Bee Sting
A bee sting can be quite painful and scary, whether you are allergic or not. Bees come in many different types and varieties, from a sweat bee to a honeybee to a bumblebee and more, so the sensitivity to them varies as well. By knowing what to do in case of a bee sting, you can help to keep yourself and your family safe. What is the first thing that you need to do in case of a bee sting?
It seems most of us refer to a bee sting as a catch-all phrase of being stung. In reality, a bee sting is quite different from other stings. The differences include the stinger, the venoms and the parasites that might be associated with any particular stinging insect.
Move away from the area. You need to move away from the area where you were stung. There could be more bees in the area and you may even be in contact with a hive, which could cause you to be stung more. By moving away from the area, you give yourself the opportunity to determine what treatment is needed.
Remove the stinger. Part of the reason bee stings are more painful is that the bee's stinger has a bigger barb on it than a wasp's making it almost impossible for the bee to retrieve the stinger and thereby leaving it with its victim. There are two trains of thought on this. Some medical professionals believe that it is best to scrape the stinger off of the skin with a credit card or other flat surface, rather than pinching it off of the skin. Yet other medical professionals believe that removing it by any method as soon as possible is the best thing to help reduce the amount of venom that is released. The smaller the amount of venom that is released into the body, the less severe that the symptoms may be. The thing to remember is to remove the stinger if there is one so that you can help to reduce the amount of venom, no matter which method you choose to use.
By this time, you or the person stung may be feeling the effects of the sting. Mild effects can include pain at the injection site, swelling of the area, and itching. More severe effects can include trouble breathing, facial swelling, hives, and can even cause you to go into shock. If you have an allergy to the venom in the bee sting, you could go into anaphylactic shock and need immediate medical attention. If you or your family member is having any of the more severe symptoms, call 911 for medical attention as soon as possible.
If you or the person stung was stung more than just a few times, then it is best to call for medical attention anyway. The more venom released into the body, the more dangerous it can be, whether you are allergic or not. If the bee sting is inside of the mouth, nose, or throat, immediate medical attention is necessary as well.
A bee sting can be a minor inconvenience to your life or it can be fatal. By knowing what the symptoms are and when you need medical attention, you can better take care of yourself and your family. Bees are not to be feared, but they are to be respected.
