Pain, redness and swelling at the site of the bite. Bees may leave stingers in the wound.

Remove the stinger by flicking off quickly. Cleanse and apply wrapped ice or a baking soda paste. Use pain relievers and antihistamines if needed. Take the child to hospital for severe allergic reactions.

Black Widow Spider
Shiny black with a red hourglass shape on abdomen. Another variety is dull brown and red with orange or red circles on abdomen.

There is usually no mark at the bite site. Possible symptoms include muscle spasms, cramps, vomiting, sweating, headache and abdominal pain.

Cleanse with soap and water and apply cool compresses. Bring the child to the nearest hospital for observation and treatment.

Brown Recluse Spider
A brown spider no larger than a quarter with a dark brown violin shape on its back.

Red rings appear at the site of the bite that blister and appear infected. The bite may soon become swollen and painful. Possible symptoms include fever, chills, nausea and vomiting.

Cleanse with soap and water. Go to the nearest hospital or physician for tetanus booster or wound treatment.

Stinging Caterpillars
There are several species that make Florida their home including the saddleback, puss and spiny oak slug caterpillars. They all have irritating hairs covered with poison.

At the bite site a row of welts appears with stinging pain, redness and swelling. The entire limb may swell.

Apply adhesive tape to the site and pull off to remove and remaining stinging hairs. Cleanse with soap and water. Apply cool compresses and elevate limb frequently during the first 24 hours.

Scorpion
Lobster-shaped brown or black body with a stinger on fail. Florida Scorpions are not poisonous.

Bite site: Pain, mild swelling. Possible allergic reaction. Poisonous scorpions from other areas can cause weakness and paralysis.

Clean with soap and water. Apply wrapped ice. Bring the child to a hospital emergency room for tetanus booster.

Snakes
Pit vipers, rattlesnakes, cottonmouth and copperheads all have a large triangular head, fangs, black/white eyes and nose, and elliptical pupils. Identify by the large head ("Big head, you're dead")

Twenty-five percent of bites are dry bites. If envenomated, pain, blisters, progressive swelling, and bruising occur at the site of the bite. Vomiting, a metallic taste in the mouth, and weakness may occur.

Remove jewelry and tight clothing near the bite. Keep involved limb below heart level. Cleanse. Do not apply tourniquet or ice (these worsen symptoms). Do not cut and suck out venom. Go to nearest emergency room.

Eastern Coral Snakes
Like non-poisonous snakes, it has small head, small teeth. Identify by the red, black and yellow colors along with a black nose ("Red touch yellow, kill a fellow. Red touch black, venom lack")

At the bite site they are scratch marks with little or no swelling. Symptoms (often delayed up to 12 hours) include vomiting, eyelid droop, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, difficult breathing and weakness.

Keep bitten extremity below heart level. NO ice, tourniquets or incising of bite site. Cleanse with soap and water. All coral snake bite victims must go to the hospital for tetanus shot and antivenom.

Jellyfish, Coral, Man of War, Anemones
Stinking cells inject a poison whip-like hair when touched. Rubbing the tentacles causes more nematocysts to sting.

Red welts and pain occur at the site of the bite. Possible symptoms: shock, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, muscle spasms, chest or abdominal pain, chills.

Never rub. Rinse with sea water, vinegar or alcohol. "Fix" remaining tentacles with shaving cream, flour, talc. Scrape matter off with forceps or dull knife.

Stingrays, Catfish, Scorpionfish, Lionfish
These creatures have venom-coated spines, portions of which may be left imbedded in the wound.

A painful puncture wound, often deep at the site of the bite. Shooting pain, swelling and bruising common. Possible symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle cramps, weakness, infection, allergic reaction.

Soak in HOT soapy water (110 degrees) for 30-90 minutes to inactivate the venom. NO ice or cold water. Bring the child to hospital for tetanus shot or to remove foreign matter.

Fire Ants and Ants
Black, brown, red or multicolored segmented bodies.

Bite site: Itching for days, slight redness. Fire ants bites cause a pimple-like bump that bursts, leaving a small bruise.

Cleanse: Apply wrapped ice and paste of baking soda or meat tenderizer. Give antihistamines. Take to hospital for severe allergic reactions.