Information
for Your Children
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The information on this
page is provided by Metro Guard to help
parents teach their children about harmful insects and plants
that the children may encounter while playing. The information,
which includes first aid tips, is available for download
in PDF format so that you can keep the information handy
in the event you should ever need it. |
The PDF's also make a good
study tool to use with your children to teach them. Each
document has a picture along with information about the
insect and first aid tips and there is even a coloring page
of the spiders and scorpions. |
We have also provided some
links to some very fun games that your children will enjoy
while they learn about insects in general. |
Harmful
Spiders
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Only a few spiders are
dangerous to humans. Two that are present in the contiguous
United States and more common in the Southern states are
the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Both
prefer warm climates and dark, dry places where flies are
plentiful. They often live in dry, littered, undisturbed
areas, such as closets, woodpiles and under sinks. |
Black
Widow Spider
The female black widow gives the more serious bite,
but a black widow spider bite is rarely lethal. You
can identify this spider by the red hourglass marking
on its belly. The bite feels like a pinprick. You
may not even know you've been bitten. At first you
may notice only slight swelling and faint red marks.
Within a few hours, though, intense pain and stiffness
begin.
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Brown Recluse Spider
You can identify this spider by the violin-shaped
marking on its top. The bite produces a mild stinging,
followed by local redness and intense pain within
eight hours. A fluid-filled blister forms at the
site and then sloughs off to leave a deep, enlarging
ulcer. Reactions from a brown recluse spider bite
vary from a mild fever and rash to nausea and listlessness.
On rare occasions death results, more often in children.
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First Aid if bitten
by a brown recluse or black widow spider
· If possible, make a positive identification.
If the spider bite is on an arm or a leg, tie a snug bandage
above the bite to help slow or halt the venom's spread.
Ensure that the bandage is not so tight as to cut off circulation
in the arm or the leg.
· Use a cold cloth at the spider bite location. Apply
a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice.
· Seek immediate medical attention. Treatment for
the bite of a black widow may require an anti-venom medication.
Doctors may treat a brown recluse spider bite with corticosteroids.
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| Scorpions |
Scorpions are usually
found in arid regions. They like to hide in dark shady
places and sometimes they will hide inside your shoes
or boots. Therefore, you should always check your
footwear before putting them on in areas where scorpions
are found.
They sting in self-defense using their tail sting,
which in most cases is very painful rather than life
threatening. Immediate medical help should always
be sought if bitten.
First aid for scorpion bites is similar to that of
spider bites.
· Wash the sting area and apply a cold compress.
· Immobilize the victim and seek rapid medical
help.
· Antihistamines and painkillers may be used
to treat the pain and swelling.
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Poison
Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac |
Poison
ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are the most common
plants that cause a skin rash. A sap that comes from
these plants causes the rash. The name of this sap,
urushiol, causes an allergic reaction. It is not really
a poison. Not everyone reacts to urushiol. If you
are allergic to it, though, you can get a skin rash
when you:
· Touch poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac.
· Touch clothing or shoes that have the sap
on them.
· Touch pets that have the sap on them.
· Come in contact with the smoke of these burning
plants
First Aid
· Make sure you wash all clothes and shoes
with hot water and a strong soap. Also, bathe pets
who have come in contact with poison ivy, oak or sumac.
The sap can stay on pets for many days.
· Keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth
and face.
· Do not scratch or rub the rash.
· Apply any of these to the skin rash:
Calamine (not Caladryl) lotion
Zinc oxide ointment
Paste made with baking soda - mix 3 teaspoons
of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water
Take a bath with lukewarm water and an
over-the- counter product called Aveeno
colloidal oatmeal
Take an over-the-counter antihistamine
such as Benadryl, as stated on the label
If self-care/first aid measures don't bring relief,
call your doctor. |
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Links
to Fun Games About Insects |
Mysterious and exciting,
the world of pests challenges us to understand what attracts
these animals to our homes and yards. Tackle the pest challenge
with these learning games! For kids of all ages, and especially
for those in third through fifth grade. Brought to you by
National Pest Management Association, Inc. International.
Click on the logo to go to the game. |
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Archibald's Adventure
Archibald Ant is a very fussy odorous house ant who
must find food for his colony and stay out of harm's
way. Help Archibald complete his mission to locate
and plunder the legendary sugar bowl on the far-off
kitchen counter. And he needs, help, too, because
he would rather stay outside.
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Pest Detective
A pest is just an animal looking for meal
and a place to live that took a wrong turn into your
house. But when they do, it's not pretty. Homes wrecked...people
sick. And that's where you come in. You're a Pest
Detective. It's your job to find out what happened
and who did it. Then you can help—because it
doesn't have to happen again.
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Pest Rangers
Pest Commander Pete needs your help! Join the elite
Pest Rangers and search out pest problems in a typical
home. Using special super hero gear to see through
solid walls and spot the invisible, can you outwit
the insects and rodents who have made your house into
their home?
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Name That Pest
Maybe you've seen an animal or insect in or around
your home. Maybe you've even caught it. Is it a pest?
(No, your little brother doesn't count!) Answer a
few simple questions to see if your critter is one
of the common household pests that might threaten
your health or damage stuff in your house. |
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