Emergency

Questions to Ask

Is the skin severely mangled by the animal bite or has the face been bitten?
	Get Emergency Care and give first aid before emergency care: Control bleeding if it is severe. Apply direct pressure on the wound and elevate the wounded area higher than the heart.
Does the person show signs of shock? These include: Pale or bluish lips, skin or fingernails Cool, moist skin Rapid or slow heartbeat and/or breathing Weakness, trembling Restlessness, anxiety, confusion Enlarged pupils Vomiting Unconsciousness
	Get Emergency Care and give first aid for shock before emergency care (see "Shock" ).
Has the victim been bitten by a snake known to be poisonous or are you unsure whether or not the snake is poisonous?

Get Emergency Care - (Do so within four hours of the bite) and do first aid before emergency care:

Carefully move the victim (or yourself) away from the snake. Carry the victim if necessary.
Calm the victim and have the victim rest as much as possible. Moving about can help the venom spread.
Gently wash the bite area with soap and water.
Keep the limb of the bite site level with or just below the level of the heart.
Apply a splint to the limb of the bite site to keep it from moving.

Don't:

Apply cold or ice to the bite
Cut the fang mark
Try to suck out the venom
Apply a tourniquet or a bandage

Has the victim been bitten by a spider known to be poisonous or are you unsure whether or not the spider is poisonous? Are any of these symptoms present?

Tiny red bite marks, swelling at bite site
A dull, numbing pain in the area of the bite
Painful cramps and muscle stiffness in the abdomen or shoulders, chest and back
Nausea, vomiting
Restless, dizziness, problems with breathing, convulsions
Fever, chills, heavy sweating

	Get Emergency Care and give first aid before emergency care: Perform rescue breathing, if needed. If you can, keep the bitten area lower than the rest of the body. Calm the victim and keep him or her warm. Gently clean the site of the bite with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Put an ice pack over the bite site for pain relief. If you can, catch the spider in a closed container for identification.
Has the skin been punctured?
	See Doctor and give first aid before seeing doctor. If bleeding is not severe, let the wound bleed, then wash the area with soap and water. Rinse for 10 minutes. (See "Cuts, Scrapes and Punctures".)
Is the animal wild or a pet that has not been immunized against rabies?

Are there any signs of infection 24 hours or more after the animal bite? These include: Fever Severe swelling Redness Pus

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