If there’s one positive outcome from the rise of social media, it’s the ability to share information at an unprecedented speed.
While Andrea’s 15-year-old son Logan was gathering tree branches during his volunteer work, he suddenly felt a sharp sting. Moments later, a red, grid-like mark appeared on his arm, and it soon developed into a full-blown rash. The rash spread from his arm to his chest, accompanied by a burning sensation that became unbearable.
Logan also experienced dizziness and turned pale. In an effort to help, Andrea washed the affected area and applied garlic, hoping to draw out the venom (a commonly suggested remedy for bug stings), but nothing seemed to alleviate the symptoms.
It was Logan’s grandfather who identified the culprit. Wearing thick gloves, he captured the insect and took a closer look. The stinging creature was a fuzzy caterpillar that appeared “cute” at first glance but turned out to be one of the most poisonous caterpillars in North America. After some online research, Andrea quickly realized that Logan needed to get to the ER immediately.
“Please research this caterpillar, be aware of it, and make sure your kids are too,” Andrea wrote in a Facebook post.
“It’s not native to Florida, but to Texas, and has now made its home here. If you or your child is stung, get to the ER right away. Over-the-counter Benadryl won’t be enough to treat this at home, as we learned the hard way—Logan was stung multiple times, and we didn’t even realize it.”
Watch more about Logan’s experience and Andrea’s important warning below:
