What if I told you wasp stings don’t have to become a “bee-rilliant” alchemy experiment gone wrong? It may seem like sorcery, but extracting bee stings is actually simple and easy.
The first step is preventing stings altogether. Make sure you’re bee-runk: no floral-scented perfumes, lotions, hair products, or apparel. Brush away any bees that land on you and stand still. Bees don’t like sudden movements.
If the unthinkable occurs and you’re the proud recipient of a bee sting, act quickly but remain calm. Bee venom takes only minutes to spread through your body so it’s essential that you take the venom-sensitive steps outlined below.
1. Scrape the sting out. Bee stingers have barbed shafts that make it difficult for the bee to pull them back out. All you have to do is quickly scraping the stinger with a fingernail or the edge of a credit card. It’s not particularly pleasant, but its fast and effective.
2. Don’t squeeze! Though it may be the most tempting thing in the world to do, squeezing the stinger will only cause more venom to be injected into the affected area – an outcome that you definitely want to “bee-void.”
3. Apply ice. Grab an ice cube or cold pack and squish it over the area for 15 – 20 minutes. This will help reduce the swelling and inflammation from the sting.
4. Pain Management. Take an antihistamine , ibuprofen or acetaminophen to minimize the pain and itching.
5. Do a spot check. After about a day, keep an eye on the area and make sure it isn’t showing signs of swelling, hives, breathing complications or other severe reactions. If any of these occur, call a doctor immediately.
Long story short, bee stings can happen, and if they do, don’t panic. Have confidence in your stinger extracting abilities and you’ll be right as rain in no time.
We all know that honey bees can be helpful pollinators. But if you get stung, you know they can be dangerous, too. And when that occurs, it’s important that you learn how to draw out the sting before it can do any further damage.
So what’s the process for extracting the sting? Here are some simple steps that you can use to quickly stop the spread of the toxin and find relief.
1. Remove the stinger. The most important thing is to act quickly and remove the stinger as soon as possible. Scrape the stinger out with a fingernail or credit card. This is the fastest way to remove it and reduce the amount of venom being injected into your body.
2. Don’t squeeze. It may be tempting to squeeze but this will only cause more venom to be injected into your body, which can actually make the sting much worse.
3. Apply ice. You’ll want to apply a cold pack or ice cube to the affected area to reduce the swelling and inflammation. It’s best to leave it on for 15-20 minutes and then remove it to allow the area to recover.
4. Take pain reliever. Taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help with the pain and itchiness that can come with a bee sting.
5. Spot check. Finally, keep an eye on the area for any signs of swelling, hives, breathing complications or any other severe reactions. If you notice symptoms like these, it’s important to contact your doctor immediately.
Learning how to draw out a bee sting can be a lifesaving skill. The next time you find yourself faced with a bee sting, remember to move quickly, don’t squeeze, apply cold, and take some medicine to reduce the swelling and discomfort.
Prevention is always better than a cure, and this is especially true with bee stings. To minimize your chances of getting stung, make sure that you stay away from scented products, brush away any bees that land on you, and remain calm and still.
And to make sure that you get the best possible outcome, make sure to have some bee sting-friendly items with you like ice packs, ibuprofen, and perhaps even some form of credit card, just in case you need to take quick action.
At the end of the day, knowing how to draw a bee sting out is a valuable skill and one that will serve you well in times of need. Having the confidence to act quickly and effectively in the face of an emergency can be the difference between a good outcome and a not so pleasant one.
