Bee sting: What to do if you get one

Sooner or later, everyone is going to suffer some kind of bee or wasp sting. So to help with your next bee sting, here are some tips to minimize this painful situation.

1. Remove the Stinger

• Scrape the area with a fingernail or use tweezers to remove it.
• Don’t pinch the stinge r — that can inject more venom.

2. Control Swelling

• Ice the area.
• If you were stung on your arm or leg, elevate it.
• Remove any tight-fitting jewelry from the area of the sting. As it swells, rings or bracelets might be difficult to remove.

3. Treat Symptoms

• For pain, take an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 18.
• For itchiness, take an antihistamine. You can also apply a mixture of baking soda and water or calamine lotion.

4. Follow-Up

• It might take 2-5 days for the area to heal. Keep it clean to prevent infection.

If the person does have severe allergy symptoms (anaphylaxis):

5. Call 911

Seek emergency care if the person has any of these symptoms or a history of severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), even if there are no symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Tightness in the throat or a feeling that the airways are closing
• Hoarseness or trouble speaking
• Nausea, abdominal pain, or vomiting
• Fast heartbeat or pulse
• Skin that severely itches, tingles, swells, or turns red
• Anxiety or dizziness
• Loss of consciousness

6. Inject Epinephrine Immediately

If the person has an anaphylaxis action plan from a doctor for injecting epinephrine and other emergency measures, follow it. Otherwise, if the person carries an epinephrine shot (it’s a good idea to always carry two) or one is available:

• Inject epinephrine if the person is unable to.
• If the person has a history of anaphylaxis, don’t wait for signs of a severe reaction to inject epinephrine.
• Read and follow patient instructions carefully.
• Inject epinephrine into outer muscle of the thigh. Avoid injecting into a vein or buttock muscles.
• Do not inject medicine into hands or feet, which can cause tissue damage. If this happens, notify emergency room staff.
• The person may need more than one injection if there’s no improvement after the first. For an adult, inject again after 10 to 20 minutes. For a child, inject again after 5 to 30 minutes.
• A person should always go to the ER after an epinephrine injection, even if the symptoms subside.

7. Do CPR if the Person Stops Breathing

• For a child, start CPR for children.
• For an adult, start adult CPR.

8. Follow-Up

• Make sure that someone stays with the person for 24 hours after anaphylaxis in case of another attack.
• Report the reaction to the person’s doctor.