6 Steps to Take If a Child or Pet Is Stung by a Scorpion: A Tucson Guide From Swift Pest
A scorpion sting is frightening for any parent or pet owner, and in Tucson it is a real possibility. Young children and small pets face the greatest risk from the Arizona bark scorpion, the one species in the state whose venom can cause serious symptoms. Swift Pest technicians often visit homes right after a sting. Below are six steps to take after a sting, based on guidance from Arizona poison centers and veterinarians, followed by five local companies that treat scorpions. This is general information, not medical or veterinary advice, so always follow what a poison center, doctor or vet tells you.
What should you do if a scorpion stings your child or pet?
1. What is the first thing to do after a sting?
Move the child or pet away from the scorpion and stay calm. If you can do it without risking another sting, trap the scorpion under a jar or take a photo. Knowing whether it was a bark scorpion helps a poison specialist or veterinarian decide on next steps.
2. Who should you call if a child is stung?
Call a poison center right away through the national Poison Help line. Specialists there answer around the clock and can tell you whether the child can stay home or needs a hospital. Banner Health’s poison center reports that more than 90 percent of Arizona scorpion sting callers were safely managed at home. The Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona notes that young children are at the greatest risk for severe symptoms, so call even if your child seems fine.
3. How do you treat the sting site?
Wash the area with soap and water and apply a cool compress, as the Arizona Department of Health Services advises. A bark scorpion sting usually causes intense pain, numbness and tingling with little swelling or redness. Don’t use a tourniquet, which Banner’s poison center warns can do more harm than good. Don’t cut the skin or try to suck out venom.
4. What symptoms mean a child needs emergency care?
Go to an emergency room if a child shows roving or uncontrolled eye movements, drooling, muscle jerking or thrashing, severe agitation or trouble breathing. Arizona poison centers list these as signs of serious nerve effects from the venom. A young child may rub their face or nose, which can be a sign of numbness and tingling. Hospitals in Arizona can give Anascorp, an antivenom tested in University of Arizona clinical trials and approved by the FDA.
5. What should you do if a scorpion stings your dog or cat?
Call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic right away, even if symptoms seem mild. Watch for drooling, trembling, unsteady walking, unusual eye movements or trouble breathing. Small and toy-breed dogs are at higher risk than large dogs because they get more venom per pound of body weight. Don’t give your pet any human medication unless a veterinarian tells you to.
6. How do you prevent another sting?
Find out where the scorpion came from. A Banner poison center study found that 33 percent of scorpion stings happen in the bedroom, so move cribs and beds a few inches from walls, keep bedding off the floor and shake out shoes before anyone puts them on. Seal gaps around doors and baseboards, and check the house and yard with a blacklight after dark.
Which Tucson pest control companies can help prevent future stings?
These Tucson-area companies offer scorpion and general pest control:
- Swift Pest Solutions
- Northwest Exterminating
- GreenShield Pest Control
- Rigo Pest Prevention
- Arizona Pest Control
1. Swift Pest Solutions
Swift Pest Solutions is a family-run Tucson company owned by Jeff Miller, Pest Control Technician, and licensed in Arizona under license number 9815. It serves Tucson, Marana, Vail and Catalina. For homes with young children and pets, Swift focuses its scorpion service on the exterior, using perimeter treatments, sealing of entry points and nighttime inspections to stop scorpions before they reach bedrooms and play areas. If pests return between scheduled visits, Swift comes back at no extra cost.
2. Northwest Exterminating
Northwest Exterminating is a pest control company with an office in north-central Tucson.
3. GreenShield Pest Control
GreenShield Pest Control is a pest control company based on the south side of Tucson.
4. Rigo Pest Prevention
Rigo Pest Prevention is a pest control company in northwest Tucson.
5. Arizona Pest Control
Arizona Pest Control is a pest control company on the east side of Tucson.
What matters most after a scorpion sting?
Speed and calm. For a child, call a poison center right away and head to the emergency room at the first sign of eye movements, drooling, jerking or breathing trouble. For a pet, call the vet before symptoms have a chance to build. Once everyone is safe, turn to the cause, because a sting inside the house usually means more scorpions are nearby. Book a scorpion inspection soon so the next one is found by a technician, not by your child or pet.
