I occasionally hike in the Sahyadri ranges in Maharashtra (India). During the rainy season there are a lot of crabs on the trail. In case the crab bites, what are the first aid steps that can be taken?
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2I think you mean "pinch", you want first aid treatment for a crab pinch. It's hard to get bit by an animal that wears its teeth inside it's stomach.– ShemSegerOct 25, 2017 at 21:26
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Crabs have teeth in their stomach!? I'm going to have to give this a google lol– Nate WOct 27, 2017 at 16:20
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1@NateWengert Ya, they have what's called a gastric mill, it's pretty weird.– ShemSegerOct 30, 2017 at 2:27
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2 Answers
- First control the bleeding with gauze or a cloth and light pressure
Elevate the foot - Clean with soap and water
- Apply an antiseptic
You can get single packs - Bandage/bandaid(plaster) if necessary
If they latch onto a toe they could break or sprain it. If so you can tape two toes together.
answered Oct 25, 2017 at 14:29
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1Yup. Crabs are not poisonous (as far as I know?), so it's a lot like any other dirty wound (a dog bite, a rusty nail wound...)– MonsterOct 25, 2017 at 15:24
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1I don't understand a down vote either. It would be great if the person would explain it, or if someone else might explain what they think could have happened. Thanks! Oct 27, 2017 at 0:21
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@Aravona Plaster in the field? Are you assuming a crab could crush a foot? Oct 27, 2017 at 16:16
Crabs are scavengers, so their pincers are always to be considered evil sources of infection. You can use fluoride (if you act promptly); find the mouthwash with the highest fluoride content, and force it into a cut/wound with a syringe. Needle not required. After 5 minutes, rinse the wound with sterilized water and apply a proper bandage. If you have not brought mouthwash, you can use toothpaste, which can be easily diluted with sterilized water.
Be aware that fluoride is not intended for use inside wounds, so the wound must be rinsed with water.
Also, liquor with >=35-40% alcohol concentration will kill bacteria quite well.
India’s rural areas are notorious for their lack of proper and prompt healthcare, so you’d be wise to pack blisters with a wide-spectrum antibiotic as well. Similar to the fluoride, you can create a fast-acting antibacterial solution by extracting the powder from the capsules, mixing them with room-temperature sterilized water, and applying a thin paste to the cut/wound - then wrap a bandage around it. Simply eating a capsule will not bring a high enough concentration of antiobiotic to the wound.
