How To Treat Bee Or Wasp Stings

It is never fun to get stung by a wasp or a bee

, and sometimes it can even be dangerous. However, if you just take a few simple steps, you can prevent any unpleasant side effects of your sting and come out all right.

The first thing to know about insect stings is how to identify them. Obviously, if you see a big old bug flying around and then see it land on your arm, followed by a stinging sensation, that's a pretty good sign right there. You can't always see what just stung you, though, so pay attention. In addition, if someone starts having an anaphylactic reaction to an insect sting, you need to be able to recognize that right away and get him or her to some qualified medical care.

It is not actually the sting that hurts you: what causes the symptoms is your body's reaction to the venom that the insect has just given to you. Most stings are pretty mild. You might have some itching or stinging at first, and probably some mild swelling around the area of the sting, but nothing too bad.

To relieve the stinging sensation, you can either buy a salve or simply mix together baking soda and cold water into a paste and place that on the site of the sting. You also need to get the stinger out of your skin so that it will stop pumping venom into your bloodstream. To do this, do not use tweezers, and do not try to pull it out; this will force more venom into you. Take a knife or a credit card, and scratch the stinger from the side to draw it out. Putting an ice pack on the area of the sting can also help with the swelling and itching.

Sometimes, though, symptoms are more serious. Some people experience hives, fever, swollen glands and joint pain. Others can go into an anaphylactic shock, which is fatal if untreated. If you notice that the injured person is displaying signs of facial swelling, abdominal pain, nausea, or trouble breathing, it is likely that the victim is having a severe reaction and needs epinephrine. Get them to a doctor as soon as possible.

Therefore, the next time you are walking around outside and a bee lands just a little bit too close to you, be confident. Actually, it might be a good idea to move away, but at the very least, you can know that if you are stung, you know what to do about it.

by: Jay A. Jenkin

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