Calmly manage snake, spider, and flea bites

When dealing with snakes, spiders, and fleas, the best weapon is knowledge. This advice will help you avoid panic, protect your pets, and quickly manage bites.

Snake bites are uncommon in residential areas, and when they do occur, they're not likely to involve a poisonous snake. However, it's still a good idea to learn how to recognize the poisonous snakes in your region. If someone is bitten, follow these instructions:

• Keep the victim calm and in a sitting or lying position.
• Raise the involved limb and immobilize it. If possible, pack it with ice to reduce the spread of venom.
• Apply a sterile bandage to the wound and seek medical help. Describe the snake if you can.
• Try to remember that modern treatments for snake bites are very successful when administered promptly and long-term effects are rare.

Nearly all spiders produce venom, but only a few are harmful to humans. The principal villains are the black widow and brown recluse species which may strike indoors or outside. Though very dangerous, bites from these spiders are rarely fatal.

• The black widow spider is identified by a hourglass-shaped red marking on its back. If bitten by one, apply an ice pack and head for a hospital. The usual treatment includes medication to ease pain and muscle cramps.
• The bite of a brown recluse spider may not produce symptoms until days after the bite occurs. Symptoms usually include a blistering lesion, sometimes accompanied by a rash, fever, and nausea. If you have any of these symptoms, consult a doctor.

Flea infestations are more of an annoyance than a hazard. They occur most often in places with pets, and they may become a "crisis" after a pet host leaves, which leaves the fleas with no place to feed but on humans. To combat fleas, do the following:

• Treat rugs, upholstered furniture, and drapes with a flea-killing insecticide.
• Vacuum thoroughly to remove flea eggs, discarding the vacuum bag in an outdoor garbage can.
• To prevent attacks, treat pets for fleas regularly. New products available from your veterinarian are very effective.

One way to protect dogs from wandering off property — and running a greater risk of bites and fleas  — is to use a pet-containment system. You can easily install one yourself. It consists of a wire that's buried in a shallow slit around the perimeter of your yard, a radio transmitter that plugs into a standard electric outlet, and a receiver collar.

As the dog approaches the invisible boundary, a radio signal alerts it that it is reaching its limits. If it proceeds closer, the collar delivers a slight shock. With training, most dogs learn to stay within boundaries, and the chances of them running into traffic or suffering a bite are greatly reduced.

Getting bitten is frightening, but it's important to keep a level head. Use these tips to properly treat bites that occur and to prevent them from happening in the first place.