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Civilian Emergency Platform
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has a painful bite that may be from a venomous spider — widow, recluse, or unknown species.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — NOT EXPERT REVIEWED — NOT FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Two small puncture marks with increasing pain.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Muscle cramps, abdominal pain, or sweating hours after bite — widow venom signs.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Growing painful ulcer or dark blister at bite site — possible recluse.
Scene hazards: Spider still present, Necrotic wound from recluse, Muscle spasms from widow
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Wash the bite with soap and water.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Kill or trap the spider for identification only if safe — use a jar and stick.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Note the time of the bite.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Apply cool compress — 10 minutes on, 10 off.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep the bitten limb still and below heart level.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Give paracetamol for pain if the person can swallow and is not allergic — not aspirin for unknown bites.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Draw a line around any spreading redness to monitor growth.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 if muscle cramps, difficulty breathing, or severe spreading pain develop.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Go to hospital with the spider or photo if possible.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Seek care for severe pain, spreading wound, or systemic symptoms.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Recluse bites may need wound monitoring over days — follow medical advice.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT cut or suck the bite.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT apply electric shock or folk remedies.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT ignore a bite that develops a spreading ulcer over days.
MYTH: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Every spider bite causes necrosis and needs immediate surgery
REALITY: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Most spider bites are minor. Recluse-related tissue damage is uncommon and develops over days — medical monitoring is appropriate, not panic surgery.
DANGER: DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Unnecessary aggressive wound treatment causes more harm than the bite itself.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Few spiders have medically significant venom. Widow spiders cause muscle pain and cramps; recluse spiders can cause tissue damage at the bite site.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Many skin lesions blamed on spiders are actually infections — medical evaluation helps tell the difference.