We see them all the time here in West Africa. In fact, some people call some of the species household scorpions.
They belong to a big family called Hottenttota. Some of them have minimally toxic venom while others are of very significant medical importance to humans.
I once managed an emergency of a child with a bite from one of these and the pain was what we had to deal with.
Some people may however have respond more significantly to the venom.
Tying off the the bit area might not prevent the venom from spreading, but a few things one can do include:
- Avoid panic. Calm the victim.
- Clean the area with soap and water.
- Apply cold compress (usually towels dipped in ice/cold water), and NOT direct ice compress.
- If you have difficulty swallowing, don't consume any liquids or food. Watch out for restlessness. If the victim is having symptoms of lethargy or restlessness apart from the pain, visit a hospital.
- You may use over the counter pain medications if need be.
All in all, one should avoid these animals.
You made great points about being wary of them in your environment, having sticks around etc. Also ensure the environment is well lit when moving around.
I hope my points were useful.
Thanks for sharing.
Wow, your comment is very insightful.
Thank you very much.
I guess this explains why some still feels the pains even after tying up the bite area.
Yeah, I don't feel pains on the two occasions that I was bitten but my husband on the other hand use to feel a lot of pain.
You're welcome. Glad the comment helped.