How to Identify and Treat Black Widow Spider Bites

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.