Scorpions

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Scorpions
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• Scorpion stings are a major public health problem
  in many underdeveloped tropical countries.
  
  
• For every person killed by a poisonous snake, 10
  are killed by a poisonous scorpion.
  
  
• In Mexico, 1000 deaths from scorpion stings occur
  per year. In the United States, only 4 deaths in
  11 years have occurred as a result of scorpion
  stings.
  
• Scorpions can be found outside their normal range
  of distribution, ie, when they accidentally crawl
  into luggage, boxes, containers, or shoes and are
  unwittingly transported home via human travelers.

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• Almost all of these lethal scorpions, except the
  Hemiscorpius species, belong to the scorpion
  family called the Buthidae.
  
• The Buthidae family is characterized by a
  triangular-shaped sternum, as opposed to the
  pentagonal-shaped sternum found in the other 5
  scorpion families.
  
• In addition to the triangular-shaped sternum,
  poisonous scorpions also tend to have
  weak-looking pincers, thin bodies, and thick
  tails, as opposed to the strong heavy pincers,
  thick bodies, and thin tails seen in nonlethal
  scorpions.

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• Emperor Scorpion
  
• Heavy Pincers
• Thin Tail
• Barely Toxic at all

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• Death Stalker
• Thin, Needle-like Pincers
• Thick Tail Segments
• Extremely Venomous

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• Due to the relatively low toxicity of most North
  American scorpion species, most deaths arise from
  allergic reactions rather than from the venom
  itself.
  
  
• To develop an allergy, you must first be
  introduced to the substance in question at least
  once before.
  
• Unfortunately for most Southerners, fire ant
  venom is close enough in structure to scorpion
  venom, that fire ant bites could cause you to
  develop a fire ant/scorpion allergy.
  
  
• According to WebMD.com about 1 of Americans are
  allergic to scorpion stings.

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Anaphylactic Shock You Like a Hurricane!
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• Know how to spot an allergic reaction.
  
• Hives or swelling of the skin.
• Abdominal pain or cramps.
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing.
  
• Keep epinephrine on site in the first aid kit.
  
• http//www.webmd.com/allergies/severe-allergies-an
  aphylaxis

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• In general, scorpions are not aggressive. They do
  not hunt for prey they wait for it. Scorpions
  are nocturnal creatures they hunt during the
  night and hide in crevices and burrows during the
  day to avoid the light.
  
  
• Accidental human stinging occurs when scorpions
  are touched while in their hiding places, with
  most of the stings occurring on the hands and
  feet.
  
• If gloves or boots are stored at the jobsite,
  check them in the morning before sticking your
  hands or feet into them.
  
• Any dark, damp place in contact with the earth is
  also a potential scorpion habitat.

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OSHA General Duty Clause

• Section 29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2) requires that the
  employer instruct each employee in the
  recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions
  and in the regulations applicable to his or her
  work environment in order to control or eliminate
  any hazards or other exposure to illness or
  injury.