Alert 00 – 01 Spider Bite
WHAT HAPPENED:
An offshore rig employee reported that he had a sore on his leg and asked for a bandage. The wound was approximately one-quarter inch (.62 cm) in diameter. He was given the bandage following confirmation that he had no other complaints. By the next day, the sore had grown to approximately one inch (2.5 cm) in diameter and was weeping a yellowish liquid. Following consultation with the medical director, the probable cause of the injury was determined to be a spider bite. The employee was placed on antibiotics to prevent any secondary infections and arrangements were made to have him evaluated at a medical facility. Following evaluation at two separate hospitals, the employee’s wound was debrided and the damaged tissue was removed. The damage to the underlying tissue was so extensive that the wound required skin grafting to close.