Yes,
Mexico has Scorpions
As
I sat and posted on Facebook the other day, I suddenly felt this pain as if a
needle was penetrating up my leg. I, at
that point yelled for Dan my husband and told him something stung me. We looked and did not find anything at the
time and he said, “It probably was spider.”
I
looked at him and said, “This pain I am feeling is more than that”. He looked
at where the pain was coming from and it looked like a mosquito bite and was a
little swollen. I decided to take a warm
bath, which helped for a little while.
The
funny part about all this, is that I am very careful regarding bugs in my home,
for I have heard scary stories of scorpion bites. I always would tell myself that this would
never happen to me. As I look back and explain
the occurrence, it was not as bad as I thought it would be.
The
rest of the day I put cold packs on the spot and before you know it after two
days, I am good as before.
The
moral of the story is until it happens to you, it may not be as scary as the
stories that have been told. I am still
alive and only felt a needle for a short period of time.
Who
would have known one would be hiding in my chair. That night Dan found the scorpion and we
disposed of it. So you might say, pay
backs are a bitch.
It is important to recognize scorpion sting symptoms:
immediate pain or burning, very little swelling, sensitivity to touch, and a
numbness/tingling sensation. Often people tell me that they didn't even know
they were stung by a scorpion when it happened. Some people are especially
sensitive to the sting and have scary stories to tell (a few are probably somewhat
exaggerated).
If you are stung by any scorpion, here are
some immediate actions you should take:
- Wash the
area with soap and water.
- Apply a
cool compress on the area of the scorpion sting. Ice (wrapped in a
washcloth or other suitable covering) may be applied to the sting location
for ten minutes. Remove compress for ten minutes and repeat as necessary.
- If stung
on a limb (arm or leg) elevate the limb to heart level. If severe symptoms
are present (these might include blurry vision, muscle twitching, roving
eye movements, or other non-typical symptoms), it is time to go to the
nearest emergency facility for treatment.
- Keep your
tetanus shots and boosters current.
Scorpion
Sting Tips
- Be careful
when camping or during other outdoor activities to make sure that a
scorpion has not made a home in your clothes, shoes or sleeping bags.
- Scorpions
glow brightly under UV light (black light).
- Scorpions
are hard to kill off. If you suspect your house has scorpions, call a
professional exterminator. Eliminating their food source (other insects)
can help.
- Few people
die from scorpion stings, even the sting of the bark scorpion. Scorpion
stings are most dangerous to the very young and the very old. Pets are
also at risk.
Mexico seems to be one of the main locations where humans are
worried about Scorpions. The species found living around this area are said to
be the most venomous. It is estimated that 1,000 people die annually in Mexico
from Scorpion bites. The Mexican government has been trying to find a solution
but where there are harsh living conditions it has been difficult.
You can take steps to help reduce the chances of Scorpions
ending up in your home. Don’t leave piles of rocks in your yard. Check wood
carefully that you have outdoors before you bring it in. Place lighting
outdoors around your home to keep them from coming in since they are sensitive
to light.
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