Warm summer months often include days at the beach, barbeques in the backyard – and run-ins with bees or wasps.  How can you avoid getting stung? Keep foods and drink containers tightly covered. Avoid sweet-smelling colognes or perfumes. Avoid colorful patterns on your clothes; choose white or neutral colors that won’t attract bees. If these strategies fail and you get stung anyway, try the following.

Gently scrape out the stinger as soon as possible. Do not pull or squeeze the stinger; it contains venom and you will end up re-stinging yourself (This applies to bees only- yellow jackets, wasps and hornets don’t lose their stingers). Clean the sting area with soapy water. Apply a cold compress to the sting immediately. Hold it on the site for 15-20 minutes. Apply a hydrocortisone cream as directed to relieve itching and swelling. If you are stung in the mouth, get medical help immediately- swelling could close off your airway. The most common symptoms are limited pain and swelling with redness and itching. People who are allergic may have a severe reaction and should seek emergency medical care immediately.

 

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