PHOENIX — Warmer temperatures in Arizona mean locals may start seeing more scorpions and spiders.

The Banner Health Poison Control Center has some advice for Arizonans who find themselves in the unfortunate circumstance of being bitten by arachnids. In 2023, the center reported receiving more than 3,000 calls related to scorpion stings.

If someone is stung, they should wash the affected area with soap and water and then apply a cold compress to reduce swelling. Tourniquets should be avoided because they can do more harm than good.

If someone begins to experience worsening symptoms of chest pain, muscle spasms, or breathing problems, they should seek medical attention immediately. Children are at higher risk of experiencing serious symptoms after a sting, the poison control center said.

Parents should watch if their child starts rubbing their face, as that may be a sign that the child is experiencing numbness and tingling. The poison control center should be notified immediately after a child has been stung.

Bark scorpions are excellent climbers, but have difficulty ascending glass and plastic surfaces. Parents should consider moving their baby’s crib away from walls and placing the crib legs in glass jars to counteract scorpions.

A lightweight scorpion shield can also be placed over the top of the crib to keep critters out.

The center’s 24-hour helpline can provide further guidance to Maricopa County residents and medical professionals. The phone number is 1-800-222-1222.

“The Valley” is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the southwest.

The Valley is made up of several major cities in addition to Phoenix, including:

• low hill
• Sailboat
• Scottsdale
• Tempe
• Glendale
• Surprise
• Peoria
• Gilberto
• The Mirage
• Avondale
• Litchfield Park
• Good year
• horse chestnut

Whether a city is in the “East Valley” or the “West Valley” depends on where it is located relative to Phoenix.

Valley cities have a combined population of 4,845,832 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. This makes it the 11th largest metropolitan area in the country, just behind the Boston and Atlanta areas.

How big is Maricopa County?

Maricopa County is the fourth largest county in the United States in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 census.

The county contains about 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).

One of the largest park systems in the country is also located in Maricopa County. The county has approximately 120,000 acres of open parks including hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.

The county seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the fifth most populous census-designated city in the United States.

The county is named for the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American tribe.