PHOENIX — The warmer temperatures in Arizona means locals may start to see more scorpions and spiders.
The Banner Health Poison Control Center has some tips for Arizonans who find themselves in the unfortunate circumstance of getting stung by the arachnids. In 2023, the center reported fielding over 3,000 calls relating to scorpion stings.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: ¿Qué hacer si le pica un escorpión?
If someone is stung, they should wash the affected area with soap and water then apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Tourniquets should be avoided because they can do more harm than good.
If someone starts to experience worsening symptoms of chest pain, muscle spasms or breathing troubles, then they should seek medical attention immediately. Children are at a greater risk of experiencing severe symptoms after getting stung, the poison control center said.
Parents should look to see if their child starts rubbing their face since that can be a sign the child is experiencing numbness and tingling. The poison center should be notified right away after a child has been stung.
Bark scorpions are excellent climbers but struggle to ascend up glass and plastic surfaces. Parents should consider moving their baby's crib away from walls and place the crib's legs in glass jars to thwart off scorpions.
A light-weight scorpion shield can also be placed over the top of the crib to prevent critters from getting in.
The center's 24-hour help line can provide further guidance on scorpion stings for residents and medical professionals of Maricopa County. The phone number is 1-800-222-1222.
UP TO SPEED
What is the Valley?:
“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.
The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Scottsdale
- Tempe
- Glendale
- Surprise
- Peoria
- Gilbert
- El Mirage
- Avondale
- Litchfield Park
- Goodyear
- Buckeye
Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or “West Valley” depends on where it is in relation to Phoenix.
The cities of the Valley have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country right behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.
How big is Maricopa County?
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe.
