DISASTER! - Homeland Security and Emergency Management ...

What to do…• Run away from area if there’s a swarm or nest nearby.• Remove stinger by scraping it away with credit card, longfingernail or using tweezers. Don’t try to squeeze it outsince this causes more venom to get in the victim.• Wash wound with soap and water or rinse with hydrogenperoxide.• Cover with a bandage or clean cloth and apply ice pack.• Watch for allergic reactions for a few days (see above).• Call Fire Department or bee removal expert if needed.(See WEST NILE VIRUS on next page. TICKS covered on pages 167-168.)To relieve pain from an insect bite or sting:Activated charcoal - Make a paste using 2-3 capsules and a small amountof warm water. Dab paste on sting site and cover with gauze or plastic tokeep it moist. This will help draw out venom so it collects on your skin.Note, powder makes a black mess but easily wiped off with a towel. (seeFIRST AID KITS in Section 1)Baking Soda - Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda + 1 part warm waterand apply to the sting site for 15-20 minutes.Clay mudpack - If in the wilderness, put a mudpack over injury and coverwith bandage or cloth. The mudpack must be a mix of clay-containing soilsince clay is the key element but don’t use if any skin is cracked or broken.Meat tenderizer - Mixing meat tenderizer (check ingredient list for“papain”) with warm water and applying to the sting will help break downinsect venom. (Papain is a natural enzyme derived from papaya.)Urine (Pee) - Another remedy useful in the wilderness sounds totally gross(but has a history of medical applications in a number of cultures) is urine(pee) which reduces the stinging pain. (Unless you have a urinary tractinfection, the pee will be sterile and at the least won’t do any harm!)Some potential pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory remedies:fresh aloe - break open a leaf or use 96-100% pure aloe gellemon juice - from a fresh lemonvitamin E - oil from a bottle or break open a few gel capsulesstore brands - if over-the-counter methods preferred, usecalamine cream or lotion and aspirin or acetaminophenwww.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325163