BEE or WASP STING

A bees or Wasp sting is different from other insect bites because venom is injected into the wound. The main danger is from Anaphylactic Shock – where a person has an adverse reaction to the sing/venom. This can be fatal, so prompt first aid and action is required if there are any signs of this.

(1) First, be safe and move away from the area as fast as you can. Bee’s release a pheromone after stinging which attracts other bees to the location

(2) If there are no obvious signs of a severe allergic reaction, remove the stinger as soon as possible (some wasps do not leave stingers). This can be done using your fingernails or a pair of tweezers. Removing the stinger as soon as possible affect the amount of venom injected into the skin.


(3) Control the swelling. Use ice compression over the area to achieve this. Remember, NEVER apply the ice directly to the skin. This may cause frostbite. Wrap in a cloth or towel before applying. Pack of frozen peas CAN be applied directly to the skin

(4) If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate the limb.

(5) Remove any tight-fitting jewellery from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might become hard to get off.

(6) Treat the symptoms. There will be localised swelling and redness at the site of the sting, along with pain. Take some pain killers to mitigate the pain. The pain will usually subside after a couple of hours, but swelling may last for more than a day. For itchiness, take an antihistamine or apply a mixture of baking soda and water or calamine lotion.

(7) The might take 2-5 days for the area to heal. Keep it clean to prevent infection.


Signs of a severe allergic reaction – ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK

- Difficulty breathing or wheezing
- Tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing
- Hoarseness or trouble speaking
- Nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting
- Fast heartbeat or pulse
- Skin that itches, tingles, swells, or turns red
- Anxiety or dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Rashes


If the person has anaphylaxis, emergency measures have to be implemented pretty quickly to save their life. This is done by an injection of Epinephrine. Most people who know they can suffer a severe allergic reaction to bee/wasps stings actually carry this.

- If they are unable to inject it, inject for them into outer muscle of the thigh. Do NOT inject it a vein or buttock muscles. Do not inject medicine into hands or feet. This can cause tissue damage.

- If there is no injection, get the person to a hospital immediately. If they stop breathing, then commence CPR

- Make sure that someone stays with the person for 24 hours after anaphylaxis in case of another attack.
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