Are Scorpions Dangerous to Kids?

Scorpion Facts

• Scorpions are members of the arachnid family and, like spiders, they have eight legs. Their strong pincers and segmented tail help protect them from predators, but the tip of the tail, called the telson, doesn't always have strong enough venom to be harmful. In fact, of the 1,500 species of scorpions around the world, only about 30 to 40 are poisonous enough to harm a human, according to National Geographic for Kids. Scorpions live in deserts in the United States, but also in the forests of North Carolina and British Columbia. Scorpions are adaptable and can survive in harsh environmental conditions on very little food.

Venemous Scorpions

• According to the Arizona State University School of Life Sciences, between 70 and 90 species of scorpions live in the United States, and almost all of them reside in the deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and southern California. Only one of these, the bark scorpion, is considered dangerous, according to the ASU School of Life Sciences. Of the 100 people who are stung by the bark scorpion each year, a majority of them are young children under the age of 10, and antivenin is used to counteract the venom in the sting. Because of Arizona's antivenin program, there hasn't been a scorpion fatality in the state for over 40 years. So, while the bark scorpion is dangerous, it's not likely that the arachnid will cause serious illness or death in children.

Staying Safe

• If you live in Arizona, where the bark scorpion resides, you do need to take precautions to prevent your child from being stung. The ASU School of Life Sciences recommends shaking out your child's shoes and clothes before he puts them on, especially if you've been spending time outside. Caution your child not to put his fingers or toes in dark places, including his shoes, because scorpions are burrowing creatures and prefer cool, dark places. Require your child always to wear shoes when he's playing outside, especially around water sources, such as swimming pools. If you've ever seen a scorpion in your house, always pull back the bed linens before your child gets into bed to make sure one hasn't burrowed its way in. Bed linens are a common place for scorpions to hide if they do venture inside a house.

Considerations

• Many scorpions have two types of stings. One is used to kill its prey, and is more dangerous and deadly. The other type of sting is just designed to stun a predator so the scorpion has time to get away. In many cases, a human simply is stunned rather than truly stung. Know the symptoms of a scorpion sting, however, so you can seek immediate medical attention if your child does get stung. The most common symptoms include localized pain around the sting, numbness and tingling in the body, facial numbness, trouble seeing, drooling, slurred speech, difficulty talking, restlessness, irritability and hyperactivity. Watch for these symptoms to appear within two to three hours, and if they do seek medical attention.