Oku ke fefe hake? Today, travel medicine specialist Dr. Chris Sanford talks with emergency medicine physician and toxicologist Dr. Richard Clark about things that bite and sting! Questions include: Where in the US is the risk highest for black widow bites?What activities would put someone at elevated risk for a spider bite?Let’s talk about scorpions. Scorpions scare the hell out of me. I’m told that the stings are incredibly painful. In the world, and in the US, where are these a threat?Let’s talk about bees. Are they a worldwide issue?After a bee sting, how many folks will develop symptoms affecting the entire body?If someone has had severe symptoms in response to a bee sting—such as swelling, or trouble breathing—how should they prepare for potential future stings?How much time does someone have, with a severe reaction, before they reach an emergency room?In the US do you need a doctor’s rx for an epi-pen?How often should it be replaced?How do beekeepers avoid getting bee stings, and developing allergies to bees?Where do people need to be concerned about venomous ants.What can someone do to reduce the risk of ant stings?After an ant sting, what’s the best in-the-field treatment?Should we all be like Indiana Jones and avoid all snakes? Where in the world do we need to be concerned about poisonout snakes?There’s a little poem that purports to describe the risk of being bitten by a coral snake, it goes Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack (or "venom lack"). Is that accurate?Suppose someone is hiking in rattlesnake county, and a rattlesnake bites them. What can they do prior to reaching an emergency room? (And what about the cowboy "cut and suck" approach?)Is there benefit—potential protection—by wearing thick boots?And, with a hiking pole, what can I do with leaves, or other stuff on the trail, if anythingHow fast is a snake's striking speed? And how far can they strike?Sometimes people ask me if they should carry antivenom with them? Is that realistic?In the US, how many people are killed by snakes each year? We hope you enjoy this podcast! If so, please follow us on the socials @germ.and.worm, subscribe to our RSS feed and share with your friends! We would so appreciate your rating and review to help us grow our audience. And, please visit our website: germandworm.com where you can find all our content and send us your questions and travel health anecdotes. Or, just send us an email: germandworm@gmail.com. Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.
