Insect Sting First Aid
As Heard on BBC Radio Cornwall
First Aid & Treatment Advice On Stings
Insect stings in the UK are common thanks to a healthy number of insect species, all with the ability to sting, like Wasps and Bees. This means that they inject venom into you via a sting or stinger which is a modified egg laying (ovipositor) tube, through the skin directly into your soft tissues and blood stream. This venom attacks the body in different ways depending on it's composition. The danger with venom is that everyone reacts to wasps stings and bee stings differently and as such most people who are stung only experience localised pain and swelling, and are generally unaware how dangerous a sting can be.
Anaphylactic Shock From Insect Stings
In some people stings can cause a life threatening systemic reaction called Anaphylactic Shock that can lead to complications, causing death in under four minutes. Of course we have medication that can help, but paramedics are not always just around the corner, nor do our mobile phones always work when we are out in the countryside so it pays to understand a little first aid about how to treat insect stings especially in respect of ants, bees and wasps.
The Main culprits are wasps and bees, but it must be stressed that they only use their sting in defence, so when you encounter these insects remember they are sensitive to movement, meaning the slower you move and the quieter you are, the less likely you are to get stung.
What to do if you are stung!
Your aim with a casualty who has been stung is to reduce as far as possible any swelling or discomfort. If the casualty is showing any of the following signs or symptoms you need to call 999 immediately for help and advice!
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Have a known allergy to stings
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Lost consciousness and become unresponsive
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Become confused or disorientated
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Have a respiratory wheeze
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Have difficulty breathing
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Have been stung in the mouth, or on the head or neck
Emergency Pest Control - Call Us 01275 858888
First Aid for localised reactions
Signs and symptoms of a typical mild reaction
Fear and anxiety
Localised Swelling
Skin blistering
Pain
Nausea
Hot, constricted
Mild, raised itchy rash (hives)
What to do next
Make yourself safe, with a physical barrier or good distance between you and any stinging insects.
Bees use the sting as a defence where as wasps use the sting as a means of subduing insect prey which is why a bee has barbs to ensure the sting stays in and a wasp sting does not, so it can sting multiple times.
Being stung is an experience some people are indifferent too, for others though the experience can be terrifying. First you feel a very sharp, searing or burning pain, then a throbbing discomfort that can last for days.
The area affected will often present with a white swollen centre that can sometimes blister and weep surrounded by a red ring. This blister can become infected and even scar. A venom extractor is often very effective in limiting any blistering or prolonged swelling, but is unlikely to significantly reduce the pain experienced.
The bee sting needs to be removed as soon as possible to reduce the continued flow of venom from the venom sack attached to the sting. To remove the sting take a finger nail, credit card or blade and scrape the sting off. Avoid using tweezers as you may compress the venom sack and inject more venom into the sting site.
Once the sting is removed wash the injury site with soap and water, elevate it where possible and apply a cold compress a bag of frozen peas or similar wrapped in a cloth should be fine.
Contact NHS Direct, your GP or visit your local walk in centre if symptoms persist for more than 24 hours or you feel they are getting worse. Remember some people have delayed reactions that might include, fever, swollen glands, and joint pain.
Oral and or topical cream and spray based antihistamines may help and always read the label.
Signs and symptoms of a severe reaction
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Fear, anxiety
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Faintness or loss of consciousness
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Fatigue, feeling tired
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Confusion
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Nausea, vomiting
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Difficulty breathing or complete cessation of breathing
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Wheezing
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Swelling of the tongue, face and neck
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Congested, red appearance to face
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Rapid pulse
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Hives and a severe raised red rash, spreading across the body
What to do next
Make yourself safe, with a physical barrier or good distance between you and any stinging insects.
Keep the casualty calm, reassured and above all still to reduce systemic spread of venom.
- Call 999 immediately and follow advice
Assist a conscious casualty to take an EPI PEN if they have one
Remove any sting or stings still in place as quickly as possible
If the casualty becomes unconscious place them in the recovery position
If the casualty is unresponsive and not breathing normally begin CPR
Wait for qualified help to arrive
How Can I Reduce the Risk of Being Stung?
Wear light, understated or dark clothing, and avoid bright orange, red or yellow.
Avoid wearing strong smelling perfumes, and deodorants etc.
Personal hygiene is important as strong body odours are known to aggravate bees.
Staying well covered with long skirts, trousers, long sleeve tops etc will reduce the area of your body that can be stung.
Avoid flowering plants, shrubs from the laurel family and trees like willow, birch and sycamore.
Check for new nests in lofts, outbuildings, and activity around tree roots and hedge boundaries between April and May when new nests can be easily identified and treated before they are large enough to represent a serious threat to your safety.
Keep areas clean by applying good house keeping procedures to remove residues that might encourage wasps and hornets to forage in occupied areas especially spilt beer, sugary foods and fermenting products.
Where insects are foraging early in the year, protein rich foods are what they are seeking out, so you can avoid getting stung, simply by staying still. Later in the year they are looking for sweet foods that are often harder to come by in mid summer and the higher temperatures increase activity and worsen temperament, so you are far more likely to get stung. Insect repellents may help you stay safer at this time of year as well as alternative sources of sweet foods such as wasp traps.
If you are attacked by several stinging insects at the same time, run to get away from them. The compound eyes of an insect are able to track movement so if you run, make sure it is in a straight line to reduce your movement signature and increase distance. Running in a zig zag just makes you easier to spot and catch. Remember that wasps may pursue you for 150 yards. Once you are stung you are biologically marked with a pheromone that identifies you as a threat, so move away fast, change any clothing and wash any sting sites with soap and water to remove any traces of pheromone or venom.
Stinging insects entering vehicles in the summer or getting into motorcycle helmets is a common cause of accidents and has been implicated in many unexplained accidents. People, especially those with allergies or phobias are very unlikely to react to this kind of unexpected threat in a logical and calm manner as the fight or flight mechanism kicks into high gear and attention is drawn from the road. There are a number of products on the market to deal with this including air conditioning that removes the temptation to open windows.
Remedies and Cures For Stings
For thousands of years humans and animals alike have developed ways of dealing with stings. The truth is that every sting, from every different insect is going to be delivered in a different place and at a different concentration etc, etc. That means the way we react to each new sting may vary and we should be mindful of this. The best sting cure we have found to most consistently manage stings is to use a venom extractor immediately after being stung. Swelling is often reduced within a few minutes, but the ache remains for far longer. Nature has created oils and other natural remidies that have been reported to help aleviate the discomfort, we have tried many different kinds and the venom extractor wins, hands down every time. But that's just our experience.
How Quickly Can You Get To Us?
Our standard, same day Pest Control Service for Stinging Insects is almost always available, and for extra peace of mind our 24 Hour Emergency Pest Control Service operates 24/7 so help is never far away.
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Simply Call 01275 858888
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Pest Control Advice:
Getting rid of Wasps and other insects like ants, fleas and bedbugs is not as simple as many pesticide manufacturers will lead you to believe. The chemicals or poisons on offer in supermarkets and shops often have a fraction of the effect that is achieved through professional products and this means you are likely to get through many cans of treatment without actually achieving full control. As the only Exeter pest control company offering a dedicated insect control service we are able to deliver pest control treatments that are often guaranteed to work.
Pest control is all about understanding the pest you are trying to eliminate or prevent. The Wasp for example creates a wasp nest early in the year so if you wanted to control wasps in Exeter you would probably guess that checking for a new wasp nest in your loft in April and May would allow you to remove a wasp nest safely before it became too large. By understanding your pest, you are able to plan control in advance, before infestation occurs and the cost of elimination becomes high.
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