What to Do If You’re Stung by a Bee

You are on a wonderful long walk in the woods. The day is comfortable, the walk relaxing and then you hear it. It is that all too familiar buzz. Too late, you feel the result almost immediately. You have just been stung by a bee. What should you do next? If you are out in the woods with no medical supplies there are a few things that you can do right away. Check the bite. Is the stinger still in there? If it is promptly remove it with your fingers or a tweezers if possible, or drag a credit card across the sting to pull out the stinger. This is important to remove the stinger to prevent infection and relieve some of the pain. If you have antibacterial hand cleaner along, (I always carry a small bottle.) douse the sting with it. Check your pocket for a copper penny. If you have one, wipe it with the hand cleaner, if available, and put it on top of the sting. The copper in the penny reacts with the venom to reduce the body’s reaction.

What if you are closer to civilization and medical supplies? The steps are still basically the same. Remove the stinger and wash or clean the wound. Instead of a penny, try sprinkling a little meat tenderizer on the sting. The meat tenderizer breaks down the venom. Also a paste made with baking soda and water can be applied to the sting to draw out the venom. An ice pack or cold pack can also help to keep the swelling down. Follow this with an antihistamine to reduce swelling and a pain reliever like ibuprofen or aspirin, if necessary.

What if later you get nauseated, develop hives; diarrhea, dizziness, and swelling? You are probably having a reaction. These are symptoms of a systemic reaction, where the entire body is involved and could be the beginning of an allergic reaction to bee stings. The first thing that you must do is seek professional medical attention. The worse form of a systemic reaction is an anaphylactic reaction which creates wheezing and breathing difficulties. This can be life threatening. Allergic reactions tend to get worse at each exposure and having some extra precautions may be in order. Always be prepared. It is better to discuss this with your doctor and plan for an emergency that never happens, than not to plan and lose your life because of it.