Only female mosquitoes require a blood meal (protein), their bites are painful and they bite persistently

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:

1) Always wear long sleeve shirts and pants outdoors during peak mosquito activity time periods.
2) Apply repellent sparingly only to exposed skin or clothing.
3) DO NOT scratch the bite.
4) Apply All-Stings directly to the bite.

The most common of the stinging insects are not troublesome unless provoked. Once they sting they will die. They often leave their stings behind

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:

1) Scrape stinger with bank card or a long fingernail. Do not try to pull it out. Pressure on the stinger sacks will release more venom.
2) Apply All-Stings to the sting.
3) Children should never be given Aspirin because of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but life threatening illness.
4) If you are allergic to insect venom, wear a medic-alert identification.
5) Consider even the slightest breathing difficulty or altered level of consciousness as a Medical Emergency

Hornets have short black bodies with yellow or white markings. They sting repeatedly.

Wasps are hairless with narrow ‘waists’ that separate their chests from their long, slim, lower bodies. They can be black, brown or red. Wasps build nests in the eaves of buildings and under rafters. They sting repeatedly

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:

1) Apply All-Stings to the sting.
2) Children should never be given Aspirin because of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but life threatening illness.
3) If you are allergic to insect venom, wear a medic-alert identification.
4) Consider even the slightest breathing difficulty or altered level of consciousness as a Medical Emergency.

Injury Mechanism – Long blue threadlike tentacles. Signs and Symptoms – Stinging, burning, redness, swelling of lymph nodes. Long welt lines. Severe Reaction – Difficulty with breathing and or, altered level of consciousness. Treat these symptoms as a medical emergency

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:

1) Pick off any visible tentacles with small stick, or anything handy, being careful to avoid any further injury,
2) Rinse the sting thoroughly with salt or fresh water to remove any adhering tentacles.
3)Apply All-Stings to the stung area.
4) Apply ice (if available) to the stung area.
5) Consider even the slightest breathing difficulty or altered level of consciousness as a Medical Emergency.

Injury Mechanism – Translucent white or blue in color, has tentacles up to 70cm long, which can inflict agonizing stings.

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:

1) If you are stung at a guarded beach, see the lifeguards on duty. They can render first aid
2) Tentacles tend to cling to the skin. Remove by pulling in one direction and not rubbing.
3) Apply All-Stings to the affected area.
4) Apply ice (if available) to the stung area.
5) Consider even the slightest breathing difficulty or altered level of consciousness as a Medical Emergency.

Injury Mechanism – The mouth of an anemone is ringed with eight or more tentacles armed with stinging cells. The toxin is protein. Divers are frequently stung about the face and neck when diving.

The symptom – is a mild burning sensation at the affected area.

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:

1) Avoid touching the face and neck with contaminated gloves or hands.
2) Apply All-Stings to the affected areas.
3) If symptoms do not clear, obtain a suitable antibiotic cream.

Injury Mechanism – The most venomous known fish. It has a row of 13 venomous dorsal spines alond its back which project from venom glands. The venom is expelled when exposed to pressure. The symptom – the sting causes excruciating pain and swelling. The severity depends on the depth of penetration and number of spines involved and may result in death if not treated.

Needle Urchin – Occurring from the Transkei coast northwards, these black and blue sea urchins have very long, needle sharp spines.

Flower Urchin – The most venomous of all sea urchins, these species have short, thick, white-tipped spines but real danger lies in its many beautiful flower like pincers armed with lethal poison glands.

Injury Mechanism – It has a bright yellow-green and brown skeletal covering, pitted by many tiny pores through which tentacles with nematocysts project. The toxin is a water soluble, thermolabile protein. A burning itch with pinpoint red lesions around the area of contact is common, followed by swelling and welts.

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:

1) Apply All-Stings to the affected area.
2) If toxins cause vomiting, restore body fluids and electrolytes (eight level teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a litre of water)

Injury Mechanism – The fern like hydroids, toothed-feather and fire hydroid are common along coasts and cause intense burns, swelling and painful itches. Reaction to the stings varies from mild to extreme pain over the first ten minutes. The appearance is that of patchy area of red skin with raised pinpoint lesions, developing welts within the first hour. DO NOT apply vinegar, it has been shown to activate the discharge mechanisms of the nematocysts

IMMEDIATE FIRST AID ADVICE:

1) Douse the stung area with water, and dry off.
2) Apply All-Stings to the affected area.
3) Apply ice (if available) to the stung area.