Scorpion stings can be incredibly painful but they can also be very dangerous, especially to young children and elderly adults. Out of 1,500 species of scorpions, 50 are fatal to humans. But what do you do if you or your child are stung by a scorpion? Of course you should seek medical attention straight away but there are a few things you should immediately to ease the potential damage that can be caused.
General First Aid
Most scorpion stings are about as harmful as bee stings and generally the only reactions you'll see are pain, burning, mild swelling, and sometimes local numbness that disappears in a short amount of time. If you or another adult are stung, wash the area with soap and water and elevate the ice the sting site. If there are any constrictive objects on the limb (watch, bracelets, rings, etc), remove them immediately in case there is a more severe reaction with significant swelling. However, if your child has been stung, they need medical attention right away.
Your child's doctor may ask if your child is up to date on their tetanus vaccine and if not, they may administer one.
Know Your Scorpions
If you live in an area that's populated with scorpions make sure to know your scorpion species. Most Texas scorpions are harmless but New Mexico and Arizona are known for having poisonous species of scorpions like the Bark scorpion. Stings from the Bark scorpion can lead to difficulty breathing, shock, and even death. If you can carefully and quickly capture the scorpion, take it in with you to your child's doctor so they can identify the species and treat your child appropriately.
If your or your child's symptoms escalate quickly, then go straight the emergency room. Regardless of what kind of scorpion stung you or your little one, if you start having a reaction immediately then you need medical attention right away.
Other Remedies
If you're 100% certain that your sting is from a non-poisonous scorpion then there are a few home remedies you can do to alleviate the discomfort following a sting. Some people swear by applying a meat tenderizer and water paste to the site to quickly relieve any discomfort. A baking soda paste can also temporarily relieve pain. Fresh papaya leaves have been known to locally treat the pain while drinking papaya juice is a temporary analgesic.
There are just a few key things to remember: always take your child in to a doctor if they say they have been stung by a scorpion or if you suspect they may have been, ice the site to reduce swelling, and to know which scorpions live in your area. Take care to keep your landscaping unattractive to scorpions and to teach your kids where scorpions like to hide and live to prevent run ins with these little creatures.
Information credit to http://www.greenmangopest.com/.