Ok, now for the good stuff. If you’ve been on a picnic, or a hike with Maggie you’ve encountered those pesky little flying yellow and black creatures that instill fear in most of us. Wasps, bees, and many of their close relatives can cause us a lot of anxiety and some bit of pain, and, in rare cases very serious medical problems. In the United States, about 40 deaths are reported each year from insect bites. These severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) occur most often in people who already have had a reaction to similar insects bites.
They will inflict a serious bite that is in fact poisonous, although not nearly enough to do the harm last month’s featured guest can do ““the rattlesnake. There is no known anti-venom to counteract the affects, but below you’ll find the hints to keep you somewhat safe. Usually it’s the unlucky person who gets stung by a wasp or bee and the bees may sometimes leave the stinger in the skin. Even though the venom is poisonous, any damage is located near the bite area.
Here’s a good thought to keep in mind -If you are stung once, you may be stung many times because bees give off a scent when they are in danger, calling in the reinforcements.
If you are stung you may experience the following:
1. Immediate pain, swelling, redness, itching in the sting area. AND, the more serious one, a systemic or allergic reaction;
2. Hives (raised itchy bumps on the skin, Swelling of the mouth or throat or both, wheezing, and shortness of breath or other difficulties breathing, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, chest pain.
OK, What To Do
First, get away from the bees!
Second, remove any stingers and don’t worry how, either scrape them off or pull them out. Add ice every 20 minutes to the bite area.
Third, Take an antihistamine (dyphenhydramine/Benadryl) and ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief.
Fourth, Wash the sting site with soap and water and apply an antibiotic cream. If after 24-48 hours you still are suffering symptoms, see your physician. And if your tetanus booster immunization is not current, make it so.
SO, now that you know, take care to use insect repellant, don’t wear perfume or strong fragrances as they attract insects, and go have a good time!
