Valley yoga enthusaist Sabrina Mullins was stung by a scorpion twice. She said there was nothing zen about it.
"I'm not sure why it got me twice, but it got me pretty good," she said.
Mullins had an allergic reaction and was in the hospital. Though that happens, Dr. Frank Lovecchio from Banner Poison and Information Center said most people can recover at home.
"Don't feel that you have to call 911 right away," Dr. Lovecchio said. "You can call us and if we feel you have to call 911 we can patch in with 911. We have a direct line with them."
Dr. Lovecchio said they are more likely to tell you to take your child to the emergency room if the child is a toddler or younger — especially if one of the reactions is excessive salivating.
"Unfortunately little kids because they have a small airway or a small breathing tube, lots of secretions are a problem for them," he said.
Lovecchio says there are more than 20 kinds of scorpions in Arizona, but the bark scorpion is the only one toxic to humans. You can spot a bark scorpion by its seven segments on its tail, its extremely painful sting and its ability to climb walls.
Though scorpion stings are rarely deadly, if you ask Mullins what she would do if she or her child was stung again, she's not taking chances.
"It would be to immediately go to the doctor," she said. "I would much rather play it safe than sorry."
The number to the poison center is 800-222-1222. It's staffed 24 hours a day.
