Insect & Bee Stings - Prevention & Treatment

While most people are actually more afraid of animal attacks by larger animals, it is actually insects that are to be feared the most. Bees, Wasps and Hornet stings are responsible for more fatalities than snakes, spiders and scorpions combined.

If you are Allergic to Bee Stings
Some people are hyper sensitive to bee stings and for them a single sting could already be seriously life threatening. If you know that you are hypersensitive to bee, and perhaps other insect stings, check with your doctor and make sure to carry an emergency insect-sting allergy kit. Make sure to check the expiration date on your kit, as most antihistamine medicines need replacing after a few years.

Avoiding Bee & Other Insect Stings

• Use insect repellant sprays. Most of these sprays use DEET as their active ingredient and they do a great job at repelling mosquitos. Citronella is less aggressive for the skin but generally does not have the same repelling effect as DEET.
• Do not wear any sweet smelling fragrances often found in after shaves and perfume. These often attract flies, bees and other insects.
• Bees will mostly attack when either trapped or agitated. Close off any opening in your clothes that could trap bees between your skin and your clothing.

Treating Bee & Other Insect Stings

• Bees will often leave their stingers in your skin when you get stung. Those stingers will keep on pumping venom for 20 minutes, so remove a stinger directly after you are stung. Avoid handling them with your hands, as this will probably squeeze more venom into your skin.
• People who are either allergic to bee stings or receive multiple bee stings could go into anaphylactic shock which could cause swelling obstructing the airways.
• Remove the stingers and use antihistamine medication immediately.

Remember: Report all injuries to your supervisor and seek First Aid immediately.