Page 141 - Participant Manual

First Aid Care for Spider Bites

To care for a spider bite from a harmless spider, wash the area with soap and water; apply an antibiotic
wound ointment, cream or gel to the wound if the person has no known allergies or sensitivities to the
ingredients; and then cover the wound with an adhesive bandage. Applying a cold pack wrapped in a thin, dry
towel can help to reduce pain and swelling.

If you suspect that someone has been bitten by a black widow spider or brown recluse spider, wash the area
with soap and water. Apply a cold pack wrapped in a thin, dry towel; keep the bitten area elevated and as still
as possible; and seek medical attention.

Tick Bites

Ticks attach themselves to any warm-blooded animal with which they come into direct contact, including
people. When ticks attach themselves to the skin, they can spread pathogens from their mouths into the
person’s body. These pathogens can cause serious illnesses, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain
spotted fever. Box 7-7 describes strategies for limiting exposure to ticks.
To lower the risk for tick-borne illnesses, always check for ticks immediately after outdoor activities. Most
experts believe that the longer the tick stays attached to the skin, the greater the chances are of infection, so
it is a good practice to check for ticks at least once daily after having been outdoors. Promptly remove any
ticks that you find before they become swollen with blood.

To remove a tick, put on gloves. Using fine-tipped, pointed tweezers with a smooth inside surface, grasp the
tick at the head as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward slowly and steadily without twisting until the
tick releases its hold (Figure 7-3). Seal the tick in a container to help the healthcare provider with identifying
the type of tick later. Wash the area with soap and warm water and then apply an antibiotic wound ointment,
cream or gel if the person has no known allergies or sensitivities to the ingredients. If you are unable to
remove the tick, or if you think that the tick’s mouth parts are still embedded in the skin, the person should see
a healthcare provider.

Myth-Information. Myth: To remove a tick, burn it off with a match or smother it with petroleum jelly
or nail polish. These folk remedies are not the best way to go about removing a tick. They rely on the
tick detaching itself, which could take hours. As long as the tick’s mouth parts are in contact with the
skin, the tick is potentially transmitting disease. The goal is to remove the tick in one piece as quickly
as possible. The best tool for doing this is a pair of fine-tipped tweezers or a special tick removal tool,
such as a tick key.

© 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.

Figure 7-3. Grasp the tick’s head and pull straight up.

Chapter 7 Environmental Injuries and Illnesses | 132 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 7 Environmental Injuries and Illnesses | 133 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual