If You Get Stung by a Bee...

Imagine taking a walk down a pathway in the park, enjoying a nice, cold drink during a hot day. Suddenly, you feel a sharp pain in your arm. Dropping your drink in alarm, you check your arm, where you see a yellow-banded insect crawling on it. You’ve been stung by a bee! In this article, I will show you what to do if you are stung by a bee.

If you’ve been stung by a bee:

1. Stay calm. Panicking will not help at all.

2. Try to scrape the stinger out of your body. Use a credit card or a fingernail to scrape the stinger sideways (DO NOT SQUEEZE! It may seem like a good idea, but it may cause more venom to go into the wound and make your situation worse.)

3. Wash the wound with soap and water. This will help prevent infection.

4. Put an ice pack wrapped in a towel onto the wound. This will reduce swelling.

5. Try to move the place where you’ve been stung every so often. This will help reduce swelling.

To prepare for a bee sting:

1. Always carry an EpiPen with you. You never know if you or someone you know is allergic. You’re hoping you never have to use it.

2. Wear light colored, plain clothing that covers as much skin as possible, along with closed-toe shoes. Darker colored clothing attracts bees; be sure to dress smart.

3. If a bee is flying towards you, stay calm. Swatting at it may cause the bee to get agitated, and a sting is likely to follow.

4. Avoid sugary drinks and lotions, perfumes, or anything that smells like flowers. Bees and other stinging insects are attracted to those things, which may result in a bee sting if you don’t know what to do.

What to do if someone you know is stung by a bee:

1. Make sure they are not allergic. This is important, as if someone is allergic and is stung, serious issues might occur. Signs of bee venom allergies include:

• Swelling of the throat, tongue, or lips.

• Difficulty breathing.

• Dizziness/fainting, nausea.

• Hives. (No pun intended.)

• A weak, rapid pulse.

2. Try to get the stinger out of their wound. This will help make sure no more venom is going into their body.

3. Wash the spot with soap and water. This will help with infection.

4. Try to remove all jewelry, rings, or anything else that is tightly wrapped around the body near the sting. This will reduce swelling.

5. Follow the steps located on the first segment of this article, starting on step 4. It works just as well on them as it does on you.

Congratulations, you know what to do if stung by a bee. Be wise, and stay safe.

Written By: Mason Oh

Edited By: Oliver Handoko