Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Getting medical help
• Part 2 of 3: Treating a scorpion sting yourself
• Part 3 of 3: Identifying the scorpion
• Tips
• Warnings

At least 1,500 scorpion species exist, and only 25 of them produce a poison that can be dangerous to adult humans. In Europe, a few species occur around the Mediterranean, but in Belgium and the Netherlands it is too cold for scorpions. Fortunately, the scorpion species you encounter in Europe are not dangerous, although allergic reactions have been observed in some victims. If you were stung on vacation, even if you know it was from a harmless species, treat the wound and call emergency services if symptoms other than pain and mild swelling occur.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Getting medical help

1. Call emergency services if necessary. If the victim has other symptoms besides pain and mild swelling, call emergency services. Also call if you have seen the scorpion and think it is a dangerous species, if the victim is a child or elder, or if someone has a weak heart or lungs.
   • In Europe you call 112
   • In the US, call 911
   • In India you call 102
   • In Australia you call 000
   • In New Zealand, you call 111
   • Search this website for emergency numbers for all other countries.
2. Call a nearby poison control center for advice. If you don't need immediate medical attention, you can call a poison control center to describe your symptoms and get expert advice. If you can't find it in the database below, search Google for "poison control" and where you are at that moment. If you can't find anything where you are, you can also call a center closest to you.
   • Find a poison control center in the World Health Organization database.
3. Describe the victim over the phone. The age and weight of the victim can be useful for medical personnel to estimate the risk and what is needed for treatment. If the victim has any medical conditions or allergies, especially to insect bites, notify the emergency services or poison control center immediately.
   • Also state when exactly the victim was stabbed, if you know. If you are not sure, say so and tell me when the sting was noticed.
4. Describe the scorpion to the emergency services. Emergency services may not be able to advise you over the phone, but a poison control center will likely ask you for a description of the scorpion. See the section on identifying scorpions for advice on dangerous signs and how to catch the scorpion while it is still around.
5. Find someone who can look after the victim or take him / her to hospital if needed. Because scorpion venom can sometimes cause muscle spasms, the victim should not drive, cycle or walk. Find someone with a car or other means of transport that can take the victim to hospital if the emergency services are not available. The victim should not be left alone for the first 24 hours, and it is best to keep an eye on him / her throughout the week in case symptoms worsen.

Part 2 of 3: Treating a scorpion sting yourself

1. Keep an eye out for serious symptoms. In any case, babies, children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung disease should receive medical attention for a scorpion sting. However, most scorpion stings can be treated at home, unless it is a highly poisonous species. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience the following symptoms:
   • Vomiting, sweating, drooling or foaming in the mouth.
   • Inability to control urine or faeces.
   • Muscle spasms causing involuntary movement of the head, neck or eyes, or difficulty walking.
   • Increased or irregular heartbeat.
   • Difficulty breathing, swallowing, talking, or seeing.
   • Severe swelling due to an allergic reaction.
2. Find the spot of the stitch. A scorpion sting may or may not swell visibly. However, any scorpion sting will be accompanied by a sharp pain or a burning sensation, followed by tingling or numbness.
3. Wash the spot where the scorpion stung with soap and water. Remove all clothing from around the stitch and wash it gently. This will remove residual poison from the skin and disinfect the wound, reducing the risk of infection.
4. Keep the area where the stitch is as still as possible and lower than your heart. Never hold it above your heart, as this will allow the poison to spread through your body more quickly. So keep it lower than your heart and don't move too much to keep the heart rate low so that the poison spreads less quickly.
5. Calm the victim. Anxiety or excitement makes the heart beat faster, causing the poison to spread more quickly. If possible, reassure the victim and do not let him / her move. Remind him / her that most scorpion stings do not cause permanent damage.
6. Put a cold compress or ice pack on the stitch. The cold slows down the poison spreading, reduces swelling, and numbs the pain. Put something cold on the stitch for ten to fifteen minutes, wait ten to fifteen minutes and repeat. This treatment is especially effective within two hours of the sting.
   • If the victim has blood flow problems, only apply ice to the wound for five minutes at a time.
7. Take a painkiller for the pain. Use ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen for the pain. Follow the instructions on the packaging. If the pain is too bad, get medical help.
8. Provide first aid if necessary. It's rare for someone to become unconscious or have severe muscle spasms, but if so, call an ambulance right away. Learn the basic steps of CPR and apply it if you suspect the victim's heart has stopped beating.
9. Call a doctor. Even if you think that the treatment at home is sufficient, it is highly recommended that you consult a doctor. To reduce the risk of infection or other complications, your doctor may recommend a tetanus shot, muscle relaxants, or antibiotics.

Part 3 of 3: Identifying the scorpion

1. Seek medical attention if you experience severe symptoms. While most scorpion stings are not dangerous, keep an eye out for symptoms that indicate serious health risks. If the following applies to the victim or his / her symptoms, seek medical attention before you are trying to identify the scorpion:
   • In any case, babies, children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung disease should receive medical attention for a scorpion sting.
   • Vomiting, sweating, drooling or foaming in the mouth.
   • Inability to control urine or faeces.
   • Muscle spasms causing involuntary movement of the head, neck or eyes, or difficulty walking.
   • Increased or irregular heartbeat.
   • Difficulty breathing, swallowing, talking, or seeing.
   • Severe swelling due to an allergic reaction.
2. Only catch the scorpion if you can safely do it. If you can identify the scorpion species, you will know if treatment is necessary, and in the case of a poisonous species, emergency services will know exactly what to do. If you have a glass jar that is bigger than the scorpion, you can try to catch it in there so you can identify it. However, if you don't see the scorpion or you don't have a suitable pot, don't try this.
   • Get a large mason jar, big enough to fit all over the scorpion and long enough so that the scorpion's tail can't touch your hands. If you have one, get a pair of pliers that are at least 10 inches long.
   • Catch the scorpion with the jar or tongs. Turn the jar upside down and put it all over the scorpion. If you have pliers that are long enough, use them to grip the scorpion firmly and put it in the jar that way.
   • Put the lid on. If the jar is upside down, slide it a piece fat cardboard underneath, hold it tightly against the pot and turn it over. Put the lid on tightly or place a large, heavy book on the top of the jar.
3. If you can't catch it, take a picture of the scorpion. If you don't have the right tools to catch the scorpion, take a picture of it. Preferably take several photos from different angles. By taking pictures you can show more details to the emergency services, so that the scorpion can be identified more quickly.
4. Assume a scorpion with a thick tail is dangerous. Scorpions with a large, thick tail and spine are usually more dangerous than scorpions with a thin spine. While it may still be useful to catch or photograph the beast for identification, you should still call a doctor even if you don't have any serious symptoms yet, especially if you are in Africa, India or North, Central or South America .
   • If you've only got a good look at the claws, you can also estimate the risk: large, powerful claws often mean the scorpion relies on it more than its poisonous spine. However, this is not a watertight system, but it can be valuable information for the emergency services.
5. Identify dangerous scorpions in the United States and Mexico. If you are in the south-west of the United States, or in the north of Mexico, search the Internet for pictures of the "Arizona bark scorpion" and compare them to the scorpion that stung. Note that this "bark scorpion" often has stripes in the mountains, while in the lower areas it is usually a solid brown in color. This scorpion's sting can be fatal and needs immediate medical treatment.
   • If you're elsewhere in the United States, there is little risk of a dangerous scorpion sting. Treat the sting as previously described and see a doctor if you have an allergic reaction or other severe symptoms.
6. Identify dangerous scorpions in the Middle East or Africa. The five-stripe scorpion is one of the most dangerous scorpions in the world, grows up to 12 cm in size and comes in different colors. The size of the scissors can also vary. In fact, because of the risk of heart and lung failure after a sting, it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention after a sting through a small specimen.
   • As mentioned earlier, the sting of a fat-tailed scorpion can be extremely dangerous, and there are many in these regions.
   • An unidentified species with a thin sting is usually not dangerous, but as there are many different species in Africa, many of which have not yet been sufficiently researched, it is always better to see a doctor if you have been stung.
7. Identify dangerous scorpions in Central and South America. Most scorpions in this area are not dangerous to adults, but there are exceptions. One of the more dangerous species is the "Brazilian yellow scorpion". Like most dangerous scorpions, this one has a thick tail.
8. Identify dangerous species in other places. Few other types of scorpions are fatal to adults, but as not all species have been identified, it is always good to see a doctor if you experience other symptoms besides pain and mild swelling.
   • Small, red or orange scorpion stings in India, Nepal or Pakistan should be treated immediately. This could be the "Indian red scorpion".
   • There is a low risk of fatal or serious injury from a scorpion sting in Europe, Australia or New Zealand. It is still a good idea to identify the scorpion if you experience severe symptoms so that you can tell emergency services which species you were stung by.

Tips

• Reduce the risk of being stung by avoiding dark, cool, damp areas such as wood piles and basement corners. If you want to check if there are scorpions in your (holiday) home, you can do the following:
  • Buy a flashlight with black light (UV light).
  • Use this to illuminate the areas where you suspect scorpions.
  • See if you see anything with a blue-green glow. That's the color scorpions turn under UV light.

Warnings

• Do not cut the wound, as this can lead to dangerous bleeding or infection, and you cannot remove the poison from your bloodstream.
• Don't suck the poison out with your mouth. Emergency services sometimes suck it out with a special device, but it is not yet clear whether this has much effect.