There’s a risk of being stung by wasps, hornets or bees not only in summer. It is important to carefully remove the sting from the wound (bees only) and start cooling the sore location on the body. You will learn about first aid to a wasp/hornet/bee sting in this post.

First Aid when Stung by Wasps, Hornets or Bees

• Examine the wound

• Remove the sting (for bees only), unlike bees wasps and hornets do not leave the sting in the victim’s skin

• Wash the wound

• Cool the wounded area on the body with cold water or ice

• When allergic reaction occurs it is recommended to administer antihistamine, e.g Zyrtec, Claritin or other medication. Speak to your pharmacist.

When to Seek Professional Medical Help Following Wasp, Hornet or Bee Sting?​

If you get stung by wasp, hornet or bee into your face, especially to your neck or mouth always get it seen by doctors. In a case of an unexpectedly strong allergic reaction, disorientation or breathing difficulties seek emergency medical help.

How to Remove Bee Sting from the Wound?

Bee sting has a bag of poison at its end. When removing it you must not squeeze the pouch as it would release more venom into the body. To remove the sting use tweezers. Bee sting should be removed as quickly as possible. Even after, when in the skin of the victim the bee sting still works as if it was a living organ and creeps deeper into the skin while constantly releasing more poison into the body. There’s rarely such complication with wasps or hornets because their sting does not normally remain in the skin.

Normal Reaction to a Wasp, Hornet or Bee Sting

For normal response of human body shortly following sting(s) by wasps, hornets or bees it is considered soreness at the penetration site, itching, redness and swelling, fading away after a few hours. The risk of toxic reactions is in multiple stings, in children at about 50 stings, in adults at 100-500 stings. Bee venom at this dose can cause red blood cells to break-up with subsequent renal failure.

Allergic Reaction to a Wasp, Hornet or Bee Sting

Allergic reactions may appear either as local significant swelling lasting for longer than 24 hours or more complex reactions that may include rush, general swelling, itching, anxiety, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting or dizziness. Severe allergic reactions include breathing and swallowing difficulties, disorientation and anaphylactic shock which is a critical condition in which the blood pressure plummets and a loss of consciousness may occur.

About the Wasp, Hornet and Bee Venom …

Hymenoptera venom contains a number of substances that act either directly (cause a toxic reaction) or after a repeated sting (induce hypersensitivity - allergy). The venoms of bees, wasps and hornets are different, therefore not always true that if a person is allergic to bee sting allergic reactions will be repeated the same for wasp or hornet sting. The so-called cross-reaction (possible allergic reaction) has been encountered between wasps and hornets, less between these species and bees. Bee sting can be expected the most in early summer. The sting of a wasp or hornet can be expected the most in late summer and autumn

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Prevention to Wasp, Hornet and Bee Sting Is Important – Better Safe than Sorry

• Wear suitable clothing and avoid bright colours

• Be careful when eating and drinking outdoors at picnics and barbecues

• Beware over-ripe fruits, dirty waste bins and piles of rubbish attract wasps and other flying insects

• Keep in mind flowers, bushes, shrubs and trees in blossom are attractive to bees, hornets and wasps. Watch your step if walking barefoot

• If you discover a wasps’ nest or hornets’ nest at your property contact Czechmate Pest Control for prompt and safe pest removal service if you are in Irvine, Ayr, Kilmarnock, Greenock, Paisley, Glasgow, Lanark, Airdrie. Same day wasp and hornet removal service is also available across all other areas within North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Glasgow City, East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire

You can phone us on 01294 689903 for more free pest control advice and/or book a call out by one of our service technicians any day of the week.