d. Ask the casualty if he is carrying medication for allergic reaction. If the
casualty is carrying medication (usually an autoinjector containing 0.3 milliliter of 1:1000
epinephrine per injection), assist the casualty in administering the injection or administer
the injection to him in accordance with the instructions in the kit.
e. Record the casualty's signs and symptoms and the treatment rendered on the
casualty's DD Form 1380, U.S. Field Medical Card.
f. Evacuate the casualty to a medical treatment facility where he can be
administered medication for the specific venom, if needed. Do not allow the casualty to
have anything to eat or drink.
g. Administer oxygen during evacuation if it is available and is needed.
2-5.
IDENTIFY BLACK WIDOW SPIDER BITES
Very few spiders are capable of inflicting bites that are fatal to humans. Two
such spiders are the black widow and the brown recluse. The black widow spider is
found throughout the US, particularly in warmer climates. The black widow
spider prefers shady, cool places such as grass, shrubs, rock piles, woodpiles, and
latrines. While the black widow spider prefers to remain hidden and is generally
nonaggressive, it will readily bite when threatened. Black widow spider bites can be
identified by seeing the spider or by the characteristic signs and symptoms of its bite.
a. Physical Characteristics of Black Widow Spiders.
(1) Female black widow spider. The body of a female black widow spider
(figure 2-1) is about one-half inch in length. It is black and shiny with a reddish-orange
spot shaped like an hourglass on the ventral side of the abdomen.
(2) Male black widow spider. The male, which is less often seen, has a
body about one-fourth inch in length. It is marked like the female, but also has four
pairs of reddish- orange stripes along the sides of the abdomen. The male spider does
not cause a noticeable bite.
(3) Brown and gray widow spiders. There are two other species of widow
spiders in the US, also known as false widow spiders. One species lives in
southern Florida while another species lives primarily in southern Florida and southern
California. These species are brown or gray in color and are also mildly poisonous.
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