What to do in the first minutes after being stung by a bee or wasp

The ecosystem needs bees and wasps, but in the summer they can create serious problems. Bites are not only painful, they can lead to serious and dangerous allergic reactions. Therefore, it is important to know how to behave correctly when attacked by an insect.

The first step is to check whether the sting is left at the puncture site (bees leave it, wasps, as a rule, remove the sting). Carefully remove it with tweezers. If the tweezers are not at hand, you can use your fingernails. Pay particular attention to the poison sac at the end of the stinger. It cannot be damaged when removed, otherwise the poison will enter the puncture site.

To prevent germs from entering the wound and causing infection, rinse the bite under running water, then dry it thoroughly and disinfect.

On this question, opinions differ: do cold or heat reduce pain after a bite? In fact, both help. Apply a cool compress or ice cubes wrapped in a cloth to the itchy area, as this will reduce blood flow to the skin and relieve pain. Cool the area of ​​damaged skin until the itching and swelling subsides.

The opposite principle applies to heat: apply a warm compress to the bite site, this will prevent the pain from spreading further.

It is not worth scratching the bite site. Anyone who suffers a lot from severe itching after a bite can resort to anti-allergic drugs. Depending on the need, there are gels, ointments, syrups, tablets. Your doctor or pharmacist will help you choose the remedy.

Some are allergic to bee and wasp stings, and an encounter with an insect can even be fatal. In this case, it is mandatory to carry emergency medication, including cortisone and adrenaline injection.

Read also: If you need to call an ambulance: 4 most common mistakes made by patients and their loved ones

If a person has an acute and unexpected allergic reaction after a bite, circulatory problems, shortness of breath or nausea, there is no time to waste. In the event of such a reaction, it is urgent to call 112.

If a wasp or a bee flew into your mouth and bit you, in any case, you should urgently call an ambulance, since the mouth and throat can swell a lot from a bite and it will become difficult to breathe – even if there is no allergy. As with bites elsewhere, the cold can help. The victim, while waiting for an ambulance, should be allowed to suck on an ice cube.

Even more interesting materials – in our telegram channel