THE COMPLETE OUTDOORSMANS HANDBOOK.pdf - Doczine

extreme caution.There are special first-aid kits on the market for people who are hypersensitive to the stings of bees,wasps, hornets, and the like. Generally these are available only with a doctor's prescription. If you or oneof your family is hypersensitive, you should 'consult your family doctor about having this type of kitwith you at home and on outdoor rambles.These kits contain pills, sterile alcohol pads, a tourniquet, and a hypodermic syringe with 0.3 ml ofEpinephrine, plus an instruction folder. The medication in the syringe serves to slow down the poison'sreaction until the pills begin to work.SCORPIONS AND SPIDERSThe black widow spider and the scorpion are two other insects that an outdoorsman may, on rareoccasions, encounter. Bites from both of these insects are dangerous, but only rarely lethal.Generally black widow spiders are found in rubbish heaps and old ramshackle buildings. If you are fondof visiting old ghost towns, abandoned mines, and other similar spots, you should exercise a bit ofcaution.Scorpions are nocturnal insects. They spend their days under rocks, brush piles, and leaves. The onlyreal hazard is that they may choose some shaded spot in camp, such as a rubber mattress, under which tohide as dawn approaches. If you are traveling in scorpion country, it is wise to exhibit a bit of caution byshaking out your boots and checking over your sleeping bag before using them.A bite from a scorpion or a black widow may cause swelling, pain, nausea, fever, and even speech andbreathing difficulties. Obviously the more allergic the person is to these venoms, the more drastic is thereaction. Children are more susceptible than adults, but as I said earlier, death due to black widow orscorpion bites occurs rarely and then only in extreme cases. Anyone bitten by these insects should betaken to a doctor immediately. First aid should consist of an application of an ice pack, ice water, orsimply a chunk of ice to the bitten area. If the bite is on a foot or a hand, a tourniquet can be used. Thetourniquet must be applied with extreme care. Never tie the tourniquet too tightly and be sure to releaseit every few minutes. The bitten person should be kept calm. The heart beat and pulse of an excitedperson are much faster than normal, hence the venom spreads much more quickly. The bitten personshould not walk more than necessary. Remember, exercise also quickens heart beat and pulse.MOSQUITOS AND BLACKFLIESMosquitos and blackflies are two of the most common pests that an outdoorsman has to endure. Usuallythey are worse during early to midspring but, in some areas such as the Arctic, they can be troublesomeduring the entire summer.Fortunately both of these insects are easy to combat. Proper clothing is the first and best line of defense.