User:Aananthamoorthy

Mortality and  morbidity  by  the  scorpion   sting   was  quite  hight  during  warmed  and  hot  weather  conditions. After the  scorpion  sting  the  victim  should  be  treated  with  proper  first  aid. So that, life  of  him/her  will  be  saved. So, I  think   everybody  should  know  the  first  aid  treatment  for  a   scorpion  stinging  especially  these  days. One has  to  act    fast   and  wisely  without    panicking  himself. The victim's  responses  may  not  be  the  same  at  all  times. The responses  vary  with  the  victim's  capacity  to  endure  the  pain. The victim  should  be  treated  very  quickly  without    any  delay. Then the victim after  the   first  aid  would  be  calmer  and  be  able  to  face  the  treatment  at  the  hospital.

By  doing  first   aids , 1) The mortality rate          2)   The  period  of   hospital   stay 3)  Admissions   to  Intensive  Care   Unit          4)   Need   for  anti-venom can  be   reduced.

Therefore,  I  wish  to  put  forward   a  very  effective  and   easy   first  aid methods  which   prove   satisfactory. Even though there  are  different  species  of   scorpions,  the   stings  of  any  of  them  is  given  the  first   aid  treatment  given  below.

Aims of  the  First - Aid.

1. To reduce   the  pain  caused. (There is  burning, stinging, tingling & sore effects  simultaneously) 2. To  slow   down   the  spread   of   venom. 3. To   reduce   acute   inflammatory  edema.

First  Aid

1. One must  confirm   that  it  is  the  scorpion  sting  that  is  caused. The area   of  the  injection  of  venom  by  the  scorpion   should  be  marked   around. Marking this will help  for  the  proper  first  aid  and later  in  hospital   treatment. 2. Reassuring  the  patient  or victim. 3. Move the  victim  to  an  open  space. 4. Uncovering  the  clothes  of  victim. 5. The sting  site  or  the  affected   area   must  be   immediately  kept  with  the  cold   application. 6. If the  sting   area  is  on  hand  or  leg immerse  them  into  water. 7. If the  victim  is  stung   by   scorpion  in  head, neck,chest  and  back  keep  those  areas  covered  with  moist  towel or moist cloth. If there is any possibility getting ice cubes or cool water better go for it. 8. Keep the other parts of body moistened by washing or bathing 9. Give adequate amount of cool water or water if he/ she can swallow it. 10. After the first aid some victims may need the help of a doctor. 10.1 If the victim is  children, girls and women especially widows. 10.2 If he/she is stung by a scorpion in head ,neck ,chest, back and right side of the body. 11. Commonly acute stage of sting will exist for 24 hours from the time of sting, so observe the victim carefully. Note:-Trying to suck out blood from the injured area and cutting the injured point are useless and wasting time and effort only.

Mr.Arumugam Ananthamoorthy, Senior Nursing Officer, Teaching Hospital Jaffna. Sri Lanka.