Most animals and insects do not usually attack unless injured or

otherwise provoked, and common sense can prevent many bites

and stings.

We must always take sensible precautions before attempting, for

example, to rescue a casualty from an angry dog or a swarm of
bees.

If you cannot cope alone, get help or call 995 for ambulance.
• First-Aid Priorities
• Animal Bites
• Insect Stings
• Injuries by Marine Creatures
• Snake Bites
• Make sure that you are in no danger, then remove the casualty from
further danger

• Treat any visible wound or painful symptoms, and minimise the risk
of further injury and infection.

• Obtain medical attention if necessary.

*Note
• Time and nature of the injury, and
• identify the attacking creature if possible.

• This enables medical personnel to deal with the injury

itself and to anticipate possible complications, such as
anaphylactic shock.
• Bites from sharp, pointed teeth cause deep puncture wounds that can
carry germs far into the tissues.
• Human bites also crush the tissues. Hitting someone’s teeth with
bare fist can produce a “bite” wound at the knuckles.

• Any bite that breaks the skin cause a wound very vulnerable to
infection; it needs prompt first aid and medical attention.
 Treatment for Animal Bites
(For serious wounds)

1. Control bleeding by
applying direct
pressure and raising
the injured part.
 Treatment for Animal Bites
(For serious wounds)
2. Cover the wound with
a sterile dressing or a
clean pad bandaged in
place.

3. Arrange to take or
send the casualty to
hospital.
 Treatment for Animal Bites
(For superficial wounds)

1. Wash the wound

thoroughly with
soap and warm
water.
 Treatment for Animal Bites
(For superficial wounds)

2. Pat the wound dry with clean gauze swabs and cover
with an adhesive dressing or small sterile dressing.

3. Advise the casualty to see a doctor in case

inoculation is needed.
 Potential Infections of Animal Bites

A potentially fatal viral infection of the nervous system, spread

in the saliva of infected animals.

There is probably only a small risk of hepatitis B or C viruses

being transmitted through a human bite.
Hepatitis B or C viruses
Safety Precautions Against Animal Bites

• Do not throw objects or provoke animals

(Dogs etc…)

• Do not intrude their territory

 Insect Stings
Bee, wasp and hornet stings usually are
painful rather than dangerous.

An initial sharp pain is followed by mild swelling and soreness,

which first aid can relieve.
Some people are allergic to stings and can rapidly develop the serious
condition of anaphylactic shock. Multiple stings can also be
dangerous.
Stings in the mouth or throat are serious, as swelling can cause
obstruction to the airway.
 Symptoms of Bee Stings
• Red, swollen, or warm lump

• Hives

• Rash

• Itching, tingling, numbness, burning, tenderness, pain

• Serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) occur when symptoms

spread. These can include difficulty in breathing, dizziness,
nausea, diarrhea, fever, muscle spasms, or loss of
consciousness. Call for emergency medical help right away.
 Treatment for Insect Stings
(For a sting in the skin)

1. If the sting is still in the wound, pluck it

out firmly with fine tweezers.

2. If stung on the fingers or hands, remove

any rings and watches in case of
swelling.

3. Wrap a few ice cubes in a towel and

apply on the area for 10-15 minutes to
stop the pain and swelling. Do not apply
ice directly on the sting area to prevent
frostbite.
Advise the casualty to see his doctor if
the pain and swelling persist.
 Treatment for Insect Stings
(For a sting in the mouth)
• Give the casualty ice to suck or cold water to sip, to
minimise swelling. DIAL 995 FOR AN
AMBULANCE. Reassure the casualty.
 Treatment for Insect Stings
(For Tick Bites)
• Using fine-pointed tweezers, grasp the tick’s head as
close to the casualty’s skin as possible.

• Use a slight to-and-fro action to lever, rather than

pull, the head out. The mouthparts will be very firmly
embedded in the skin; try to avoid breaking the tick
and leaving the buried head behind.
Treatment for Insect Stings
(For Tick Bites)
 Safety Precautions Against Insect
Bites/Stings
• Use insect repellants

• Wear long pants / T-shirt

• During an attack, cover your face and run in a straight line as quickly as
possible.

• Grab a net, coat, towel, or anything that will give you momentary relief.

• During your escape, try to find shelter like a house, tent or car with windows
and door closed.
• Avoid other people as they too may come under
attack.
• Bees may pursue for up to 400m
• They are slow fliers and most people can outrun a
bee.
• Hence, be alert for bees coming in and out
through cracks in a wall.
• Stay away once you notice a bee colony. Do not
provoke it.
 Injuries by Marine Creatures
• Sea creatures can cause injury in various ways.
• In some parts of the world, particularly in tropical regions,
severe poisoning can occur, and occasionally death results from
a severe allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock), or paralysis of
the chest muscles leads to drowning.
 Dangerous Sea Creatures
Jellyfish

Jellyfish stings occur when people brush against it in

the water or step on those washed ashore. Jellyfish
washed ashore can sting for weeks. Detached
tentacles can also release venom.

The Portuguese Man-of-War is well known for its painful

and powerful sting. The stings can cause fever, shock as
well as heart and lung problems. 
             
Sea wasps (Box Jellyfish) have tentacles containing
thousands of stinging cells. Stings usually occur when
people bump into them. The tentacles become sticky
and adhere tightly to the skin. When the cells come into
contact with human skin, they release their venom and
cause severe pain.
 Dangerous Sea Creatures
• Sea urchins

Sea urchins are found in tropical and subtropical marine

regions. The spines of the sea urchins are used to deliver
their venom. The sting can cause severe burning pain,
swelling, bleeding, itch, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness
and difficulty breathing. The symptoms may develop
immediately and may last up to 6 hours. Deep puncture
wounds may be seen after a sting.

• Stingrays

Stingrays are often found buried and feeding in shallow

water. Stingrays are not aggressive by nature. People are
usually stung when they step on the stingray. The sting
causes profuse bleeding, swelling and severe pain that can
last for months. Other symptoms that may develop are
nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, sweating, muscle cramps, and
fits.
 Dangerous Sea Creatures
• Blue-ringed Octopus

This is a very small octopus found in shallow tropical

water and in tide pools. It is normally yellowish-
brown but changes its rings to a bright blue when
disturbed. The sting is usually painless but there may
be symptoms of numbness, which may lead to
paralysis and respiratory failure.

• Stonefish

Stonefish may be round from exposed sand and mud.

It looks exactly like encrusted rock and feeds on small
fish and shrimps. It has a row of 13 venomous spines
along its back. People are usually stung when they
step on or catch a stonefish. The sting can cause
severe pain, swelling, muscle weakness, numbness
and shock.
 Dangerous Sea Creatures
• Lionfish

Lionfish are brightly coloured fish and are usually found

in coral reefs. They are also kept as pets in home
aquariums. Lionfish have venomous fin spines that can
produce painful puncture wounds. Their stings can also
cause nausea, breathing difficulties, paralysis, fits and
collapse. 

• Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish live in shallow water. The skin resembles

algae or sponges and is often mottled, with patches of
red or blue. This makes them difficult to tell them apart
from rocks and seaweed. Scorpionfish have spines with
venomous glands. Their stings can cause severe pain.
• Catfish
Dangerous Sea Creatures
Stings occur when these slimy-skinned fish are handled. The sting
can cause pain and swelling.

• Cone shells

Cone shells are marine snails found in reefs. They produce venom
that may lead to symptoms of pain, swelling and numbness. 
Weakness, lack of coordination, nausea, itch and respiratory
distress may also result.

• Sea cucumbers

Sea cucumbers have an elongated body. Tentacles encircle the

mouth. They live in temperate, subtropical and tropical waters.
Contact with sea cucumbers can result in a rash and severe eye
irritation. Blindness may occur if brought into contact with the
eyes.
 Treatment for Marine Stings
1. Reassure the casualty and sit him or her down, Pour copious
amounts of vinegar or sea water over the injury to
incapacitate stinging cells that have not yet released venom.

*Alcohol may aggravate the injury and should not be used.

Avoid rubbing sand on the affected area.
Treatment for Marine Stings
 Treatment for Marine Stings
2. Dust a dry powder over the skin around the affected
area to make any remaining stinging cells stick
together. Talcum powder is very good for this. Meat
tenderiser, used in barbecue cooking, is also good as
it contains papain, which inactivates venom.
Treatment for Marine Stings
 Treatment for Marine Stings

3. Gently brush off the powder with a clean, non-fluffy pad.

If the injuries are severe, or there is a serious general reaction,

DIAL 995 FOR AN AMBULANCE.
If the casualty is having difficulty breathing, she may be in
anaphylactic shock.
 Treatment for
Marine Puncture Wounds
1. Gently pull out any
protruding spines. Do not
crush the spines.

2. Soak the affected area into

hot (not scalding) water for
30-90 minutes to ease pain. If
pain returns later, try the heat
soaks again.

3. Take or send the casualty to

hospital.
 Safety Precautions against stings from
Marine Creatures

• Proper footwear
• Be careful when handling catfish / stonefish / stingray as they have
venomous spines
• Keep away from jellyfish
 Snake
Black Bites
Spitting Cobra
 Snake Bites
• A snake bite is often not a serious injury, but it can be very
frightening. Snake bites that may result in serious injury include
those from the cobra and blue coral snake.

• Reassurance is vital, for if the casualty keeps still and calm, the
spread of venom may be delayed.

• Try to get a description of the snake. This will help the doctor to
identify the snake and the correct treatment. Do not try to catch the
snake.

• Notify the police if the snake remains at large.

 How to Recognise a Snake Bite?
• A pair of puncture marks.
• Severe pain at the site of the bite.
• Redness and swelling around the bite.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Laboured breathing; in extreme cases,
respiration may stop altogether.
• Disturbed vision.
• Increased salivation and sweating.
 Treatment for Snake Bites
1. Stay calm. Not all snakes are
poisonous.

2. Lay the casualty down. Tell

her to keep calm and still.

3. Wash the bite site with soap

and water. DIAL 995
FOR AN AMBULANCE.
 Treatment for Snake Bites
4. If there is eye irritation, rinse the eye under gently running cool
water for at least 15 minutes. Prevent run-off water from entering
the unaffected eye.

5. Immobilise the bitten limb, using a splint if possible and position it

below the level of the heart. If she stops
breathing, be ready to resuscitate if needed.
*DO NOT apply a tourniquet, a bandage or ice on the wound, slash
the wound with a knife, or suck the venom.

Blue Coral Snake

Treatment for Snake Bites
 Safety Precautions from Snake Bites

• Do not try and chase, provoke, catch or beat up the

snake
• Move away if you spot a snake
 Emergency Care
• If you call 995 you are picked up by the Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS) of the Singapore
Defense Force which is manned by qualified personnel trained to stabilize patients and take
them to the nearest designated hospital.

• The patient will not be sent to a hospital of their choice! Instead they are sent to the Tan
Tock Seng Hospital - and if this overcrowded - to the nearest designated hospital
with accident and emergency facilities listed below.

• However, you may be transferred to the hospital of your choice at a later time.
Official response time is eight minutes with some individuals reporting a response
time of 15 - 20 minutes. Your emergency call is handled through a computer
systems (Cubicon) that chooses the ambulance closest to your location.

• Therefore it is very important to listen to the address repeated by the fire station
dispatcher to avoid misunderstandings and delays. You also have to give
information on the nature of the emergency.

• Charges are $60 one way during office hours and $80 after office hours to a
government hospital. The charge for ferrying of non-emergency cases will be $120.
For more information go to http://dpic.sgh.com.sg/

Conclusion