"Humor is one of the best ingredients of survival." – Aung San Suu Kyi

Bites and stings

Bugs are an integral part of our ecosystem and are a constant feature of our daily lives. It is inevitable that during a survival situation somebody will get bitten or stung.

Mosquitoes

While mosquito bites are generally nothing more than an annoyance, there are populations carrying viruses such as West Nile and Zika. Our first line of defense is to ensure that we're wearing the bug spray we have with us in the medical kit.

When bitten, we can apply a cold compress to minimize any pain, itching or swelling but it is often not necessary although a topical anti itch product will help us to stop scratching and risk opening the site up to infection.

Ticks

Ticks are similar to mosquitoes in that the bite is not an urgent care scenario but there is the risk of contracting disease. The Rocky Mountain wood tick is the most prevalent in Wyoming and can be found in wooded areas and areas of long grasses. They can transmit both Colorado tick fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Lyme disease is rare here. Wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts treated with repellent will go a long way to minimizing ticks.

It is unlikely that you will notice a tick bite so check yourself over regularly and remove them at the earliest opportunity. If they are not already "dug in" then just brush them off your clothing. If they are, attempt to grab the tick by the mouth and lift off. Try not to squeeze the ticks body as this can eject the stomach contents into the bite site. Wash the bite site and apply a topical anti itch product. Keep any bite site under observation for rash development or aches, pains and fevers.

Spiders and scorpions

Pain from a scorpion sting is on par with a bee sting. Pain from a spider bite is dependent on species. Unlike Australia, the U.S. has only one scorpion and a few spiders that are dangerous to humans.

Brown recluse

Their general range is from central to the southern US. They are often found in woodpiles or abandoned buildings and usually bite as a defensive gesture. They are light brown in color and have a "violin" on their heads. The bite site can develop into a painful ulcer. To treat, clean the bite site and apply a cold compress. No antivenom currently exists for this bite. Be watchful for severe symptoms including nausea, fever, vomiting and a wound that shows no sign of healing. A person can exhibit these symptoms without realizing they've been bitten.

Black widow

Black widows are more prevalent in the southern and western states but their range extends to most of the U.S. There are color variations with the most recognized being the black body with the red hour glass on the underside of the abdomen. Often found under rocks and logs, these spider bite when their web is disturbed. The bite site has the appearance of a pinprick and can be accompanied by redness, swelling and numbness. Treatment is the same as for the brown recluse. Wash the site and apply a cold compress. Severe symptoms can include vomiting, nausea and painful muscle cramps. Antivenom is available for the bites.

Scorpions

The Arizona bark scorpion is typically found in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. It is only about 3 inches long when fully grown and light brown in color. Typical habitat is under any object on the ground (including your boots!). The bite is like a prick followed by burning pain, redness, and swelling. Numbness and tingling can occur. Treatment is the same as for the other arachnid bites. Wash the site and apply a cold compress. Severe symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, muscle spasms, convulsions and impaired speech. Anitvenom is also available for these bites.

Bees, wasps and hornets

If you are unfortunate enough to get stung by a bee, hornet or wasp ensure you move away from any potential nest site to avoid being stung repeatedly. Honey bees leave stingers in people that have an attached venom sack that continues to discharge. Make sure you remove any bee stingers still in you with your fingers or tweezers and clean the sting site. Other types of bees, hornets and wasps can sting repeatedly. Use a cold compression to help reduce any swelling, pain and itching. If you experience an allergic reaction (red itchy skin, hives, welts), take an oral antihistamine (Benadryl). Severe allergic reactions will be covered in another article on shock.

Anyone that spends any amount of time outdoors will get bitten or stung by something at some point. Most will pass without incident and everyone will go about their business. For most people, none of the above is anything we should be concerned with. Be attentive to those who have been bitten or stung and monitor them closely until such time as you are confident there will not be any complications.

"Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it." — Andy Rooney