A Silverglen resident, Marietje De Beer, 53, reported being stung by a scorpion that was located between her pillows. She strongly urges residents in the area to check beds, shoes, and pets' sleeping areas.
De Beer has lived in the Lakeview Drive area of Silverglen for five years. She stated that this is the fourth instance of a scorpion being found in their home, which is near the Silverglen Preserve.
A week ago, a scorpion was found under her dog's bed, but she never imagined that the animal could get into her own bed and find shelter between two pillows.
She recalled: 'I just got into bed and reached my hand between two pillows to get into a comfortable sleeping position. I felt a sharp pain. It felt like someone had burned my hand. When my husband turned on the light, the scorpion was still stinging me.'
The pain was unbearable. The scorpion was large and black. It fell from her hand onto the pillow and mattress. She and her husband swept it off the bed and covered it with a towel so it wouldn't move. They then threw it onto the embankment of the river opposite their house.
De Beer reported that her husband called emergency services, but they were told there were no available crews. After discovering the first scorpions, they began investigating the issue.
When she was stung and emergency services did not arrive, she conducted research and found that the shape of the scorpion's tail indicated whether it was venomous or not. 'We found that the scorpion had a thin tail, and it is considered non-venomous. I decided to take two allergy pills and a painkiller. I was lucky that it was not life-threatening,' she added.
She urged Silverglen residents to be more vigilant. 'I advise residents to thoroughly inspect their beds, as well as check slippers and shoes before putting them on. Pets' sleeping areas must also be checked very carefully. The pain from a scorpion sting is hard to bear, and those with children should conduct additional checks around their home to ensure their safety,' she advised.