What to do When an Alabama Black Widow Bites You

Almost no other symbol in nature is as chilling as the red hourglass on the underside of a black widow spider. It’s as if this creepster spider is saying the clock is ticking when I bite.

Recently one of our own team members was unfortunate enough to come across a black widow while weeding. Just 30 minutes after being bitten under the arm things started to go south on the way to the hospital. They became violently ill and the veins in their legs began to harden.

These poisonous spiders are found in all 50 states, but are more common in the south in places like Alabama. They like to hide out in areas that are undisturbed and protected, usually keeping their webs low to the ground. Firewood, boxes, garbage cans, empty pots – these are all hiding spots for black widows.

What to do If You’re Bitten by a Black Widow

Being bit by a black widow isn’t usually fatal, but this teeny tiny insect can knock even the toughest guy off their feet. If you can, bring the spider to the hospital, but the most important thing is to get to the hospital ASAP.

But how do you know if you’ve been bitten by a black widow. Here’s how:

What a Black Widow Bite Looks Like

A black widow spider bite can feel like a pinprick that doesn’t even make you bat an eyelash let alone make you think a spider has sunk its teeth in. At first you may notice the bite area looking a little red and swollen. But as the venom settles in you’ll start to see more noticeable symptoms.

Symptoms of a Black Widow Bite

Unfortunately many people don’t realize that they’ve been bitten by a black widow spider until the symptoms set in. Once they do you’ll definitely know something isn’t quite right. Within hours you’ll feel:

• Intense pain
• Chills
• Stiffness
• Feverish
• Nausea
• Abdominal pain

If you begin to feel these symptoms (1) check for a bite. Once you’ve located it (2) clean the bite site thoroughly and put a (3) cool compress over it. Adults can (4) take a mild pain killer to help relieve pain. If bitten on the leg or arm you can (5) slow the progress of the venom by keeping the extremity elevated.

Black Widow Bite Prevention

The best way to handle a black widow bite is to prevent it from happening.

• Wear gloves when working in the yard or clearing out items that have sat idle for a while.
• Dress like it’s winter even though it is warm outside. Wear long-sleeved clothes, long pants, socks, etc.
• Duct-tape all clothing openings (wrist/neck)
• Wear closed toe shoes instead of sandals

Despite their nasty bites black widows are critters that don’t attack unless they feel threatened. So anytime you’re around a place where they may be lurking proceed with caution and keep something that’s capable of smashing nearby. If you find that you have an infestation that’s too much to handle the professionals at Vulcan Termite and Pest Control, Inc. can help clear out this ticking time bomb.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/teejaybee/2373331852

Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/education-and-prevention/what-to-do-when-an-alabama-black-widow-bites-you