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sb head may still possess reflex actions and may still be able to biteyou a half hour after death. Symptoms of envenomation are as follows: Swelling at the site of the wound; Skin discoloration caused by a breakdown of small blood vessels; Instantaneous pain; Weakness and giddiness - in extreme cases lapsing into unconsciousness; Respiratory difficulty; Nausea and vomiting and occasionally either diarrhea or constipation; Hemorrhaging - may be considerable oozing from the wound due to the anticoagulant nature of the venom- patient may also bleed from the mouth, nose, intestines, or kidneys; 4- Circulatory disturbance - pulse often rapid [double normal], feeble and thready - blood pressure and body temperature may drop - anemia may follow; 4- Some miscellaneous affects, including gangrene, partial paralysis and partial blindness. 2.3.3 Poisonous Spiders The black widow spider is one of the very few spiders whose bite can be fatal to humans. They are distinguished by this, and by their beautiful and ominous coloring. Female black widows have a red hourglass shape on the underside of their abdomen, and occasionally other red spots over their abdomen. The males are much smaller and more brightly colored. Black widows spin tangled, irregular webs in dark locations, often close to the ground. The web has a central core into which the spider retreats when it is bothered. Although the spiders can be deadly, they generally avoid a confrontation. They are nocturnal creatures, and fairly sedentary and generally won't bite, even when provoked. They mainly bite from instinct alone. If you accidentally brush up against them or their web, they will bite. The venom of the black widow is a neurotoxin which creates an excruciating pain which reaches its maximum intensity within half an hour. The pain is often accompanied by nausea, faintness, tremors, and shock, which comes from the direct effect of the toxin on the nerve centers. Serious problems arise when this toxin interferes with nerves near the lungs and heart. In addition, cerebral hemorrhage can result from the strain on the circulatory system. As a basis for comparison, their venom is approximately 15 times as potent as that of a rattlesnake. Despite the horror of their bite, black widow bites are relatively uncommon -- only approximately 1300 bites have been recorded in the US since its colonization, resulting in only 55 deaths. Most of these incidents were in California, in hot dry climates. sb Environmental Services,LLC O October,2003 California Integrated Waste Management Board Site Specific Health and Safety Plan Page 18 of 61 Tracy Tire Fire Remediation Project