Mother Nature’s First Aid Guide

By K.R. Smith and M.D.
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Treatment of a rattlesnake bite must be started promptly. First, put a tourniquet between the bite and the heart and tighten the tourniquet to block the veins, but not the artery.
Treatment of a rattlesnake bite must be started promptly. First, put a tourniquet between the bite and the heart and tighten the tourniquet to block the veins, but not the artery.
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Bees (including wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, etc.) scare many people half to death but only rarely are their stings really dangerous.
Bees (including wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, etc.) scare many people half to death but only rarely are their stings really dangerous.
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Most flies, gnats, fleas, mosquitoes and ants are mainly nuisances. Deer flies, black flies, horse flies and a few others may cause painful bites, but they are not dangerous.
Most flies, gnats, fleas, mosquitoes and ants are mainly nuisances. Deer flies, black flies, horse flies and a few others may cause painful bites, but they are not dangerous.

Reprinted with permission from Willamette Bridge. 

The first few pleasant days of spring always bring thousands of pale, moldy humans bursting from their caves to renew an acquaintance with Ma Nature. For most people, this is a relatively non-traumatic experience. But for some — especially the hard-core urbanites and those with short memories — the adventure may be akin to crossing a freeway blindfolded. You have only to spend an idle hour or two in any hospital emergency room on Sunday afternoon from mid-May through August to get an idea of the scope of the problem.

Therefore, we offer some general guides of what to do (or, often, what not to do) when Nature retaliates and you need first aid. Most of this is well covered in any standard first-aid manual, but we will try to condense some of the important information into a few paragraphs. The following is, necessarily, highly selective … so if your favorite injury or poisoning is not covered, you are invited to look it up yourself.

First Aid for Flying and Crawling Things

Bees (including wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, etc.) scare many people half to death but only rarely are their stings really dangerous. For the vast majority, bee stings are painful and sometimes swell quite badly but — once the sting has occurred — there is little or nothing to do. Nothing that you rub or spray on the skin, swallow or say to the bee is going to make much difference.

  • Published on Jul 1, 1970
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