Scorpion Stings: Symptoms, First Aid, and When to Get Help

When a sting is an emergency

Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 for any bark scorpion sting involving a child, an elderly person, or anyone with significant symptoms. They handle these calls routinely in the Southwest and will tell you exactly what to watch for. Go to the emergency room or call 911 for:

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or excessive drooling
• Uncontrolled jerking or thrashing muscle movements
• Roving or abnormal eye movements
• Severe symptoms in a child under 10 — smaller bodies receive a much larger dose relative to their weight

An antivenom (Anascorp) exists for serious bark scorpion envenomation, and Las Vegas hospitals can treat severe cases. Serious outcomes are rare with prompt care — but prompt care is the key, especially with small children.

First aid that helps

• Wash the site with soap and water
• Apply a cold compress or ice (10 minutes on, 10 off) for pain and swelling
• Keep the affected limb still and below heart level if possible
• Use an over-the-counter pain reliever appropriate for the person's age
• If it can be done safely, photograph the scorpion — identification helps medical staff
• Do not cut the wound, apply suction, use a tourniquet, or apply home remedies — none of these help, and some cause harm

Protecting children and pets at home

Dogs and cats are usually stung on the face or paws after investigating a scorpion. Watch for sudden yelping, limping, pawing at the mouth, drooling, or tremors, and call your veterinarian if symptoms go beyond localized pain. Day to day, these habits meaningfully reduce sting risk:

• Shake out shoes, and avoid leaving clothes or towels on the floor
• Move beds a few inches from walls and keep bedding off the floor — bark scorpions climb
• Place glue traps along garage and baseboard edges as an early-warning measure
• Wear gloves when moving rocks, firewood, or anything that has been sitting outside
• In summer, check play areas and patios after dark with a UV flashlight before evening use

The most reliable protection is structural: if scorpions cannot get into the house, stings indoors stop being a risk. That is what home scorpion sealing provides, combined with treatment of the population living in walls and rock beds. If you have young children and you're seeing bark scorpions, we'd encourage you not to wait — the inspection is free, and you'll get an honest assessment of the situation.