A patient has been bitten by what appears to be a black widow spider. The bite to her left hand is dull and achy and she states that the muscles in her shoulders and back are starting to hurt. After ensuring that no life-threatening conditions are present and administering oxygen, the EMT should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For black widow spider bites, it is important to keep the affected limb below the level of the heart to slow the spread of venom. Massaging the muscles can worsen the symptoms, and applying a hot pack can speed up the spread of venom. Vinegar is also not recommended as it has not been proven to be effective against black widow spider venom.

A Patient Has Been Bitten by What Appears to Be