Page 139 - Participant Manual

Keep the injured area still and lower than the heart. The person should walk only if absolutely necessary.
Wash the wound with soap and water; cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing; and then apply an elastic
(pressure immobilization) bandage to slow the spread of the venom through the lymphatic system, to control
swelling and to provide support. To apply an elastic bandage:

■ Check the skin on the side of the bite farthest ■ Check the snugness of the bandage—it should
away from the heart for feeling, warmth and color. be snug but you should be able to slide a finger
easily underneath it.
■ Place the end of the bandage against the skin,
beginning at the point farthest from the heart. ■ Check again for feeling, warmth and color,
especially in the fingers and toes, after you have
■ To cover a long body section, such as an arm or applied the elastic bandage. By checking before
calf, use overlapping turns and gently stretch the and after bandaging, you may be able to tell if
bandage as you wrap. To cover a joint, such as any changes (e.g., tingling or numbness, cool or
the knee or ankle, use overlapping figure-eight pale skin) are from the elastic bandage or the
turns to support the joint (Figure 7-2). injury.

Myth-Information. Myth: Actions such as applying a tourniquet, cutting the wound, applying
suction, applying ice or applying electricity can help to slow the spread of venom throughout the
body. None of these measures are effective for slowing the spread of venom. In fact, they are likely to
cause pain and injury. Your time is better spent seeking medical attention as quickly as possible.

A B

Figure 7-2. To apply a pressure immobilization bandage over a long body section, use overlapping turns and gently
stretch the bandage as you wrap (A). To cover a joint, use overlapping figure-eight turns (B).
© 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
Spider Bites

Few spiders in the United States can cause serious illness or death. The bites of harmless spiders cause
reactions similar to that of a bee sting (e.g., swelling, redness, and stinging or pain at the site).
Dangerous spiders that live in the United States include the brown recluse spider (also known as the violin or
fiddleback spider) and the black widow spider (Table 7-2). The bites of the black widow and brown recluse
spiders can, in rare cases, kill a person.

Signs and Symptoms of Spider Bites

Signs and symptoms of spider bites depend on the amount of venom injected and the person’s sensitivity
to the venom. Most spider bites heal with no adverse effects or scarring. Signs and symptoms of venomous
spider bites can seem identical to those of other conditions and therefore can be difficult to recognize. The
only way to be certain that a spider has bitten a person is to have witnessed it.

Chapter 7 Environmental Injuries and Illnesses | 130 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 7 Environmental Injuries and Illnesses | 131 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual