Resist the urge to wash the area of your body that was stung with soap and water. Instead, get some apple cider vinegar and liberally pour it over your body. The apple cider vinegar will neutralize the venom and prevent any further damage. Leave the apple cider vinegar on your body for at least 10 minutes.

Beach Sand

Throw some beach sand on the area that was stung. It can go right over the apple cider vinegar. The beach sand will help to draw out the toxins that are already in your body. Keep the beach sand on your body for at least 10 minutes. However, do not rub the sand into the area.

Hot Water

In your sink, get some water as hot as you can stand it without it being so hot that you will get burned. Pour this water over your body to remove the sand and apple cider vinegar. This will prevent any further damage. After this step, you just need to perform a little maintenance until the pain completely subsides.

Aloe Vera Gel

Use aloe vera gel on the part of your body the jellyfish stung. Aloe vera is well known for its healing properties. This gel can help speed up your healing process by a day or two. You may apply it as often as you like because it is all-natural and completely safe.

Seeking Medical Treatment

Some jellyfish stings can be quite serious. You will need to seek medical attention for these. These symptoms can include: nausea or vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. Also have a doctor look at your sting if you begin to feel weak or numb. There are two symptoms that may occur that would require you to call 911. They are trouble breathing and bleeding from the infected area that won't stop. Never wait to have these symptoms treated. They could be life-threatening.

2

While it is fully grown worms that are generally a hazard to human health, the eggs are the primary means of infection. Worms themselves do not live for long outside of a human host, so the likelihood of adult worms remaining in bedding or in pillows is slim. The tiny eggs, however, can remain, sometimes indefinitely, in bedding, clothing or on pillows, and enter the body when they are breathed in by their human host.

Types

While there are several varieties of parasitic worms, the most common variety to be picked up from bedclothes are pinworms. Pinworms are also known as thread worms, due to the fact that the adult worms bear a resemblance to small white pieces of thread. Pinworms live in the rectum, and the adult females will emerge at night to lay eggs on the skin around the anus. This activity causes itching, and the infected person will often scratch, causing eggs to become lodged under the fingernails and be spread to the surrounding sheets and pillows.

Prevention/Solution

In addition to taking health care practitioner-prescribed oral or topical medications, the spread of pinworms can be diminished by frequently washing the bedding, clothing and underclothes of the infected person. The bedding should be washed in hot, soapy water and dried at high heat as well. Take care not to shake the laundry, as this can cause the eggs to become airborne, causing other members of the household to become infected.

3

"More people die from severe allergic reactions to bee stings each year than from snake bites," according to Penn State University. A person who is allergic to bee stings can suffer from life-threatening conditions and should be aware of the potential danger of getting stung by a bee. A person that is highly allergic to bee stings should be ready to self-treat in the event of a bee sting. The most common and effective treatments are to inject the body with an EpiPen, take antihistamine tablets and undergo bee sting allergy shots.

EpiPen

In the rare case of a bee sting sending a person into anaphylactic shock, the most effective treatment is an EpiPen. An EpiPen is carries a strong medication that can be self-injected into the thigh of the person experiencing anaphylactic shock. As soon as the person realizes that he has been stung by a bee, he should take the EpiPen, break the seal, allowing the needle to appear, and quickly inject the medication into the thigh. The symptoms will be alleviated almost immediately but could last for up to 15 minutes, according to epipen.com. After injecting the medication, the person should call 911 immediately to get medical professionals on the scene as soon as possible.

Antihistamine Pills

A person who is only slightly allergic to a bee sting and will not experience life-threatening reactions should self-medicate with an antihistamine pill. One of the strongest and most effective antihistamines that you can purchase over-the-counter is diphenhydramine, commonly sold under the brand name Benadryl. A person who is stung by a bee and is moderately allergic should carry diphenhydramine with him or her in case of a bee sting. Take 50mg of diphenhydramine to quickly alleviate the symptoms of the allergic reaction, according to the Rx List. The medication should take effect within 15 minutes and will last for up to 4 hours at which time you may want to take another 50mg.

Allergy Shots

Consult with an allergist if you feel like allergy shots are an option for treating a bee sting allergy. Allergy shots work in the same way as immunizations. A person receives a small amount of the allergen over a long period of time, causing the body to build up a resistance to the allergen. The amount of the allergen is slowly increased to the point where the individual's body begins to respond normally to the bee sting venom. Only a licensed allergist should administer these shots.

4

Resist the urge to wash the area of your body that was stung with soap and water. Instead, get some apple cider vinegar and liberally pour it over your body. The apple cider vinegar will neutralize the venom and prevent any further damage. Leave the apple cider vinegar on your body for at least 10 minutes.

Beach Sand

Throw some beach sand on the area that was stung. It can go right over the apple cider vinegar. The beach sand will help to draw out the toxins that are already in your body. Keep the beach sand on your body for at least 10 minutes. However, do not rub the sand into the area.

Hot Water

In your sink, get some water as hot as you can stand it without it being so hot that you will get burned. Pour this water over your body to remove the sand and apple cider vinegar. This will prevent any further damage. After this step, you just need to perform a little maintenance until the pain completely subsides.

Aloe Vera Gel

Use aloe vera gel on the part of your body the jellyfish stung. Aloe vera is well known for its healing properties. This gel can help speed up your healing process by a day or two. You may apply it as often as you like because it is all-natural and completely safe.

Seeking Medical Treatment

Some jellyfish stings can be quite serious. You will need to seek medical attention for these. These symptoms can include: nausea or vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. Also have a doctor look at your sting if you begin to feel weak or numb. There are two symptoms that may occur that would require you to call 911. They are trouble breathing and bleeding from the infected area that won't stop. Never wait to have these symptoms treated. They could be life-threatening.

5.

remove the animal or yourself and call your vet for helpful information. Determine if the dog has had recent rabies vaccinations. Contact the dog's owner or call Animal Control, if necessary.

2

Stop any bleeding by applying pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or towel.

3

Wash the wound under warm running water for approximately 5 minutes. Use soap and thoroughly rinse soap from the area. Residual soap can cause infection.

4

Apply antibiotic ointment to the bite. Cover with a bandage. For deeper wounds, use butterfly bandages. Dog bites can be painful so if acetaminophen is tolerated, it can alleviate the pain.

5

Call your doctor to determine if she wants to schedule an appointment to have the bite examined.

6

Watch the affected area for swelling, redness or drainage. If any of these occur, call your doctor.

7

If your dog is the biter, contact an animal trainer or your veterinarian for advice. It is important to train a biting dog as soon as possible. Never strike your dog.

6

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ticks live in wet areas with high humidity. Ticks are often found in the woods and in fields with high grasses. If your child is going to be walking, hiking or playing in this type of area, cover as much of her skin as possible. She should dress in a light long-sleeved shirt and long pants, with the pant legs tucked inside long socks to prevent ticks from crawling up the leg. Pull long hair up into a bun or braid it.

Use a Tick Repellent

DEET is a bug repellent that can be used on a child's skin and clothing. It prevents ticks from biting and is found in labeled bug sprays. Apply the DEET products to your child so that he does not touch the container and possibly get the repellent into his eyes or mouth.

Protect Pets

By protecting pets, you can also protect children by ensuring that a tick that has attached itself to a dog or cat does not move to the child. There are a number of over-the-counter and prescription tick treatments for pets that help repel and/or kill ticks. Pet owners should check with their veterinarian before using any product.

Wash Clothes and Hair

Wash your child's clothing and hair after she's been playing or hiking in an area where ticks could potentially live. Heat kills ticks, and by throwing clothing into a dryer, you can get rid of any ticks that may be stuck to clothes. Wash her hair with hot water to ensure that no ticks stuck in hair have a chance to attach to the skin

7

A bite from a water moccasin can cause swelling of the bite area, states The New York Times Health Guide. The limb will usually begin to swell profusely, beginning at the area of bite and spreading outward.

Pain

According to Alan Tennant author of Snakes of North America, a bite from a water moccasin is typically accompanied by sharp, burning pain. The pain is experienced at the time of the snake bite and usually worsens as time goes on.

Vomiting and Nausea

A water moccasin bite can cause nausea and vomiting, according to The University of Florida. The vomiting can be accompanied by a minty, metallic or rubbery taste in the mouth. Nausea and vomiting typically occur within five to 10 minutes from the time of the bite.

Numbness

Numbness and tingling often occur at the area of a water moccasin bite wound, according to The New York Times Health Guide. These symptoms usually appear within 30 seconds of the bite and can increase to complete loss of sensation at the area surrounding the bite. In some cases, the numbness and tingling sensation spreads throughout the entire body.

Discoloration

According to The University of Florida, the skin at and around the area of the bite often begins to discolor within two to five minutes from the time of the bite. Discoloration varies between hues and can range between blue, green and grey. This discoloration can quickly spread throughout the entire body.

8.

The oldest known bedbug fossil, estimated to be 3,550 years old, was uncovered at an Egyptian archaeological site in the 1990s. However, scientists believe bedbugs preyed on bats inside Mediterranean caves even earlier than that. Once humans became cave dwellers, bedbugs evolved into a species that preferred human blood.

Bedbug Migration

Bedbugs traveled across oceans in clothing and baggage.

We know that bedbugs reached Europe by the first century, since Pliny, a Roman philosopher, wrote in A.D. 76 that snakebites and ear infections could benefit from treatments using bedbugs. The reddish-brown insects were documented in China by 600. They were in England by the late 1500s, and from there it was a quick hop to North America. Scientists believe bedbugs arrived here with explorers, since no Native American name exists for them.

Bedbug Names

Spread by travelers, bedbugs are found worldwide.

Bedbug names reinforce the insect's global travel. The Greeks called a bedbug a "coris," which meant "to bite." In ancient Rome, the word "cimex" meant "a bug," and the species name "lectularius" means "bed." In Spain, "chinche" is the earliest word for bedbug. The first New Yorkers called them "red coats

9

after moving your cat away from the location of the fire ants, remove all the fire ants from your cat's fur. Do this by gently spraying them off with a water hose.

Bite Treatment

Using a cotton ball, apply ammonia to the bitten area. This will relieve the pain. You can also place an ice pack to the area for a few minutes to reduce swelling and discomfort. Apply calamine lotion to alleviate itching and pain.



For a larger cat (10 pounds or greater), you can administer 2 mgs of Benadryl every 12 hours until you are able to take her to the vet.

Warnings

Take your cat to an emergency veterinarian if he shows any symptoms of an allergic reaction. These include hives, sudden swelling, difficulty breathing and vomiting. In these cases, your cat may need a pharmaceutical antihistamine or steroid

10

Many bug repellents that you will find in your local store are laden with questionable chemicals. Cactus juice provides natural outdoor protection that will last up to six hours. It is safe for children to use and is considered non-irritating. Some cactus juice products are sold with built-in sunscreen.

History

During the U.S.-Mexican War, soldiers had to contend with mosquitoes constantly. The Army physicians were concerned that the mosquitoes were spreading disease, in addition to being a nuisance. Soldiers used a mixture of camphor oil, lard and cactus juice as protection from bugs.

Facts

The Prickly Pear Company holds U.S. Patent Number 5,736,584 for its cactus juice bug repellent solution. The repellent is comprised of cactus juice ("cactus extract made from the leaves and stems of the Prickly Pear Cactus") in a mineral oil base. Prickly Pear claims that the solution acts as a repellent when applied on mammal fur or skin.

11

red, bumpy or itchy skin is one of the earliest symptoms of bed bugs. Bed-bug bites are generally red, with a darker red color in the center, and are often clustered or lined up near one another. The bites are most often on the hands, face, neck and arms. Unfortunately, bed bug bites look like most other insect bites, so it is hard to tell whether your home has bed bugs without noticing a couple other symptoms.

Foul Odors

While foul odors are not always present when bed bugs have embedded themselves into your home, a musty, sweet, "buggy" smell does often accompany an extreme infestation. These odors are from secretions created in the glands of bed bugs.

Brown Spots

Small brown spots on bed linens are a sign of bed bugs; bed bug fecal matter is typically in the seams of sheets as well as on mattresses and the walls near an infested bed. The spots can be hard and look bumpy, or can take on the appearance of a stain from a dark-colored marker.

Empty Exoskeletons

Bed bugs molt five times before becoming adults, leaving behind empty, transparent, light-brown exoskeletons that look like empty bed bugs. Each exoskeleton becomes progressively bigger as bed bugs age; adult bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed.

Bloody Spots

Small smears of blood on your sheets is a telltale sign of a bed-bug problem. These smears occur when you accidentally crush an engorged bed bug while you are sleeping.

12

f you are bitten by a seed tick, do not touch the tick with your fingers because it can transfer infectious fluids to your skin. Use a pair of tweezers to gently grasp the seed tick. Quickly pull the tick off the skin in an upward motion. You can also remove the tick with masking tape. Firmly place a piece of masking tape, adhesive side down, on top of the tick. When you pull the tape off, the tick will usually be stuck to the adhesive.



Body lice treatment shampoo will remove seed ticks from the skin as well; ask a pharmacist which kind you should use.

After Removal

Once the tick has been removed, clean the area thoroughly with soap and water. Use a cotton ball to apply hydrogen peroxide to the affected area. Put an ice pack on the bite to alleviate swelling and numb the pain.

Natural Remedies

Apply a few drops of tea tree oil or peppermint oil to the bite area to alleviate redness and swelling. To reduce itchiness, rub a few drops of lavender oil on the affected area and let it remain on the skin for at least 15 minutes. Aloe vera gel also soothes tick bite symptoms

13

Redback spider bites are common, especially in summer months, numbering more than 250 cases per year in Australia. However, these spiders rarely leave their webs, therefore bites are unlikely to occur unless a hand or foot makes direct contact with the spider web. The venom contains neurotoxins, but it is a very slow-moving venom, most likely to simply cause pain.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the Redback spider bite include pain at the site, sometimes progressing to the entire limb, local swelling, sweating, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain and, in severe cases, paralysis. Since the introduction of the anti-venom, there have been no recorded fatalities from a Redback spider bite.

Treatment

Some common anti-venom treatments--such as pressure immobilization--are not recommended for Redback spider bites because the venom moves slowly and is not generally life-threatening; therefore, containing the venom at the site may only result in increasing the pain. Apply an ice pack to the bite to relieve pain, and seek medical attention. Anti-venom can be given intravenously, and if the patient shows signs of improvement after one hour, they can be released.



If the spider can be found, it should generally be brought with the patient for positive identification.

14Fire ant venom contains piperidine, which typically causes pain, swelling and itchiness around the bites, according to the New York Times Health Guide. Promptly cleaning the area and applying ice and over-the-counter preparations can ease the pain.

Providing Relief

1. The effects from fire ant bites usually clear up within 10 days, but the pain and itching can be severe enough to cause scarring. Treatment consists of easing pain and discomfort. Washing the bite with soap and water is recommended as an initial step, according to the New York Times Health Guide

Medication and Home Remedies

2. Paul Nester of the Fire Ant Project at Texas Cooperative Extension, Harris County, recommends using an insect sting relief medication or remedy within 20 minutes of the bite. Other treatments that may help include applying a solution of half bleach and half water, or meat tenderizer, ammonia, tea tree oil or camphor.

Allergies

3. If allergic symptoms like swelling of the throat, rapid pulse or difficulty breathing occur, immediate medical attention is required.

15

Remove the stinger, if it is still stuck in your skin. This will keep more venom from releasing, according to the Mayo Clinic. Wash the stung area with soap and water. Scrape the stinger out of the skin gently using a credit card or other thin, hard material. Don't pull the stinger out with tweezers as this could pump more venom into the skin.

Apply Ice

A cold pack or zip-style bag filled with ice applied to the sting will help ease pain and reduce swelling.

Baking Soda

Apply a paste of baking soda, using 3 tsp. of baking soda to 1 tsp. of water or vinegar, to the bite or sting area every few hours until the pain and swelling decrease.

See a Doctor

See a doctor if you start to feel nauseous or the stung area swells to more than 2 inches in diameter. Those who are severely allergic and get severe hives, swelling in the face or throat, weakness or faintness, increased heart rate and other signs of distress should call emergency services right away. If the person is known to have allergies to insect stings, an EpiPen or an antihistamine can be administered.

THE END