Scorpions or scorpions are arthropods of the order of arachnids. They are equipped with a pair of pincers and a tail that ends in a stinger, with a poison that can be lethal.
Their presence is common in rural and rugged environments, but they can also be present in urban areas, and their activity has currently increased in some regions of Latin America. Those who resist the worst scorpion or scorpion sting are children.
In urban areas, the factors that favor the presence of scorpions may be dirt and the presence of food scraps (since they feed on cockroaches); and constructions that involve soil removal, such as underground works, since scorpions often live underground, in tunnels or nooks.
Insecticide products are not effective in preventing the presence of scorpions, since direct contact with the animal is needed to eliminate it, unlike what happens, for example, with mosquitoes, for which the residual effect is sufficient.
What to do before a scorpion sting?
In the event of a scorpion or scorpion sting, it is recommended to place ice on the affected area and go to a medical center immediately.
If possible, the specimen should be taken to the medical center, so that it can be distinguished what type of scorpion it is.
Not all species are the same, which is why they can cause moderate inflammation to death. Before the bite of the most poisonous scorpions, it is necessary to apply an antidote that can be obtained in hospitals.
The first symptom of the bite is enormous pain in the area, and how much the case worsens depends on whether the poison spreads through the body or not. When it reaches the heart, for example, it can cause cardiac arrest, and that’s when it becomes lethal.
Tips to avoid scorpion stings
- Eliminate insects that scorpions may feed on, such as crickets and cockroaches.
- Take extreme precautions in underground areas, basements, tunnels, new constructions in which the soil has been removed, and above all, in summer.
- Do not walk barefoot.
- Shake out clothes and shoes before dressing, and bedding before going to bed.
- Separate the beds from the wall.
- Observe the bathroom floor before bathing.
- Cover sewers and sumps with metal mesh.
- Keep homes clean and tidy.
- Keep the exterior clear of weeds.
- Do not accumulate firewood, bricks or rubble near the houses.
- Where possible, plaster walls, cover cracks in floors, walls and ceilings.