Tarantula spider

Home treatment:

Place ice (wrapped in a washcloth or other suitable covering) on the site of the sting for 10 minutes and then off for 10 minutes. Repeat this process. If patient has circulatory problems, decrease the time to prevent possible damage to the skin.

Before calling emergency:

Determine the following information:

• the patient's age, weight, and condition
• the name of the spider
• the time of the bite
• the area of the body that was bitten

Poison Control, or a local emergency number:

They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.

The patient should be taken to an emergency room for treatment if they show signs of an allergic reaction.

If possible, bring the spider to the emergency room for identification.

What to expect at the emergency room:

• Treat the symptoms.

Expectations (prognosis):

Death in a normally healthy individual is uncommon. Recovery usually takes about a week.