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Where the road ends and life begins
Spider Bites
Spider bites are rare unless you provoke the spider. Most of the spiders in the United States are harmless with only a couple of venomous ones. The Black widow and the Recluse (fiddleback) spider are the two spiders in the U.S. that you need to watch out for. There are other types in other areas of the world and are covered in the bite symptoms section.
Identify spider bites
You first want to identify spider bites so you know how to treat them. The only problem is, if you don't actually see the spider it is almost impossible to tell what kind of spider bit you. The only way you will be able to tell what type of spider bite you got, is to wait and see what reaction you have, if any, to the bite. That means paying close attention to the symptoms of a spider bite.
Spider bite symptoms
Note:
These are a brief synopsis of each spider, please click on each link to go to a page with full details and pictures. There is too much information to put on one page.
Black Widow-
The bite will feel like a pinprick or you won't even notice it and when you do see it, it will be two small red dots where it pierced the skin. The black widow's bite will affect the nervous system and some people will not suffer any effects while other will feel severe pain and cramps.
The pain will spread from the site of the spider bite to the big muscles in the arms, legs and stomach. This will usually happen within 30-60 minutes after the bite. Other effects are: high blood pressure, salivation, blood vessels constricting, numbness, tingling, headache, anxiety, sweating, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms.
It can be a whole-body reaction and it can also be fatal, especially in very young and elderly persons.
Brown Recluse-
The bite is often painless and could sting. It will get painful and itchy within a few hours. The Brown Recluse's bite affects the skin and surrounding tissue.
The bite will usually turn into a blister that is surrounded by a bluish-white ring which is then surrounded by a red area. This may eventually come off and form an ulcer as the tissue dies. If the blister opens then treat as for an open wound. Reactions to this bite can range from a mild fever and rash to nausea, vomiting, headache and other reactions.
Tarantula-
These spiders are virtually harmless but will bite if provoked. Most do not inject venom but some of the South American varieties do. If bitten, pain and bleeding are going to be present, and infection will probably set in. Treat this bite as on open wound.
Funnelweb Spider-
These are found on the eastern coast of Australia and need little provocation. Funnelweb's are very aggressive and deadly, symptoms can happen in minutes and death can be from minutes in small children to a day in adults.
Symptoms are anything from frothing at the mouth, nausea, vomiting and many more. Deaths occur from respiratory arrest.
More spiders will be added in the coming days.
Spider bites treatment
There are only a couple of things that you can do if you receive a bite.
1. Clean the wound with soap and water, if you don't have soap clean it a good as you possibly can.
2. Get something cold or cool on it, in a hiking survival situation that may be difficult so do the best you can.
3. If you have an over-the-counter meds with you then use them to get some relief.
4. Elevate the area to slow down the venom.
5. Tie a snug bandage or wrap between the bite and your heart. That will help slow down the venom. Don't tie it as tight as a tourniquet.
6. As soon as you are rescued see a doctor. Sooner rather than later.
These are not necessarily in order of how to do them, just do them.
