.
Take a Pain Reliever
Minor signs and symptoms of a spider bite on an adult may be relieved by aspirin or acetaminophen and antihistamines as well.
Identify the Spider
It is important to know what kind of spider has bitten you since treatment that should be applied on the bitten part of your body depends on it.
The kind of spider that has bitten you can be identified through the markings on the spider.
- Does the spider have a red hourglass marking on its belly? Then the bite was made by a black widow. The bite of the black widow may also feel like a pinprick, so the person bitten may not feel he or she has been bitten by a spider at all.
- Does it have violin shaped marking on the back? Then the bite was from a brown recluse spider. The bite of a brown recluse spider feels like a mild sting, but local redness and intense pain typically follow within eight hours. The bitten part forms fluid filled blister which eventually sheds to leave a deep and large ulcer. Reactions from the brown recluse spider are mild fever, rashes, listlessness and nausea.
- Bites from the funnel web spider are considered lethal since this kind of spider as well as the mouse spider are considered dangerous. It is important to call for medical assistance immediately while bitten by this kinds of spiders.
Talk to the patient and reassure that help is on the way while telling him or her to be calm and still.
It is very important for the medical to help to come and treat the patient rather than moving the patient.