Black Widow Spider Bites: Identification, Symptoms & First Aid

Black widow bites are most dangerous to small children and the elderly. These bites will also make adults pretty sick.

Things You'll Need

• Evacuation Plan
• Wilderness First Aid Classes
• Antibacterial Soaps
• Cold Compresses
• Ibuprofen

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Instructions

• 1

  Learn to recognize female black widow spiders, whose bites are venomous. They are usually coal black and have a reddish hourglass shape on their bellies.

• 2

  Exercise caution when stepping or reaching into places where black widow webs are likely to be: in cool dark places such as underneath rocks or logs, or inside caves, unoccupied structures or outdoor latrines.

• 3

  Look for the signs and symptoms of a black widow bite: redness at the site of the bite; muscle cramps originating at the bite and spreading throughout the body; pain and cramping in the back and abdomen; nausea, vomiting, perspiration, dizziness; changes in levels of consciousness (See "How to Measure Level of Consciousness").

• 4

  Clean bite area with soap and water and elevate to at least level of the heart.

• 5

  Apply an ice pack to the site of the bite.

• 6

  Administer pain killers to provide some relief from the cramping and muscle spasms.

• 7

  Administer antivenin if the person bit is a small child or elderly person. Antivenin is usually only available in hospitals - evacuate immediately.