Scorpion Sting or Snake Bite in Jordan: First Aid and When to Go to the ER

You slip on your shoes in the morning and feel a burning jab in your foot. Or you reach under a rock on a camping trip in Wadi Rum, or gather firewood on a summer night, and feel a sudden pain as a scorpion scuttles off or a snake slides back between the stones. In that moment, fear mixes with advice handed down for generations: tie it off, suck out the venom, cut the wound. Most of that advice is wrong and can cause harm. This guide covers what to do in the first minutes, what to avoid, and the signs that mean there is no time to wait.

Are scorpions and snakes in Jordan dangerous?

Some are. A 2021 review in the journal Toxicon on scorpions in the Arab countries of the Middle East found that Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan report the highest numbers of stings and envenomings. Dangerous species in the region include the yellow scorpion (Leiurus), known in English as the deathstalker, and the fat-tailed Androctonus scorpions. Most people stung have severe local pain only, but a few, especially children, develop poisoning that affects the heart and breathing.

For snakes, a Jordanian study published in 2022 looked at snakebites that needed admission to 24 hospitals in Jordan between 2018 and 2020, and described five venomous species. The saw-scaled viper (Echis coloratus) caused more than half of the recorded bites, and other species included the Palestine viper (Daboia palaestinae). Effects included swelling and tissue damage, problems with blood clotting and bleeding, and kidney injury.

Don't try to decide for yourself whether a scorpion or snake was a dangerous one. Colours and sizes are misleading, and getting it wrong can be costly. Treat every bite or sting as potentially serious until a doctor has assessed it.

Who is most at risk, and when do stings and bites happen?

• Young children and older adults are most at risk of serious complications from a scorpion sting. A small child's body is affected far more by the same amount of venom.
• Scorpions hide during the day under rocks, woodpiles and stacked bricks, in cracks, and inside shoes and clothes left on the floor, and are more active at night and in the warmer months.
• Camping and sleeping out in the desert, such as Wadi Rum and the Badia, and walking around at night without a torch or in open sandals.
• Farm work, gardening, and moving stones or firewood by hand. In the Jordanian study, most snakebites happened in agricultural areas and among farmers, mostly on the hands and legs, and the highest number was recorded in September.

If you are visiting Jordan or have recently moved here, our guide to medical care in Amman for tourists and expats explains where to go and when, before you need it.

Stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake: what should I do right away?

• Move away from the scorpion or snake, and keep others away, especially children.
• For a snake bite, a scorpion sting in a child, or any symptoms away from the bite: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department now.
• Stay calm and keep the person as still as possible. Moving around and exertion don't help, so don't let them walk far if they can be carried or driven.
• Remove rings, bracelets, watches, shoes and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
• Keep the bitten limb still, and roughly at heart level for a snake bite.
• Wash a scorpion sting with soap and water.
• For a scorpion sting only: apply a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth for about 10 minutes, take it off for 10 minutes, and repeat. Don't do this for a snake bite.
• Note the time of the bite or sting, and any new symptoms and when they started.
• Take a photo of the scorpion or snake from a safe distance, only if you can do it without risk. It helps the medical team, but it isn't essential.

What should you never do after a sting or bite?

• Don't cut the bite, and don't try to suck out the venom with your mouth or any device.
• Don't apply a tourniquet, rope or tightly tied cloth to the limb.
• Don't put ice or cold compresses on a snake bite, and don't soak it in water.
• Don't give alcohol or stimulants, or any medicine unless a doctor tells you to.
• Don't chase, catch or try to kill the scorpion or snake; it puts you at risk of a second bite.
• Don't wait for symptoms to appear before getting help for a snake bite or a child's scorpion sting.
• Don't rely on folk remedies or herbs instead of medical assessment.

What are the symptoms of a scorpion sting, and which are dangerous?

Symptoms at the sting site

According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms at the sting site include pain that can be intense, numbness and tingling, slight swelling, and warmth. On their own, these are common in adults, but they don't mean the danger has passed, because effects on the rest of the body can develop over the following hours.

Signs the venom is affecting the whole body (usually in children)

• Trouble breathing.
• Muscle twitching or thrashing.
• Unusual head, neck or eye movements, such as eyes roving in different directions.
• Drooling and heavy sweating.
• Slurred speech.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• A fast heart rate or high blood pressure.
• Restlessness and agitation, or in children, crying that can't be comforted.

Any symptom on this list means calling 911 or going to the ER now. Mayo Clinic notes that very young children and older adults are the most likely to die from untreated venomous stings, usually from heart or lung failure some hours after the sting. Rarely, a scorpion sting can also cause a severe allergic reaction.

What are the signs of a venomous snake bite?

• Severe pain and swelling at the bite that gradually spreads up the limb.
• Bruising or skin discolouration around the bite.
• Bleeding from the bite that won't stop, from the gums or nose, or blood in the urine.
• Numbness or tingling, and nausea or vomiting.
• Dizziness, weakness or fainting, or unusual drowsiness.
• Trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the face or throat.

Some bites cause little at first, with clotting or kidney problems showing up later. That is why a snake bite can't be judged by how it looks in the first few minutes. Every snake bite needs assessment in an emergency department.

When should I call 911 or go to the ER?

Call 911 for

• Trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the face, lips or throat.
• Fainting, severe drowsiness, confusion, or cold, pale skin.
• Muscle twitching, unusual eye movements, seizures, or a child who is thrashing and can't settle.
• Heavy sweating with drooling or repeated vomiting.
• Bleeding from the gums, nose or the bite that won't stop.

Go to the ER now for

• Any snake bite, even if it looks minor and the person feels fine.
• Any scorpion sting in a child, even if the child seems well.
• A scorpion sting in an older adult, a pregnant woman, or someone with heart or lung disease.
• Any symptoms away from the sting site, however mild they seem.
• Swelling that spreads quickly, or pain that is getting worse rather than better.

Same-day urgent care

• A healthy adult stung by a scorpion whose local pain is severe or not easing, or who isn't sure what stung them.
• Redness, warmth or pus spreading around a bite a day or more later, which can mean infection.
• Local symptoms that last more than a week.

Home care is usually fine for

• A healthy adult stung by a scorpion with only local pain and tingling that are gradually easing, with someone keeping an eye on them over the next few hours. Any new symptom means the ER, and if you are unsure, get checked: some scorpions in Jordan are dangerous.
• A single bee or wasp sting with no sign of allergy: remove the sting, wash the area and use a cold compress.

Jordan's emergency number is 911. For more on when to call and when to make your own way, see our guide to emergency numbers in Jordan. After a snake bite, don't drive yourself; have someone else take you, or call 911.

Scorpion, snake or bee sting: where should you go?

This table is a rough guide, not a substitute for an examination. When in doubt, choose the ER:

What about bee and wasp stings, or animal bites?

A bee or wasp sting hurts but is usually not dangerous, except in people with an allergy, with many stings at once, or with a sting inside the mouth or throat. Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, wheezing, or dizziness after any sting are signs of a severe allergic reaction and mean calling 911 now. Read our guide to allergic reaction and anaphylaxis signs. A bite from a dog or cat needs different steps, including checking tetanus protection; see our guide to dog and cat bites and tetanus.

What happens when you arrive at the ER?

For a snake bite, a scorpion sting in a child, or any whole-body symptoms, go straight to the emergency department. If you are a healthy adult with local pain only and want peace of mind, urgent care sees walk-ins around the clock.

The doctor asks what happened and when, examines the bite and checks vital signs, and monitors the person, because some effects only appear after several hours. They may order blood tests, for example to check whether snake venom is affecting blood clotting or the kidneys. If specialised treatment such as antivenom is needed, the emergency team will assess that and arrange the next steps. Bring the photo if you took one, the time of the bite, and a list of your medicines.

How can you prevent scorpion stings and snake bites?

• Shake out shoes, clothes and gloves before putting them on, especially if they were left on the floor or outside.
• Use a torch when walking at night, and wear closed shoes rather than sandals in gardens and the desert.
• Wear thick gloves when moving stones or firewood or clearing the garden, and don't put your hands or feet under rocks or into cracks.
• When camping, keep the tent zipped, shake out sleeping bags and blankets before use, and keep shoes inside the tent.
• Keep woodpiles and stones away from the house, seal gaps around doors and windows, and don't leave children's toys outside overnight.
• If you see a snake, back away calmly and don't try to kill or catch it.

Sources

• Mayo Clinic — Scorpion Stings: Symptoms and Causes
• MedlinePlus — Scorpions
• MedlinePlus — Snake Bites
• Abu Baker et al. — Snakebites in Jordan: A Clinical and Epidemiological Study (Toxicon, 2022)
• Amr et al. — Scorpions and Scorpion Sting Envenoming in the Arab Countries of the Middle East (Toxicon, 2021)