The Provident Friday Buzz reports that last week Essential recording artist Matt Maher had a run in with a scorpion in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, when he was driving and noticed a sharp sting and burning sensation in his foot. Maher quickly removed his shoe and was shocked to discover a scorpion had crawled in and stung him.
He called 911 and the Poison Control Center to make sure he was going to be OK, and the 911 operator instructed him, "No need to do anything. Just tough it out. Don't be a wimp."
Wimp? Uh ...
According to WebMD.com (my go-to place whenever I have any symptom of any kind) it's not necessary to call 911 for scorpion sting unless "you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, sudden weakness or numbness, or if you think you have a medical emergency."
But if you read the "when to seek medical care" section, it actually says: "Seek immediate medical care ... All but the mildest of symptoms require hospital admission for 24 hours of observation."
Uh ... sorry folks, I'm with Matt on this one. I'd consider a scorpion sting a medical emergency and I'd have been dealing with a panic attack on top of the scorpion sting.
But fortunately, all is well and Matt at least has a good story to tell.
Matt's latest album, Empty and Beautiful, is in stores now. For more about Matt Maher, visit his website www.mattmahermusic.com.
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The advice is accurate. The great majority of scorpion stings are simply painful, with no serious effects. The Poison Center did the right thing telling him what symptoms to watch for that would require a visit to the Emergency Department. I don't know about you, but I would rather not be in the Emergency Department unless I really need to be there. If you're sick or having a panic attack, go in. If not, listen to the Poison Center and drive on!
I have to give the fella some Man Points for not screaming like a seven year old girl and swerving off the road into the ditch. I would have been freaking. Anyone that says they wouldn't have, including the 911 dispatcher, is a liar.
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