Black Widows

This flyer is from Santa Clara County Vector Control. 
Black Widows live under buildings, under rocks and in woodpiles and dense vegetation.  The can also be in storage sheds, under patio furniture and in dark hidden corners.  We use to have them in Cupertino, in the outside tool closet.  Bites cause mild to sever pain.  The can also cause muscle spasms, increased blood pressure and difficulty breathing.  For most people, symptoms will subside after a couple days.  Fr children and elderly medical attention should be sought.  A cold pack will lessen the pain.  Bites can be prevented by being alert moving a wood pile, shake out clothes that have been stored, dust and vacuum where spiders may hide, clean clutter in the garage, seal cracksk in windows and doors.
We also have tarantulas in our area.  They are shy and rarely bite.  When they do their bite is similar to a bee sting.  Brown Recluses are not in our area.  False Widows have mild venom. 

Summer Safety: Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets can be nasty.  They can sting over and over.  The build paper nests made from wood and saliva.  It is a good idea not to provoke them.  Swinging or arms will not deter them.  Instead cover your face and walk away.  Do not try to approach their nests as they are known to swarm and will defend their nest.  Prevention is best.  Keep lids on trash cans, eliminate standing water, clear dirty dishes immediately, cover sugary drinks, hand traps away from where people will be.  If stung use soap and water, cover with a bandaid, watch for signs of allergic reaction (breathing issues).  If you are sensitive, go to the doctor immediately.

**Rattlesnake First Aid and Safety

The first part of rattlesnake first aid is to not get bit.  Don't hike with open toed shoes, avoid tall grass and clear your yard, look in crevices, seal gaps under doors, keep rodent populations low and fill in holes.  Rattling is not always an indicator of a snake.  Some snakes, especially young snakes, don't rattle,  Snakes will even bite after they are dead through reflex action.
What to do if you are bit by a rattle snake:
Stay calm, or calm the victim, keep the bitten part still, remove rings and other constrictive items and keep the bit area above the heart, clean the wound and apply a clean dry bandage, get victim to emergency facility, don't apply a tourniquet, don't pack in ice or apply a cold press, don't cut the bite site, don't suck the venom out with your mouth, don't let the victim eat, drink alcohol or take drugs.  This handout was provided by Santa Clara County Vector Control.

**Women and Heart Attacks: Heart Attack Signs and Symptoms

At my recent first aid training, they made this point two times, "Men have more heart attacks than women, women have more fatal heart attacks than men."  It would seem those two statements are contradictory, but the reason for this is that heart attacks often generate different symptoms in women than men, symptoms that are harder to recognize as a heart attack, and so women get help less often than men.  These are the list of heart attack symptoms:
First Signals: Pain or discomfort, which can come and go; it can range from a mild ache to unbearable pain,  Usually last longer than two minutes.  (Pain can by in chest, shoulder, inner arm, neck, jaw)
Lesser signals: Pain between should blades, stomach pain, no pain or discomfort but generalized weakness. (Pain between shoulder blades, abdomen)
Other signals: Sweating, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, generalized weakness, heartburn.
Women more often have the lesser symptoms, which are not always associated with heart attack.
Risk factors over which you have no control: Heredity, male vs female, increasing age, diabetes, race.  Risk factors over which you have some control: cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, obesity, bad diet including overindulgence or excessive caffeine, and lack of exercise.
The universal sign for heart attack is when someone places their fist or hand to their chest.  They can be sleepy, agitated, restless, having bizarre behavior, violent, anything that is not normal for them.  The individuals heart is not working properly, so lack of oxygen to the brain may result in abnormal behavior.
If someone is having heart attack the best response is to call 9-11.  They need help as soon as possible.  The quicker the help the better the chance of survival and lessening the damage to the heart.