This document provides guidance on first aid for animal bites, insect stings, and snake bites. It advises remaining calm, cleaning and dressing wounds, immobilizing affected areas as needed, and seeking medical help for serious injuries or allergic reactions. Precautions are described such as giving animals space, not provoking them, and calling for assistance if a situation cannot be handled alone.

1. BITES AND STINGS
MUKESH SUNDARARAJAN

2. • Introduction
• First-Aid Priorities Animal
Bites
• Dog Bites Insect Stings
• Injuries by Marine Creatures Snake
Bites

3. Most animals will not turn aggressive unless provoked.
Staying away from these wild animals could prevent many
unnecessary injuries.
It is only wise be equipped with a first aid kit when involved
in outdoor activities.
Before attempting a rescue, ensure personal safety before
approaching a victim that is under attack.
Always call 995 for assistance if you are unable to handle
the situation alone.

4. 1. Ensure personal safety before attempting rescue
2. Assess victim’s condition (e.g. consciousness level)
3. Calm the victim by reassuring victim
4. Treat any visible injuries and minimize any risk of further
injury and infection.
5. Call 995 if you are unable to handle the injuries alone
6. Identify the injury and the source to assist the medical team
in treating the wounds and anticipating certain symptoms
such as anaphylactic shock.

5. Animals with sharp teeth can cause deep puncture
wounds and carry germs deep into the tissues and result
in an infection.
Any bite that breaks the skin can cause the victim to
become very vulnerable to infection.

6. • Canines are born with teeth to hunt and an instinct that
commands it to bite whatever targets it considers as prey.
• These instincts could result in very severe injuries to the
victim.
• Dogs are generally very protective over
- Food
- Territory
- Young
• When threatened, they
will attack to protect them.

7. • Do not run past a dog
• Do not travel alone in the wild
• Do not approach a dog when it’s eating
• Do not approach a dog when it’s tied up
• Do not snatch anything that belongs to the dog
• Do not pat any stray dog even if it seems pitiful or cute

8. • Avoid attracting a dog to you with food or sound
• Do not approach a dog when it is nursing its puppies.
• Never force a dog into a corner or threaten it for the fun
of it.
• Treat every dog you do not know with caution.
• Do not throw objects or provoke animals (Dogs etc…)
• Do not intrude into their territory

12. 1. Control bleeding by
applying direct
pressure and raising
the injured part.

13. 2. Cover the wound with a
sterile dressing or a non
fluffy clean pad
bandaged in place to
control bleeding.
3. Arrange to take or send
the casualty to hospital.

14. 1. Wash the wound
thoroughly with
soap and warm
water in order to
minimize the risk of
infection.

15. 2. Pat the wound dry with clean gauze swabs and
cover with an adhesive dressing or small sterile
dressing.
3. Advise the casualty to see a doctor in case
inoculation (vaccination) is needed. If the wound
is large or deep, arrange to send the casualty to
hospital.

16. Rabies
A potentially fatal viral infection of the nervous system,
spread in the saliva of infected animals.
Hepatitis B or C viruses
There is probably only a small risk of hepatitis B or C
viruses being transmitted through a human bite.

18. • Reassure the casualty.
• Apply constant firm
pressure, scrape or brush
the sting off with your
fingernail or blunt edge
of an object. (Tweezers
are not recommended as
it may squeeze the
venom sac thus
increasing the venom
released).
Bee Sting
Bee Sting

19. • Some people are allergic to stings and can
rapidly develop the serious condition of
anaphylactic shock. Multiple stings can also be
dangerous.
• Stings in the mouth or throat are serious, as
swelling can cause obstruction to the
airway.

20. • If stung on the fingers or hands, remove any rings
and watches in case of swelling.
• Wrap a few ice cubes in a towel and apply on the
area for 10-15 minutes to stop the pain and swelling.
Do not apply ice directly on the sting area to prevent
frostbite.
Advise the casualty to see his doctor if the pain and
swelling persist.

21. ❖ Red, swollen, or warm lump
❖ Hives
❖ Rash
❖ Itching, tingling, numbness, burning, tenderness, pain
❖ Serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) occur when symptoms
spread. These can include difficulty in breathing, dizziness,
nausea, diarrhea, fever, muscle spasms, or loss of
consciousness. Call for emergency medical help right away.

22. • Use insect repellants
• Wear long pants / T-shirt
• During an attack, cover your face and run in a straight line
as quickly as possible.
• Grab a net, coat, towel, or anything that will give you
momentary relief.
• During your escape, try to find shelter like a house, tent or
car with windows and door closed.

23. • Avoid other people as they too may come under attack.
• Bees may pursue for up to 400m
• They are slow fliers and most people can outrun a bee.
• Hence, be alert for bees coming in and out through cracks in
a wall.
• Stay away once you notice a bee colony. Do not provoke it.

24. • Using fine-pointed
tweezers, grasp the tick’s
head as close to the
casualty’s skin as
possible.
• Use a slight to-and-fro
action to lever, rather
than pull, the head out.
The mouthparts will be
very firmly embedded in
the skin; try to avoid
breaking the tick and
leaving the buried head
behind.

25. • A snake bite is often not a serious injury, but it can be very
frightening.
• Reassurance is vital, for if the casualty keeps still and calm,
the spread of venom may be delayed.
• Try to get a description of the snake. This will help the
doctor to identify the snake and the correct treatment. Do
not try to catch the snake.
• Notify the police if the snake remains at large.
SNAKE BITE

26. •
•
•
•
•
•
•
A pair of puncture marks.
Severe pain at the site of the bite.
Redness and swelling around the bite.
Nausea and vomiting.
Difficulty breathing; in extreme cases,
respiration may stop altogether.
Disturbed vision.
Increased salivation and sweating.

27. 1. Lay the casualty down.
Tell the casualty to
keep calm and still.
2. Gently wash the wound
and pat dry with clean
swabs.

28. 3. Lightly compress the limb above the wound with a roller
bandage. Use triangular bandages to immobilize the
affected area to minimize the spread of venom.
4. Position the injured limb below the level of the heart. If
she stops breathing, be ready to resuscitate if needed.
*DO NOT apply a tourniquet, a bandage or ice on the
wound, slash the wound with a knife, or suck the venom.
5. If there is eye irritation, rinse the eye under gently running
cool water for at least 15 minutes. Prevent run-off water
from entering the unaffected eye.

29. •
•
Do not try and chase, provoke, catch or beat up
the snake
Move away if you spot a snake

30. THANK YOU

31. • Most animals and insects do not usually attack
unless injured or provoked
• You must always take sensible precautions before
attempting, for example, to rescue a casualty from
an angry dog or a swarm of bees.
• If you cannot cope alone, get help or call 995 for
ambulance