Oku ke fefe hake? Today, travel medicine specialist Dr. Chris Sanford talks with emergency medicine physician and toxicologist Dr. Richard Clark about things that bite and sting! Questions include:

• Where in the US is the risk highest for black widow bites?
• What activities would put someone at elevated risk for a spider bite?
• Let’s talk about scorpions. Scorpions scare the hell out of me. I’m told that the stings are incredibly painful. In the world, and in the US, where are these a threat?
• Let’s talk about bees. Are they a worldwide issue?
• After a bee sting, how many folks will develop symptoms affecting the entire body?
• If someone has had severe symptoms in response to a bee sting—such as swelling, or trouble breathing—how should they prepare for potential future stings?
• How much time does someone have, with a severe reaction, before they reach an emergency room?
• In the US do you need a doctor’s rx for an epi-pen?
• How often should it be replaced?
• How do beekeepers avoid getting bee stings, and developing allergies to bees?
• Where do people need to be concerned about venomous ants.
• What can someone do to reduce the risk of ant stings?
• After an ant sting, what’s the best in-the-field treatment?
• Should we all be like Indiana Jones and avoid all snakes? Where in the world do we need to be concerned about poisonout snakes?
• There’s a little poem that purports to describe the risk of being bitten by a coral snake, it goes Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack (or "venom lack"). Is that accurate?
• Suppose someone is hiking in rattlesnake county, and a rattlesnake bites them. What can they do prior to reaching an emergency room? (And what about the cowboy "cut and suck" approach?)
• Is there benefit—potential protection—by wearing thick boots?
• And, with a hiking pole, what can I do with leaves, or other stuff on the trail, if anything
• How fast is a snake's striking speed? And how far can they strike?
• Sometimes people ask me if they should carry antivenom with them? Is that realistic?
• In the US, how many people are killed by snakes each year?

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Our Disclaimer: The Germ and Worm Podcast is designed to inform, inspire, and entertain. However, this podcast does NOT establish a doctor-patient relationship, and it should NOT replace your conversation with a qualified healthcare professional. Please see one before your next adventure. The opinions in this podcast are Dr. Sanford’s & Dr. Pottinger’s alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the University of Washington or UW Medicine.