First Aid: Animal Bites

Animal bites and scratches that break the skin can sometimes cause infection. Some bites need stitches while others heal on their own. Rarely, bites from wild animals can lead to rabies, a life-threatening infection. Bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes cause most rabies cases.

What to do after bee or wasp sting

Treating bee and wasp stings depends on their severity. The majority of problems that require medical attention come from an allergic reaction to the sting. In most cases, complications from that reaction respond well to medications -- when given in time. 

The most familiar sting is from honeybees, but some wasps and other insects can also sting. Yellow jacket wasps are the most common cause of allergic reactions to insect stings in the United States. The bee’s stinging apparatus consists of a sac of venom attached to a barbed stinger. When a bee or wasp stings, the sac contracts, pumping venom into the tissue. Wasps are more aggressive than bees, and they may sting you multiple times, resulting in more swelling and pain.

Carbon Monoxide: The Invisible Killer

Carbon monoxide, or “CO,” is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill you. CO is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel in cars or trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, or furnaces. CO can build up indoors and poison people and animals who breathe it. The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. CO symptoms are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of CO it can make you pass out or kill you. People who are sleeping or drunk can die from CO poisoning before they have symptoms.