How to Treat a Wasp Sting

Insect bites from wasps, bees, ants, and similar insects can be annoying to some, but they can be life-threatening for other people. You’ll need to act quickly to prevent pain, swelling, and breathing issues if you have allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings. These are some tips for tending to a wasp sting if it happens to you:

Remove the Stinger Quickly

The first action to take is to gently remove the stinger. Getting the stinger out of your skin stops it from releasing additional venom. You must use a safe method when you remove the stinger, however. Use a credit card or something blunt to swipe over the area. Avoid pulling the stinger out, because you might accidentally release venom when you do so. 

Clean the Area

Once you get the stinger out, the next step is to clean the area. Many people experience infections after they get stung because they fail to clean the sting site. You’ll need to use soap and water to sanitize the area. Use an antibacterial soap if you can get your hands on one. Take a few minutes to ensure the site is thoroughly clean before moving along to the next step.

Raise the Site and Ice It

Raising the sore site reduces the amount of swelling. Find a comfortable place to rest and raise the arm, leg, or area. Then apply ice to the affected location. Ice can serve several purposes after you experience a sting. For one, it can reduce the pain and itching for you. Secondly, it can prevent the site from swelling too much.

Relax and apply ice for a few minutes to kick-start your recovery process. The best procedure for icing a sting is to leave the ice on for 10 minutes and then remove it for 10 minutes. Repeat this process for 30 to 60 minutes, and you should experience a good amount of comfort. 

Use a Cream or Concoction

You’ll need to care for the site by putting something on it to help the healing process. If you’re allergic to the sting, you’ll need to use something to block your reactions. An antihistamine cream is an excellent choice. Calamine lotion is an all-time favorite that still works to this day. It’s inexpensive and easily accessible if you don’t have any in your bathroom closet. 

Baking soda paste, wet tea bags, and meat tenderizers are home remedies that some people also recommend. If you experience any trouble breathing, call 911 and use your epinephrine pen if you have one. Even if you use the epinephrine pen, you still need to visit the hospital afterward to get checked out. 

Use the tips above to take care of a wasp or insect sting. Do not hesitate to call your doctor if you experience symptoms after the initial sting and the special care. 

Categorised in: Bee and Wasp Control

This post was written by Ken Perry