A few years ago I was working in Mexico. The gardener was clearing wood piles and found a snake (don't remember exactly what kind) he chopped its head off and went back to work, about 15-20 min later he went to pick up the head and the mouth closed on his finger. We were about an hour away from a hospital, I heard he lost most of the hand if not all. Be careful.
Don't most or all scorpions glow under black light? Might be nice to have a black light around to help see them.
... what. One more reason I dislike snakes.
http://factually.gizmodo.com/severed...api-1627136917
"It is not a case of "nerves causing the head to move unconsciously" as most people think. The heads, and parts of the neck if still attached, are alive and some may attempt to bite objects which approach; the eyes may follow movement and the pupils contract and dilate in response to light and dark; they can blink and in the case of snakes and lizards, flick out and in their tongues to test the air for scent and even move slightly if enough of their neck is left."
Last edited by Koshinn; 12-13-14 at 23:40.
"I never learned from a man who agreed with me." Robert A. Heinlein
Great advice here. Only thing I will add is you can learn what areas to avoid in the specific areas you're going to. When I was in SE Asia we avoided grassy spots, for instance.
Back in Paramedic school we were informed about the use of 10ccs of 10% solution (1 gm) of IV Calcium Chloride for tetany related to Black Widow Spider bites. I don't know if the spiders you may encounter inject a similar venom or not. I would try to find out the kinds of biting insects you will encounter. There is still some mystery regarding the way the BW spiders venom works in our body systems. I have read elsewhere that it works somewhat as a Calcium channel blocker, thus the application of Calcium Chloride as an antidote.
I found this on a drug sheet on Calcium Chloride for you:
Indications and Usage
Calcium Chloride is indicated in the immediate treatment of hypocalcemic tetany. Other therapy, such as parathyroid hormone or vitamin D, may be indicated according to the etiology of the tetany. It is also important to institute oral calcium therapy as soon as practicable. Calcium salts have been used as adjunctive therapy in a number of conditions, including the following:
Insect bites or stings, such as Black Widow Spider bites.
Sensitivity reactions, particularly when characterized by urticaria.
As an aid in the treatment of depression due to overdosage of magnesium sulfate.
As an aid in the management of the acute symptoms in lead colic.
In cardiac resuscitation, particularly after open heart surgery, calcium chloride has been used when epinephrine has failed to improve weak or ineffective myocardial contractions.
Be safe bro!
Last edited by TacMedic556; 05-14-15 at 21:06. Reason: spelling
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