A scorpion is a small creature, about 6-10 cm long. It has a segmented body, with two poisonous glands in its tail. It holds its victim with its claws and pushes forward the tail and injects the poison into the body.
The scorpion is nocturnal in nature, i.e. it moves around during the night. During the day it remains hidden in various dark places, like in shoes, in clothes/bedding, on the ground, behind the furniture, They are also found in various cracks in the walls, and under rocks, in vegetation/ gardens, etc.
They usually move about during the warm season and, therefore, scorpion-stings are likely to occur more in summer, during the night.
Usually they do not jump and sting a person. They bite when someone comes into contact with them, or disturbs them. Children, being ignorant, while catching scorpions, may get bitten.
In view of the above, various prophylactic steps are suggested below:
(i) Shoes should be shaken out before use, especially old ones lying in one place for a long time.
(ii) All clothing, especially towels, bed sheets, blankets, etc, should be closely checked before use.
(iii) The space between the walls and the furniture should be regularly and carefully cleaned.
(iv) All holes/cracks in walls/floors/foundations of the old houses should be plugged and necessary repairs should be undertaken. One should not sleep on the ground.
(v) All rubbish in and around the house should be removed.
(vi) There should be proper maintenance of the lawns of the house.
(vii) Public places, especially gardens, should be carefully inspected, and children should not play there in the dark.
(viii) Persons, especially children, while on tour/trekking/a picnic should not disturb the area beneath the rocks, and should not go near heavy vegetation, or where a lot of debris is lying. One should wear boots in such situations.
(ix) If the particular area is more prone to scorpions, selected pesticides should be used at various places in the house, as well as in the garden/lawns, as a safeguard against scorpions.
Scorpion-sting is indeed a public health hazard. Besides abiding by the above preventive measures, which should be meticulously followed, primary health centers, especially in rural areas, where the chances of the presence of scorpions are greater, should be reasonably equipped, so that cases of scorpion-sting are given proper urgent first-aid measures, while referring the patient to a large hospital, so that the life of the patient is saved.
This information regarding scorpion-sting makes it clear that prevention is the only right way to deal with the problem, which if it is not heeded, can have lethal consequences.
Author: Krishan Bakhru
Author sites: Home Remedies and Natural Cures and Self Help Tips
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Krishan_Bakhru
I must have stepped on him outdoors somewhere and he became stuck to the bottom of my shoe. This scares the daylights out of me!!! I do not want these things in my house. I have my yard sprayed each month to keep the scorpion’s food …
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