At the best of times it's nearly impossible to avoid bees and wasps. Regardless of how most people view them, I'm a huge fan of bees and wasps. This is because they help pollinate plants to create food and they eat other insects. The upshot is that nature has armed them a defense that humans find painful, stings.
I'll say this up front, I'm not a doctor, but I have been an outdoor educator for over 15 years, and I've been stung, or dealt with stings, in places you don't want to imagine (including the tongue). From these experiences I wanted to share with you ways to find bee sting relief and what to do for a bee sting if you are stung.
Step 1. Get clear of the area where the bees and wasps are. If you're reading this post hopefully you are are far away from that area by now (I hope). Remember, whatever the case is, DO NOT SWAT!!!! I can't say this enough. If you're trying to flee an area, or if a bee/wasp is hovering around you, do not swat at it. If you stand still, take a deep breath, and just let it fly on then it will mostly likely ignore you. If you swat, you risk making it turn defensive and then likely stinging you.
NOTE: For mass causality incidences (yes I've had one and they do happen), get everyone clear, call 911 (regardless, just do it) and then follow treatment protocols. Especially of concern are those stung around the mouth and face.
Step 2. If it is safe try to identify the insect that has stung you, determine if you can, if it is a bee, wasp, or other creature. This isn't absolutely necessary, but it can help you understand your physiological reaction. Check out my previous post on telling apart bites and stings. Remember, honey bees can sting once while yellow jackets, bumblebees, velvet ants, and wasps can sting many times. This is why it's important to get clear of the area where they are. If you can't tell don't stress, just keep going down the steps.
Step 3. Call 911 if the person has an allergy to bees or exhibits signs of trouble breathing, faintness/dizziness, swollen tongue, or a history of anaphylaxis (reaction to stings). If the person carries an epinephrine (epi) pen then help them to inject it.
Sting symptoms:
Step 4. Remove the stinger. If you've been stung by a honey bee then they most likely it left a little present behind, namely their internal organs and a sack of venom that is still pumping venom through the hollow stinger. Remove the stinger using a credit card or with a fingernail. I don't suggest tweezers because more often than not, when you grab the stinger you will inadvertently squeeze the venom sac and more venom into the victim.
Step 5. Circle the sting site with a permanent marker about 1/2" around with the sting in the middle. Now this sounds ridiculous but it's not. If someone is stung and goes into anaphalyxis and they can't talk to you, you want to know where they were stung. By circling the sting site you can also monitor the site for swelling. As the sting goes away it may also be hard to see and this will help you find the spot later.
Step 6: Get Swelling Under Control. This means using ice on the immediate area. Ice for about 10 minutes, rest the area, then re-ice for 10 more. Also elevate any body part that has been stung, this will reduce swelling. If you're stung on the hand or foot remove any tight jewelry like hand or toe rings. It's also important to keep the person calm, this helps to decrease heart rate and slow the envenomation.
Step 7. Treat the Symptoms right away. Once you've got the ice applied and swelling under control you need to treat the pain. This can last from 1-2 hours, but will eventually fade. Here are different options:
If You're Sure The Stinger is Out:
If You're Not Sure The Stinger Is Out:
Step 8. Keep the area clean and dry. You can re-apply ice, use baking soda pastes, and Epsom soaks until the pain recedes. One of the best things I've found for kids are character band aids and distraction!
No one wants to get stung, so it's best to avoid it. If you'd like to know more about why and how our bodies react to bee venom, and stings, then visit my previous post on bee stings and bites.
It may also help you to be able to identify the difference between paper wasps and yellow jackets in your yard. Check out this post too.
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