| How to Treat a Jammed Finger Posted: 05 Jul 2016 05:00 PM PDT A jammed finger is a type of joint sprain that's sustained from significant impact to the end of a finger.[1] Jammed fingers are a common type of sports injury, especially from playing volleyball, basketball, football, and rugby. Jammed finger joints often heal without need for treatment, although specific home care approaches can speed up recovery times. In some cases, medical treatment is needed to return a jammed finger back to normal function and range of motion. EditManaging a Jammed Finger at Home - Make sure the injury isn't serious. The amount of pain felt from a musculoskeletal injury is not always positively correlated to the degree of seriousness. In other words, an injury may really hurt, but it's not always serious. A jammed finger can often be very painful initially, but it's not nearly as serious of an injury compared to dislocated and fractured fingers.[2] The tell-tale sign of a dislocated or badly fractured finger is some degree of crookedness; a moderate amount of swelling or bruising can also be signs of a fracture. As such, if your finger is really hurting and it's bent at an unnatural angle or is very swollen or bruised, then seek medical attention as soon as you can. If not, then rest and home care is warranted instead.
- However, if you have severe symptoms of pain, numbness, weakness, swelling, or bruising of your finger, see your doctor right away.
- A jammed finger usually involves damage to the ligaments surrounding the finger joints and reduced movement in the affected joint due to compaction.
- A mildly jammed finger is typically categorized as a Grade I sprain, which means that the ligaments are stretched a little too far, but not torn.[3]
- Rest your finger and be patient. Mishandling the ball in sports such as basketball, volleyball and baseball is a frequent cause of jammed fingers. If such activity caused your finger injury, then you'll likely have to take a break from the sport — anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on severity. And depending on what your job is, you may also have miss some work or switch to an activity (short-term) that doesn't involve your hands or fingers to any great extent. In general, sprains, strains, bruises, and most causes of inflammation respond well to short-term rest.
- In the mean time, your ability to grab and hold on to things will be hampered with a jammed finger. Typing and writing will also be difficult, especially if the injury is to your dominant hand.
- In addition to certain sports, jammed fingers also commonly occur at home — getting caught between doors, particularly.[4]
- Apply ice to the jammed finger. The pain from a jammed finger is mostly due to inflammation, so applying cold therapy as soon as you can is smart because it slows down local circulation, reduces swelling, and numbs nerve fibers.[5] Anything frozen will do, such as ice cubes, gel packs, or bags of vegetables (peas work great) from your freezer. Whatever you choose for cold therapy, apply it every hour for 10-15 minutes until the pain and inflammation subside. After a few days, you'll likely be able to discontinue the use of ice therapy.
- While you're icing your jammed finger, elevate your hand/arm with some pillows in order to help combat the effects of gravity and further help with the inflammation.
- Don't forget to wrap anything cold in a thin towel before applying it to your finger so you don't get ice burn or frostbite.
- Take anti-inflammatory medication short-term. Another effective way of combating inflammation and pain in your jammed finger is to take over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve).[6] NSAIDs help control your body's inflammation cascade, which reduces swelling and pain. Keep in mind that NSAIDs and other pain relievers are usually intended for short-term use only (less than 2 weeks) due to harmful side effects on the stomach, liver and kidneys. To reduce the risk of stomach irritation and/or ulcers, it's best not to take NSAIDs on an empty stomach.
- Aspirin should not be given to children under 18, due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, whereas ibuprofen is not appropriate for infants under six months.
- If you don't have access to any NSAIDs, then taking painkillers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be helpful for a jammed finger also, but painkillers don't reduce inflammation.
- As an alternative to taking any pills, consider applying an anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving cream or gel to your jammed finger joint. The cream or gel will absorb locally and eliminate the risk of any stomach problems.
- Buddy tape the injured finger. While your jammed finger is healing, consider taping it to an adjacent finger (commonly referred to as "buddy taping") for more stability and protection from further injury.[7] Choose some medical-grade tape and bind your injured finger to the finger beside it that's most similar in size. Be careful not to tape too firmly, otherwise you'll create additional swelling and may even cut off blood circulation to the injured finger. Consider placing some cotton gauze between the fingers to prevent skin blisters.
- If you don't have any medical tape, then masking tape, self-adherent wrap, electricians tape, a small Velcro wrap or rubber bandage may also suffice.
- To provide a little more support for your jammed finger, you can use a wooden or aluminum splint along with the tape. Aluminum splints can be custom fit and bent to accommodate most finger injuries.
EditGetting Treatment for a Jammed Finger - Consult with your family physician. If rest, immobilization and other home remedies aren't effective for reducing the pain, swelling, or stiffness in your injured finger after a week, then make an appointment with your doctor. Instead of a jammed finger, you might have a small hairline or stress fracture in the long bones of your finger, or an avulsion fracture closer to the joint. Avulsion fractures occur when a sprained ligament tears a piece of bone from its attachment site.[8] If your finger is broken, then your doctor will usually fasten a metal splint to it with instructions to keep it on for a few weeks.
- You doctor can take x-rays of your hand and check for evidence of fractures and other disease conditions that can cause pain, such as osteoarthritis (the wear and tear type), osteoporosis (brittle bones), or bone infection.
- Keep in mind that small hairline fractures don't usually show up on x-rays until the swelling goes away.
- An MRI may be needed to better see the condition of tendons, ligaments, and cartilage in and around your inured finger.
- See an osteopath or chiropractor. Osteopaths and chiropractors are joint specialists who focus on restoring normal motion and function to spinal and peripheral joints, including those of the hands and fingers. If your finger joint is truly jammed or even slightly dislocated, then an osteopath or chiropractor can use a technique called manual joint manipulation (or an adjustment) to unjam or reposition the affected joint. You can often hear a "popping" or "cracking" sound with an adjustment, which often provides immediate relief and improved joint mobility.
- Although a single joint adjustment can sometimes completely relieve your finger pain and restore full range of motion to the jammed joint, more than likely it will take a few treatments to notice significant improvement.
- Manual joint manipulation is not advised if fractures, infections, or inflammatory (rheumatoid) arthritis is involved.
- Get a referral to an orthopedist. If symptoms persist or worsen, or if full mobility does not return to your jammed finger within one to two weeks, then get a referral to an orthopedic surgeon.[9] Orthopedists are also joint specialists, but they use injections and surgery to treat problematic joint injuries that are stubborn to heal. If it turns out that your finger is broken and doesn't heal normally, you may require minor surgery. Alternatively, an injection of steroid medication near or into injured ligaments and/or tendons can quickly reduce inflammation and allow normal, unrestricted movement of your finger.[10]
- The most common types of steroids used are prednisolone, dexamethasone, and triamcinolone.
- Potential complications associated with corticosteroid injections of the hand include infection, tendon weakening, local muscle atrophy, and nerve irritation or damage.
- Some athletes are tempted to self-treat their jammed fingers by pulling on them in hopes of unjamming the joints, but physical manipulation should be left to experienced health professionals.
- Taping your fingers prior to playing sports may help prevent jammed or sprained fingers.
- Chronically cracking your knuckles may damage the joints and surrounding soft tissues and make them more susceptible to injury.
- When you first get the injury ice you finger, once the swelling and bruising goes away start to use heat.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
| How to Deal With Your Paranoia Posted: 05 Jul 2016 09:00 AM PDT The world can be a risky place. When you feel like people are constantly out to trick or harm you, going about the day-to-day is plain exhausting. It's even worse when you know you're your worst enemy. How do you grab your paranoia and wrestle it into submission? How do you take control of how you see the world? EditExamining Your Situation - Distinguish between paranoia and anxiety. Anxiety is not the same thing as paranoia, but these conditions have some similarities.[1] People with anxiety are serious worriers. They might think "My parents will die in a car crash." People who are paranoid might think, "Someone will kill my parents to hurt me."[2] If you think anxiety might be your issue, consider reading wikiHow's How to Deal With Anxiety article to start.
- There is also a difference between occasional anxiety about a specific event, such as stressing out over an exam, and persistent anxiety that follows you around. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders. If your anxiety seems generalized or "all the time" rather than located around a specific event or situation, you should see a mental health professional. You may have an anxiety disorder.[3]
- Anxiety is much more common than clinical paranoia. The average age of onset for anxiety disorders is 31, though it can occur at any age. The symptoms of anxiety, or GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), mainly involve the inability to relax, startling easily, and having difficulty concentrating, amongst a plethora of physical symptoms. The good news is that it's highly treatable.[4]
- Get a jury. It may be hard to believe, but a certain level of paranoia is pretty common.[5] All of us have insecurities and all of us know what embarrassment feels like. About a third of people have paranoid thoughts at some point.[6] Before you jump to conclusions and assume you're paranoid, get 4 or 5 friends together and ask them if your thought processes are understandable or, well, delusional. It's a good way to determine if you are really paranoid or not.
- There are five levels to paranoia. Most of us have general feelings of vulnerability and suspicious thoughts ("I could get murdered down this dark alley!" or "They're talking about me behind my back, aren't they?"). But when you hit mild ("They're tapping their foot to annoy me"), moderate ("My phone calls are being tracked"), or severe ("The FBI is in my TV, watching me") personal threat, it's a sign you may be paranoid.[7]
- Look at how your thoughts impact your life. You may have the occasional paranoid thought, but if your life is not significantly impacted by them, you are probably not clinically paranoid.
- Decide whether you're actually paranoid or just listening to previous life experience. Sometimes, your friends or loved ones may label thoughts as "paranoid" if you are suspicious of something, but suspicion is not always a bad trait. Sometimes, your life experiences may have taught you to view a certain way of behaving as suspicious. Being suspicious, for example that someone could hurt you, isn't necessarily paranoia. It could just be that you have difficulty trusting people. This is particularly common after you've experienced a trauma or a very negative experience.[8]
 - For example, you may be suspicious of a new romantic interest who seems "too good to be true." If you have a history of heartbreak in your relationships, you may well just be listening to your what your previous experiences have taught you.
- On the other hand, if you suspect your new romantic interest is a secret assassin who has been sent to kill you, this is probably paranoia talking.
- As another example, you may be picking up on something that doesn't seem "right" about a situation or person that causes suspicion. These reactions are not always paranoid. While you should examine your reactions, you don't have to immediately discredit them.
- Take time to evaluate your reactions and suspicions. You may react with immediate responses, such as fear or anxiety. Slow down and attempt to determine where these responses are coming from. Do you have a basis, such as a past experience, that would possibly provoke these reactions?[9]
- Do a little fact-checking. No, this doesn't mean run a background check on your new boyfriend or girlfriend. Sit down with a piece of paper and write out what's going on. Say what the situation is, what you feel about it, how strong those feelings are, what you believe about the situation, whether those beliefs have any facts that support (or don't support) them, and whether you can change your beliefs based on those facts.[10]
- Consider your use of alcohol, drugs, and other substances. Paranoia is a common side effect of substance abuse. Alcohol can cause hallucinations and paranoia in chronic heavy drinkers.[11] Stimulants, including caffeine (yes, caffeine!), Adderall, or Ritalin, can cause paranoia and trouble sleeping. Combining stimulants with antidepressants or over-the-counter decongestant cold medicines can increase these side effects.[12]
- Hallucinogens, such as LSD, PCP (angel dust), and other mind-altering drugs can cause hallucinations, aggression, and paranoia.[13]
- Most other illegal drugs, including cocaine and meth, can also cause paranoia. Up to 84% of cocaine users have cocaine-induced paranoia.[14] Even marijuana may induce paranoia in some users.[15][16]
- Most prescription drugs will not cause paranoia if taken as prescribed. However, some prescriptions to treat Parkinson's disease by stimulating the production of dopamine may cause hallucinations and paranoia.[17] If you're on prescription drugs and you think they might be causing your paranoia, talk to your doctor about possible alternatives. Do not stop taking your medications without talking to your doctor first.
- Think about your situation. A recent traumatic event or loss can also cause some people to become paranoid. If you've lost someone recently or you're going through a particularly stressful situation, the paranoia could be your mind's way of coping.
- If your paranoia seems to stem from a fairly recent situation (at least within the past six months), it's probably not chronic. It still deserves your attention and you should still deal with it, but it may be easier to deal with if it is recent.
EditDealing with Paranoid Thoughts - Start a journal to track your thoughts and feelings. Journaling can help you to understand what may have caused you to feel paranoid and it is also a great way to relieve stress.[18] It can also help you identify your triggers, or people, places, and situations that seem to inspire your paranoia. To get started with journaling, choose a comfortable place and plan to devote about 20 minutes per day to writing. Think about situations in which you feel paranoid. For example:[19]
- When do you feel the most paranoid? At night? Early in the morning? What is it about that time of day that makes you feel paranoid?
- Who do you feel paranoid around? Is there a person or group of people who make you feel more paranoid? Why do you think those people make you feel more paranoid than usual?
- Where do you feel the most paranoid? Is there a place where your paranoia peaks? What is it about that place that makes you feel paranoid?
- In what situations do you experience paranoia? Social situations? Is there something about your surroundings?
- What memories come to you when you experience these feelings?
- Make a plan to avoid or reduce exposure to your triggers. Once you have identified the situations and people that seem to be contributing to your paranoia, you can make a plan to reduce your exposure to these triggers. While some people, places, and situations may be unavoidable, such as work or school, being aware of what triggers your paranoia may help you to minimize your exposure to other things that you can avoid.[20]
- For example, if a certain route home from school makes you feel paranoid, take a different route or ask a friend to accompany you.
- Learn how to question your thought process. In the case of triggers that you cannot avoid, learning to question your paranoid thoughts may help you to reduce or eliminate the way that you feel about these people and situations.[21] The next time that you find yourself thinking paranoid thoughts about a person, place, or situation, ask yourself the following questions.[22]
- What is the thought? When did I have it? Who was there? When was it? What happened?
- Am I having a thought that is based on fact or opinion? How can I tell?
- What am I assuming or believing about the thought? Is my assumption or belief realistic? Why or why not? What would it mean if the thought were real?
- How do I feel—physically and emotionally?
- What did/could I do to deal with the thought in a positive way?[23]
- Distract yourself from the paranoid thoughts. If you cannot defuse your paranoia by examining its content, try to distract yourself.[24] Call up a friend, go for a walk, or watch a movie. Find a way to get your mind off of the paranoid thoughts so that you do not begin to dwell on them.
- Distraction can help you avoid rumination, the obsessive pattern of thinking where you think about the same thing over and over again, like a broken record. Rumination is associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression.[25]
- However, distraction on its own is usually not enough to fully address these thoughts. Distraction is a type of avoidance, which means you will need to take other steps to work on your paranoia too.
- Avoid punishing yourself. You may feel embarrassed by your thoughts, and this could lead to you judging yourself harshly for them. Studies have shown that this type of technique, or "punishment," is not effective at addressing paranoid thoughts.[26]
- Instead, try reappraisal (examining your thought process), social control (seeking advice fro others), or distraction, as described elsewhere in this article.
- Determine if you might need professional help. Mild paranoia may be manageable on your own, but you will likely need professional help if your paranoia is moderate to severe. If you are frequently having paranoid thoughts, consider the following questions:[27]
- Are you considering acting on potentially harmful thoughts?
- Are you considering hurting yourself or others?
- Are you thinking and planning on how to go about hurting someone with the intent of doing it?
- Are you hearing voices telling you to hurt yourself or others?
- Are your obsessive thoughts or behaviors affecting your home or work life?
- Are you reliving a traumatic experience over and over again?
- If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should seek help from a mental health care professional as soon as possible.
EditUnderstanding Paranoia - Define "paranoia" properly. A lot of us use the term "paranoia" quite loosely. However, clinical paranoia involves persistent feelings of persecution and an inflated sense of self-importance. Unlike everyday suspicion, paranoia does not have a rational basis.[28] There are several medical or mental health conditions that can cause paranoia, but they are not common. You cannot and should not attempt to diagnose yourself with any of these conditions. If you display any of their symptoms, see your physician or a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Only a trained medical professional can diagnose mental illnesses.[29]
- Look for characteristic symptoms of Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD). PPD affects somewhere between 0.5% and 2.5% of the population. People with PPD are so suspicious of others that it causes dysfunction in their daily lives, such as extreme social withdrawal. Its symptoms include:[30]
- Suspicion, without grounds, of others, especially that you may be harmed, exploited, or deceived by them
- Suspicion of others' trustworthiness, even friends and family
- Difficulty confiding in or working with others
- Reading hidden or threatening meanings into harmless remarks or events
- Grudge-bearing
- Social withdrawal or hostility
- Rapid anger reactions
- Watch for signs of paranoid schizophrenia. People with paranoid schizophrenia are usually convinced that others are out to harm them or their loved ones. They may also believe that they are extremely important (delusions of grandeur).[31] Only about 1% of people have schizophrenia.[32] Other common signs of paranoid schizophrenia include:
- Social isolation or withdrawal
- Suspicion of others
- Guarded or reserved behavior
- Delusional jealousy
- Auditory hallucinations ("hearing things")
- Look for signs of Delusional Disorder. Delusional Disorder is the belief in one or more very specific paranoias (e.g., "The FBI is in my TV watching my every move"). It's pinpointed and not necessarily global, and the person is otherwise able to function without any obviously bizarre behavior. This disorder is extremely rare; only about 0.02% of people have delusional disorder.[33] Common symptoms of Delusional Disorder include:[34]
- High levels of self-reference. This means that the person sees references to themselves in everything, even when this could not possibly be true (e.g., believing that an actor in a movie is talking directly to them).
- Irritability
- Depressive mood
- Aggressiveness
- Consider whether you may have PTSD. Paranoia may accompany post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that may develop after a person has experienced a trauma.[35][36] Traumatic experiences can even cause hallucinations as well as paranoia.[37] If you have experienced a trauma in the past, such as abuse, it is possible that you have developed what is known as "persecutory ideation," or the belief that others are out to harm you. This belief can cause you to suspect others or worry about being harmed, even in situations that most people would not see as suspicious or harmful. Unlike most other paranoias, this type of fear has a basis in that it is a reaction to the trauma. Working with a mental health professional who is experienced in handling trauma can help you overcome PTSD and this type of paranoia.[38]
- The most common treatment for PTSD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on learning how your trauma has affected your thinking and behavior. You can learn new ways to think about yourself and the world that will help reduce your symptoms.[39]
- Other treatments include exposure therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing).[40]
- Consider talking to a therapist about how you have been feeling. Without help, it may be hard to figure out why you feel paranoid and determine the best way to deal with those feelings. A licensed mental health professional can help you begin to understand these feelings and help you work through them.
 - Keep in mind that feeling paranoid may be part of an underlying mental health condition that requires treatment. Talking to a therapist can help you understand what is going on and decide on the best course of action.
- Seeing a therapist is very common. People do it all the time to get better and improve their lives. You can feel good about your decision to seek help: it's brave and shows that you care about yourself.
- Feel free to switch therapists! Many people feel stuck with whichever one they start with. If you're not jiving, find a new one. Find one that makes you feel comfortable and that you can see yourself trusting. It'll be the quickest path to progress.
- Know that your therapist is required by law to keep the information you share confidential. People with paranoia tend to be afraid to share their problems, but therapists are legally and ethically bound to keep your secrets safe. The only exceptions to this rule is if you share plans to harm yourself or others, abuse or neglect is involved in your situation, or if a court orders your therapist to reveal information because you are on trial.[41]
- Stay away from drugs and alcohol. You may feel that it helps. It doesn't. It only makes your paranoia worse.
- Learn how to meditate so that you can relax when the paranoid thoughts hit you.
- Keep in mind people for the most part are good. And they are not conspiring against you.
- Remember that no matter what happens, it will be okay in the end.
- Concentrate on your breathing and think of relaxing things, happy memories perhaps. If these fail, try mid level mental arithmetic; for example, think to yourself 13 x 4, then work it out.
- Do not harm others because of what you suspect them of doing.
- Share your thoughts and feelings with someone else. If you bottle up your feelings, eventually they will all come out at once, and repressing them is bad for your health. Talk to someone you trust.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
| How to Get Spiders Out of Your House Without Killing Them Posted: 05 Jul 2016 01:00 AM PDT Spiders can be unwanted house guests. But even if you don't want spiders in your home, you don't necessarily want to kill them! Luckily there are a few methods you can use to catch the spider and guide it outside. Even if you are afraid of spiders, you will be able to use these methods with minimal contact with the spider. Before capturing the spider, you will want to make sure it's not venomous so that there is no risk of you acquiring a poisonous bite. EditNudging the Spider Outside - Open the door or window that the spider is near. If the spider is non-venomous, there are a number of ways to get it out of your home. If the spider in your house is already close to a window or door, you can find ways to encourage the spider out. You will first want to open the door or window to show the spider the way out of the house. [1]
- Try to step around the spider and open the door or window slowly. If you scare the spider, it may run and hide somewhere, and you won't be able to get it outside as easily.
- Find an object to block the spider's path. Find an object like a notebook, folder, or book that you can move around the spider if it tries to go in a direction that's not the open door or window. Anything that is tall and flat will work.[2]
- Guide the spider out. Take the notebook or folder and gently give the spider a nudge toward the door. The spider will be scared and start moving. If the spider veers away from the door, take the notebook and put it next to the spider to create a wall so that the spider won't be able to run in that direction anymore. Keep doing this until the spider starts running in the right direction.[3]
- Guide the spider over the threshold. The spider may hesitate on the threshold as it is running toward the door. If the spider lingers on the threshold, brush it out using your hand or the notebook or folder. You also could flick it with your finger.
- Throw the folder out the door if the spider crawls on it. When you are using the folder to guide the spider out of the door, the spider may start crawling on the folder instead of running. If the spider crawls onto the folder, toss the folder out the door, so that both the spider and the folder are outside. The spider will eventually crawl off the folder, and you can go and retrieve the folder later.
- You may not feel comfortable throwing the folder out of the door or window, especially if you live in a communal space like an apartment complex. If the spider crawls on the folder, instead of throwing it you can go outside with the folder and either brush the spider off with your hand, or wipe the folder on a bush or the windowsill until the spider falls off.
- Close the door or window. Now that the spider's gone, you don't want it to come back! Make sure that you close the door or window so the spider or other bugs can't come in.
EditUsing the Paper and Cup Method - Place a cup over the spider. This works best for spiders on the floor or on the wall. Approach the spider slowly, so that it doesn't get scared and start running. Quickly, take a small cup and place it directly over the spider, so that the spider is trapped inside.[4]
- Preferably the cup should be clear so that when you trap the spider, you can see it inside the cup. However, you can use any cup that you have in your house.
- Make sure to aim correctly so that the spider is unharmed. You don't want to crush the spider or any of its legs with the rim of the cup.
- Slip a piece of paper under the cup. Take a sheet of paper and slide it underneath the cup. Make sure that the piece of paper is under the entire cup. This will make sure that the spider won't be able to escape when you lift up the cup.[5]
- The paper should be just one sheet, as opposed to a book or notebook. A stiff piece of paper like a notecard or index card works best.
- If the spider is dangling from a web, you will want to place the cup under the spider, and then either cut the web using scissors or use the piece of paper to break the web. The web and spider will stick to the piece of paper, and you will be able to bring the cup up to the paper and trap the spider.
- Lift up the cup and the piece of paper. You want to lift up the piece of paper and the cup so that the spider is still trapped inside. Make sure that as you are lifting, the rim of the cup and the paper are always against each other so that the spider does not escape. [6]
- One way to lift the cup and paper is to hold the edge of the piece of paper with your left hand, with your right over the bottom of the cup.
- Lift the edge of the piece of paper, still holding the cup over the paper. Slip the fingers of your left hand under the piece of paper so that your hand is on the part of the piece of paper underneath the cup.
- Now with your hand underneath the paper and cup, you can lift up the trap and carry it to your door.
- Let the spider out of the cup. Carry the spider over to the door. Open the door and step outside. Place the trap on the ground, and take the cup off the spider. The spider should run away. If the spider is not moving, try gently blowing on the spider. You can also brush the spider off with your hand if you're feeling brave! [7]
EditUsing a Dustpan or Vacuum - Sweep the spider onto the dustpan. If the spider is on the floor, sweep the spider onto the dustpan. You can also do this if the spider is on a wall, but be careful not to sweep the spider on you![8]
- Gently tap the underside of the dustpan. With the spider on the dustpan, head to the door. As you are walking, tap the underside of the dustpan with the sweeper or with your fingernails. The noise and the vibrations of the tapping will scare the spider so that it stays still and doesn't run off the dustpan.[9]
- Release the spider outside. When you get outside, place the dustpan on the ground. The spider should run off. If it doesn't, you can leave the dustpan there until the spider leaves it, or you can use the sweeper to sweep the spider off the dustpan.
- Use a vacuum. If using a dustpan is too up close and personal with the spider for you, use a vacuum instead. On the lowest setting, vacuum up the spider. Then empty out the filter outside of your home.
- You can use a regular vacuum cleaner, but be warned that this may possibly kill the spider. A dust buster is a slightly better option.[10]
- You can also buy vacuums made especially for bugs and insects. You can purchase these on Amazon.
EditUsing a Plastic Bag - Get a plastic bag. Use a plastic bag that is easy to turn inside out, like a plastic shopping bag. You also want to be use that the bag is big enough so that your hand will fit inside it. Make sure that the bag doesn't have any rips or holes. [11]
- Put your hand inside the bag. Make sure that you are able to move your fingers inside the bag. You are going to grab the spider with the bag, so you want to make sure that the bag is flexible enough to do this. Walk over to the spider with the bag on your hand.[12]
- Grab the spider. With the hand that is inside the bag, grab the spider. Try to be gentle and not to squeeze, or else you could kill the spider. Try to grab the spider so that it is surrounded by the bag and is not being squeezed between your fingers.
- Turn the bag inside out. Quickly, before the spider can escape, turn the bag inside out. This way the spider will be trapped inside the bag. Pinch the top of the bag so that the spider can't escape out the top. [13]
- Release the spider. Take the spider outside and shake out the bag. The spider should come out. You also can leave the bag outside and come back for it later, but be sure to remember, you don't want to litter!
- To prevent more spiders from coming in your home, make sure to fill up any cracks around windows and doors in your home, and to clean up after yourself. [14]
- Spiders also are repelled by the scent of peppermint, tree-oil and eucalyptus. Spray these around the windows and doors in your home to keep away spiders. [15]
- If you can't identify the spider as dangerous or harmless, it is always best to assume it is dangerous, and to try to not be in direct contact with it.
- If you have been bitten by a poisonous spider, always call call emergency services and tell them what happened. Remembering the looks of the spider usually is of great help.
- If a spider bites you and you don't know if it is poisonous you should still go to the doctor or hospital.
- Black Widow spiders are large black hairless spiders. They have a big abdomen with a red mark on the top, and one on the bottom shaped like an hourglass.
- Always check to see whether the spider is a Black Widow or a Brown Recluse. Both of these are venomous spiders.
- Brown Recluse spiders are brown, violin-shaped spiders, usually about ¼- ½ inches long with three eyes instead of the usual four.
- If you do catch a venomous spider, set it free far away from your or anyone else's home.
- If you get a bite from what you believe is a venomous spider, elevate the site of the bite and get medical attention immediately.
- Don't ever attempt to catch a venomous spider by hand. It's actually not a good idea to catch a venomous spider unless you've done it before. Even then, it's risky business.
- Consider killing a venomous spider instead of catching it and setting it free. It isn't worth risking a bite.
EditThings You'll Need - A clear cup
- A plastic bag
- An index card or sturdy piece of paper
- A dustpan and sweeper
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
Cite error: <ref> tags exist, but no <references/> tag was found
|
No comments:
Post a Comment